Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-03-22

that death and destruction are follow
, ing In the wake OF the mighty noun
| tain avalanche. 1t is now known
| that thousand mine and mill ON
| ployes In the county are threatened
with starvation because of the heavy
snowslides and the impossibility OF
getting assistance to them for sever
al days The great storm only ceased
last night and today's sun is very vel
come, for practical blizzard has
ragged for nearly week. Up to noon
today no additional details have been
received from the Camp Bird mine In
the Mt. Sneffies district. The man
killed in the mill was Andrew Ekes,
the fireman. The injured are John
Anderson, William Cressey. Jerome
Andrews and William Wainwright
The Herald today, as yesterday, re
Quested the press Service at Denver
to cover all news matters In the San
Juan districts. the telephone and tele.
graph wires direct from Durango TO
Telluride and SIlyerton being down
All dispatches received by The Her
aid today are dated March 20 and
those reproduced from the Democrat
of this morning are dated Marcd 10.
Following are the Democrat dispatch
es, which appear now to be confirmed:
SILNERrON. March 10, S:15 p. m.
"A slide on Saturday carried away
the Green Mountin mill, killing d. +.
Hickey. Also carried away the Pride
of the West mill, power plant and
pipe line of the Big Colorado mine.
A slide at the Shenandoah Satur-
day night killed twelve men. George
Hin and three others escaped. Five
others have gone down at the Bonner,
near Burro bridge. "Bill" Thomp-
son and George Abbott are killed.
Highland Mary mine buildings were
also carried away. Two horses we're
found standing on top OF the slide,
unhurt.
The Camp Bird mill went out Sat
urday night, killing one man. All
others have abandoned the property
for safety. The Iowa mill went out
this morning.
The weather today Is clear and
bright as May. All roads are work
ing hard to open up the tracks
SILVERTON, March 19.-Scores
of men from the mines came into
town this morning. Mammoth snow
slides are running In the mountains
and great alarm Is still felt for the
safety of those who have not yet come
in. So far fifteen men In San Juan
county have been swept to their death
by slides during the past seventy
hours. Two more were added to the
list at the Banner mine last evening
SILVERTON. March 19.-Twelve
miners employed at the Shenandoah
mine were caught by great snow
slide early this morning and swept
to their death. Their bodies have not
yet been recovered. Assistance has
been summoned from Salverton to
help dig the victims from beneath the
snow. Two OF the dead are Gus Heis
and James Kirk. The men were part
of large force employed at the Shen-
andoah and were on their way to Sill
verton to escape starvation at the
mine. the supply OF provisions having
run short.
The men left the mine early this
morning, breaking trail In the deep
snow as they went along. At par
ticularly dangerous point on the trail
on the side Of steep mountain one
of the trail makers stumbled. This
started the snow sliding and In an in
slant the entire side OF the mountain
seemed to be moving. The men were
caught like rats In trap and In an
instant were engulfed and lost TO view
In the avalanche. One OF the men who
escaped ~hurrIed on to Howardsville.
three miles down the gulch. and tele-
phoned to Silverton, telling Of the ac-
cident and asking for help. The mes
senger was only able to give the
names OF two members or the party
| who lost their lives. Gus Heis and
James Kirk.
The Shenandoah mine IL located on
the east slope OF King Solomon noun.
tain in Cunningham gulch. nine miles
north OF Silverton. All telephone
wires to that section north OF How
ardsville are out and communication
with the mine Is impossible. The
mine employs about 75 men and is one
Of the largest In the San Juan coun
try.
DENVER, March 19.-An uncon
| tirmed rumor II to the effect that a
monster snowslide yesterday practic
ally wiped out the town OF Ophir
which rests about two miles distant
| from Ophir Loop. the station on the
Rio Grande Southern railway. No de
| tails are obtainable. 1t was known
| that slide near Ames has partially
destroyed the power plant of l.. L
| Num- at that point, which will seri
ously embarrass the town OF Telluride
and the mines In the surrounding
hills. The storm In that section II
The severest In years.
| DENVER, March l9.--By the loss o
twelve lives In snowsllde near Sil
verton today the death roll resultin,
from the great storm OF the past weel
In the San Juan mining district hai
been Increased to at least fifteen.