The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-02-16

The Eveleth News contained the fol-
lowing account Of the fire al the big
Fayal mine which Is OF interest 10 all.
especially those Of our people who are
acquainted with the property.
Zone Of the worst mine fires in the
history Of the range Is raging under
ground in the Fayal mine Up 70 to-
day IL has been confined to the work
ings OF No. 2 shaft and the chances are
that IL will remain 80. bat that there
Is danger Of Is spreading 70 the main
workings leading 20 No 4 shaft cannot
De denied
The origin 9ft the fire il believed ~
some 81 have been two-foid though
there can be no certainty about It.
Fire was first discovered "wednesday
night at half past eleven IN the powder
house % the second level near No 2
shaft The powder man had gone to a
chute for few minutes TO relieve the
chute boy who went after some drink
ing water AS he opened the door
npon returning the flames burst forth
upon him, The alarm was then given
though the mine and the fire was
fought by blasting down the timbers
at the powaer house While this was
being done the men were escaping from
the drifts and the repeated blasts gave
rise 70 the report that large number
OF explosions occurred. Another report
was that the powder burned instead of
exploding.
II was fully believed that the fire
had been conquered when on Thursday
afternoon fire was discovered on the
sub level above the second level
The fact that the gallery between the
powder house and the shaft. was not
burned Is considered 10 prove that the
fire in the sub level, which is proving
to be the destructive one. was due TO
some other cause, possibly the leaving
Of lighted candle by miner
In the afternoon between FIVE and
seven o'clock No. shaft house,
wooden structure. was destroyed.
IL stood for two hours and with
flames leaping about IL presented
terrible spectacle The flames crept
ont of the collar of the shaft at i've in
the afternoon and at 8 80 were still
raging and threatened 10 destroy the
ron covered boiler house and other
surface buildings AS there had been
plenty OF warning no loss Of life re-
suited. That no fatalities happened
the night before is marvellous The
Fayal fire department was entirely i'm
adequate 10 6ght the blaze in the shaft
house and the Eveleth department. was
called out A line OF nose was run
from the city limits, a distance Of 1900
feet and the firemen fought the flames
until nine o'clock by which time the
shaft house had fallen and danger Of
spreading TO the boiler house and other
surface property had been prevented.
Fighting the fire from below became
entirely out Of the question on account
OF the smoke and it was decided TO try
" ohioNhoi ~ i@oIth anu manure were
placed over the timber shaft TO pre-
vent draft.
Subsequently.it was decided that 10
ave the whole mine from becoming
irritable underground furnace. the
cry opposite steps should be taken and
he covering was removed IL is now
oped that the two vents. the main
,.nd.timber shafts. can be Kept open so
fire will not back up towards
No. A.
The loss OF the shaft house is not
considered of importance as IL was no
longer In nse and would have been
RACED shortly
It is the damage underground that
will count Though no entrance can
be made 10 the burning portion Of the
mine, IL Is apparent that many thou
sands II dollars will be- required to
retimber in the No. . workings and II
the fire should spread, the loss would
be tremendous
All the men have been sent home
and nons are being employed expect