The daily sentinel., 1908-02-13
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Small Force Employed.


During the present winter season
the company has employed a force
of about 35 men in the Dragon mine.
Very little night work is being done
and consequently all but two of the
miners left their work at the close
of the day Tuesday for their night S
rest. Had the explosions occurred
while the entire force was at work,
it is doubtful if a single life would
have been saved.
The Cause Unknown.
Superintendent Sommerville stat
ed to The Sentinel that it has been
absolutely impossible to ascertain the
true cause of the terrible accident
The cause will probably always re-
main a mystery. Mr.. Sommerville
said: There is absolutely no way of
determining the cause of the acct
dent. The lighting system was in
perfect running order: in fact, the
engineer was at his post in the en-
gine house outside of the mine at
the time of the accident, and he re-
ports everything working smoothly.
There was very little dust in the
mine. The ventilation was good.
At pm. Tuesday | went through
the mine on tour of inspection and
found everything in excellent condi-
ton and in fine working order. l
certainly cannot understand what
caused the explosion"
While the two Greeks should have
been at work in the Cumberland por-
tion of the mine, it is of course not
known absolutely that they were in
that part of the mine when the ex-
plosions occurred. Many theories as
to the cause have been advanced.
Engine House Wrecked.
So great was the force of the ex-
plosions that the engine house on
the outside of the mine was badly
wrecked and much damage done to
the engines.
Hard to Estimate Damage.
Superintendent Sommerville states
innate of the damage caused by the
explosions and the fire. 1t will
mount way up into the thousands of
dollars.
Will Be Tied Up Long Time.
1t will be considerable length of
time before operations can be re-
sumed. Mr.. Sommerville states that
just as quickly as the fire dies out,
the mine will be opened up, the dam
age repaired and operations resumed
During the present winter work
has been going on only in the Cum
berland part of the Dragon mine.
About 60 tons of gilsonite has been
taken, from the mine daily this win
ter.
The Men Transferred.
Today the force of miners which
has been employed at the Dragon
mine were transferred to the Bo-
nanza mine, which is 23 miles north
of Dragon, and they will be kept
at work there until the Dragon mine
Is reopened. The Bonanza mine,
which Is owned by the same company
that owned the Dragon mine, is not
worked in the winter time,
as 1t is on stage line and it is diff
ficult to get the gilsonite to the rail-
road.
The .Gilson-Asphaltum Company
controls the largest and richest gill
sonite properties in the country, all
of which are located in Utah
The mine at Dragon was modern
ly equipped and well managed. Two
years ago small explosion occurred
at the mine, but 1t was not compare
BILE In its disastrous effect with the
explosions of yesterday morning.
Accident to Pump.
The Sentinel learned early this
morning that the management had
been having some trouble with it's
big pump at the Dragon mine, and
Mr.. Sommerville was asked by The
Sentinel If this trouble with the
pump could in any way have been
with the accident. "Pos-
itively no." replied Mr.. Sommerville.
The pump was frozen up some days
ago and 1t was necessary to secure
new cylinder heads. Last night the
company sent to the Western foun-
dry of this city, operated by A. M.
Weir, for new cylinder heads for the
pumps. the patterns arriving today.
Friday night-St Valentine ball.