Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-06-12
MINE. TRAGEDY
AT. SILvERT0N
FIRE IN THE GOLD KING MINE
RESULTS IN SIX
DEATHS.
THREE MEN TRAPPED
THIRTY FACE DEATH IN HEROIC
ALLY WORKING FOR THEIR
RESCUE.

Denver.-A News special from Sill
verton Sunday night says: Six men
are dead-five OF them as the result
of trying to rescue men trapped in the
Gold King mine by the fire that de-
stroyed all buildings on the surface
and seven are in hospitals here re-
covering from the fumes of carbonic
acid gas. OF these seven, five were
members Of the first rescue party that
went into the mine.
One of the three men caught under
ground. prey for the deadly and subtle
carbonic acid gas, died as he reached
the surface. His two comrades were
brought up nearly dead at O'Clock
this morning with the bodies and with
five Others who were near breathing
their last for the sake Of saving others.
Silently Silyerton paid her tribute
to the dead today. when the special
trains, bearing 300 volunteers Of the
second rescue party that was rushed
to Gladstone last night. reached the
city. with six bodies aboard and bear
ing the seven men whose lives were
near ended from deadly fumes.
When fire, supposedly the work OF
an incendiary. swept through all Of the
buildings Of the Gold King at Glad
stone Friday night, II was believed that
all OF the men underground had es-
capped, as well as those sleeping in the
bunkhouses. A relief train that was
sent from here soon after the fire start
ed, brought back Its passengers be-
cause II was believed that all were
safe.
With dawn OF yesterday check Of
the men returned three missing-Erick-
son. Finstrom and johnson. Nearly
every man in camp volunteered to go
below ground. and thirty were chosen
to make q search Of the gas-filled work
ings for the three men thought to be
either lost or helpless.
With nearly every man, woman and
child standing anxiously about the
mine. In silent terror of the death-deal-
ing gases below. the thirty rescuers
were sent down. Air could not be
supplied to them. because all OF the ma
chinery was in ruins from the fire.
and they knew that their lives might
be the price OF reaching the three men
somewhere far underground.
The thirty rescuers went to the fifth
level and began their search. They
found their men but before they could
be hoisted the rescuers began to sue
cumb.
On the surface the long Valt Causeu
q call for more rescuers. and then the
two trainloads OF men hurried from Sill
verton- Assisted by some Of the
stronger OF the original party. the new
volunteers began to take out the living
and the dead.
By 4 o'clock thirteen Of the first par.
ty had reached the surface. some of
them seemingly nearly dead. The men
then set to work with frenzied speed.
and continued their efforts until J
o'clock this morning.
The dead are:
Victor Erickson. one OF three min
ers entrapped in the mine following
the fire in the tipple and tram house:
Peter McEnaney. Roy Coburn, ANel
Johnson, \. W. Burns. Gus Olson.
Probably the miner who is in the
most serious condition and who is not
expected to live. is Herman Matson.
who was one Of the three entombed
miners. John FlnstrOm. the third one.
is very sick. but he will probably re-
cover
Others of the rescuing party who are
in bad condition by being overcome
by gas. are David Louis. Otto Johnson,
Mike Anezi. Angelo AneEi. A. Biamco
and Frank Wurz. They are expected
to recover.