Semi-weekly herald., 1908-06-11
GOLD KING
VICTIMS
Six Dead as Result of
Fire Destroying the
Mine Buildings

In mourning over the terrible tragedy
enacted at the Gold King mine Satur
Jay afternoon and night wherein 81,
people lost their lives and as many
hHre are In critical condition Al
related in Saturdays dispatches, WORD
came TO Silverton just before the moor
hour that three men were missing
otto Johnson, Viy Ei.cnson and John
Finstrom. Manager ". z. Kinney with
rescuing party lett Silverton right
after dinner on special train for
Gladstone and thence to the mime. In
the party was Pete McInany. one OF
the shift bosses. The missing men
were under Mclnany and although he
was tired from being up all night and
warned not 10 go into the mine owing
TO bad air, he insisted and with sew
eral companions went down the sha,.
and after being gone some time re-
ported back through speaking tube
that the missing men had been found
and were all right. And then there
was long wait and the men not
reporting Ray Colburn, another shift
boss. with several men went in search
of McInany and party. trhe particu-
Jars of the rescue are told below by
Mr.. English who arrived from Silver
ton last evening. MIR. English being
one of the rescuing party.-Ed. Her
add
The horrors ol the night will remain
In the memory of great many men
the remainder of their life. 1t WAS
arrived late at night that systematic
work was inaugurated.
1T was soon discovered that several
OF the first rescuing party we're dead
and when the last were brought out
of the mine il was found five of the
rescuers and one of the missing men
were dead. Even with the greatest
precaution many OF the last recruits
were. overcome. several of whom are
still in a critical condition. Herman
Matson being the most dangerous and
his life is despaired of. This morn
eng a report gained circulation that
1.-Two additional lives had been sacri-
feed. making the total death list eight.
but this proved untrue, and the list
remains at six. as follows:
PETER McINANY,
AALEX JOHNSON.
RAY COLBURN.
A. w. BURNS.
GUS OLSON.
VIC ERICKSON.
The last named was one of the
three men for whom search was made
in the first place. 1t is said there Is
no reason why the men should not
have left the mine at the time of the
fire There is a fire alarm system
throughout the mine and the men
notified as soon as the fire discovered
which means immediate exit. The
surviving men say they were afraid
TO climb the ladder and feeling safe
where they were, remained in the
mine For their failure TO leave the
mine five brave men lost their lives.
OF course the men never realized such
a horrible result or they would have
beer Just as brave and faced danger
in making their way out. The follow
ing are among those suffering most
from the effects of inhaling gas:
John Finstrom, Dave Lewis, Otto
johnson, Mike Anneso. Andrew Biani-
g, II. Matson, Frank wurts, Frank
Beers, and Anglo Annesia. OF the lat
ter Finstrom and Johnson were two
of the. missing men. Both are able to
be out Today.
frank Beers-sys G OF the rescuing
patty, is having Serious time. He
was taken out of the mine unconscious,
but soon recovered. He walked To
town the same night. About noon to-
day the poisonous gas inhaled began
10 work on his system and he was
taken deathly Ill and for nearly three
hours two doctors worked over him
before he began TO show signs OF
relief and then he was In dangerous
condition until >late AT hiSnt. iouaJ
he is resting easy and further compli-
cations are not feared.
Many people remained up most OF
Saturday night waiting for news from
the mine and the sad ending Of the
mine and the sad ending OF the men
was the all absorbing topic OF con
yersation yesterday and today. Many
visited the mine yesterday and had re
vealed g desolate condition.
or ATgead men Mr.. Mclnany was
the only one married. his wife, how
ever, being dead. He leaves five chill
dren who are at present In Denver
He was So years Of age. Colburn wa
38 and single; Alex Johnson. one o
the mill men. single and rs years o
age; A. w. Burns. also one Of the shif
bosses. single and 2s years OF age
Vic Erickson, single. 81 years-ha'
been In the country only few months
coming from Old Mexico; Gus Oisor