The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-08
COLORADO DISASTER.
Heroic Work by Miners to Save Their
Comrades.

Silverton, Colo, June Silk men
are dead, eight others in a dangerous
condition from breathing foul air and
twenty-five to thirty more temporarily
confined to their homes from weak
ness due to contact with poisoned
air in the Gold King mine, located
at Gladstone, six miles from here.
The Dead.
Peter McNiny, Roy Coburn, Alex
John, A. w. Burns, Victor Erickson.
Gus Olson.
Seriously injured: John sunston,
David Lewis, Otto johnson, Michael
Anesi, A. Binco, H. Matson, Frank
Wurks,- Angle Anatha.
On Thursday night fire was dis
covered in the engine room of the
mine and before it could be brought
under control had destroyed that
building, as well as the shaft house.
The two buildings were located near
the portal doors of the main shaft
and to prevent the spread of the
flames and accumulation Of smoke in
the workings of the mine, these doors
were closed temporarily. Before TAX
ing this precautionary move the men
working the night shift in the mine
were hurriedly notified of the condi-
lions on the surface and instructed to
withdraw. When the flames had been
extlngn1shed, in order to make sure
that all was well with the men, the
list was checked over. The discovery
was made then that three men were
missing. Immediately efforts to res
cue them were started but with little
hope Of reaching them alive, as ma
ch1nery operating the fans had been
out of commission by the destruction
OF the engine house and any pure air
that might have reached them from
the surface had been shut off by the
closing of the portal doors. The first
ones to enter the mine returned In
int 81,
the mine was filled with foul air and
1t was almost impossible to breathe it.
The men all expressed willingness to
risk contact with the foul air If the
missing men could be rescued and ac-
cordfngly two rescue parties were
formed and the men started into the
mine In groups of five, by means of
the electric elevator, which fortunate
ly. was still working.
instruction were given that as soon
as anyone showed signs of faintness.
| the rest were to Immediately bring
him to the surface The air generated
by the motion of the elevator had
cleared the atmosphere in the elevator
shaft SO that but little discomfort was
| experienced there. Soon after a score
mine, some of those first in, appeared
| at the foot of the elevator shaft car
| ry1ng the unconscious forms of res
| cuers who had succumbed to the
| nOXlOuS air. Later party reached the
| surface bringing the dead body OF
Victor Erickson. and the almost life
| less bodies of John Sunston and Otto
| Johnson, and three men whose absence
caused the necessity for rescue work
| 1t seems that these three had found
| a spot where the air was not so fou
| as in other portions of the mine an6
| Sunston and Johnson had been able t.
live through it. The rescuers wht
| brought these men to the surface re-
ported that many of their companion:
had been overcome by the foul air an6
| were lying in the drifts of the mine
| Instantly there was a clamor among
the men at the surface to go to the
aid of their fellow workers and it was
almost impossible to keep them from
evercrowding the elevator, which Was
| kept in almost continuous motion, car
rying men in and out Of the mine
Those coming to the surface carried II
their arms the bodies of half suffoca
ted men, several of whom died attel
reaching the surface. 1t was man.
hours before a thorough search OF tn
underground workings was completed
| and report was made that everyone nat
| been accounted for. When the lists to
tailed, it was found that five men hat
heroically given UP their lives for thei
| comrades and that many were in ser1
Gus condition, and may never recove
entirely from the killing effect O
breathing the poison. 1t was not unit
o'clock this morning that work wa
. abandoned. The property loss to tn
mine was less than $4,000.
/