Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1911-03-01

Fitzgerald, mine superintendent al
the Belmont, was on the witness
stand today, undergoing cross-ex.
animation by State Mine Inspector
Ryan, that the office of that of.
ficial, at Carson City, had never
been notified by any of the officials
of the company regarding the dis
aster, Notwithstanding the fact that
section 10 calls for such report
Mr.. Ryan stated positively that the
required notice had never been re-
ceived by him. When asked the
penalty for neglect to comply with
this law, Mr.. Ryan said:
"The section requiring them to
report is section 10, and, unfor-
tunately, there is no penalty for vio-
lating that section; but we have a
bill now pending in the legislature
regulating that"
Mr. Fitzgerald further testified
to the fact that while enroute to
the mine on the ill-fated morning,
he met a number of miners en-
route to the Desert Queen shaft,
and instructed them to go on down
the shaft in compliance with the
instructions of the shiftbosses, who
were below ground.
The morning session today open
ed at $3.50 with Manager Bradshaw
still on the stand. He told further
of his trip through the smoke-filled
mine, of his being overcome by the
smoke and his being aided to the
surface; of giving instructions that
the Goldfield Consolidated be tele-
fphoned to rush over, via automo-
pile, the fire helmets on hand at
the Goldfield mine.
Mr.. Bradshaw testified that some
80 men started to go to work on
the morning of the disaster, but
stated that no one knew how many
ever entered the shaft.
Superintendent Fitzgerald suc-
ceeded Mr.. Bradshaw on the wit
ness stand. He stated that he
met a number of miners enroute
from the Belmont to the Desert
queen shaft Someone advised him
that there was fire in the Bel
mont; that the shiftbosses were
down below and had called for
them to enter through the Desert
queen shaft. Eric Waring, who
gave this information, asked.
"Shoufd We go on?"
Mr.. Fitzgerald replied: eyes
boys, / believe l would" The wit
ness then once more reviewed the
trip through the lower workings
IN an effort to locate the fire. He
stated that it took, he considered
about three times as long for him
TO reach the 1OOO-foot level as or.
dinarily.
charles Blake and another miner
We're ordered by Fitzgerald to pa-
trol the 9OO-foot level and keen
the men out. Two others wera
also selected, to remove the powder
stored in the mine. One of these
men was named Matthews. Powder
was stored on the 500 and tbe
lOOO-foot levels. The balance of
the men were ordered to remain
west of the 1866 winze, between
that and the entrance to the 1o0d
drift. The men were 25 to 30 in
number. The orders were given bv
himself.
Fitzgerald, to considerable exton+
corroborated in direct testimony tbe
evidence of shiftboss Grant who
was on the stand yesterday.
FIFTEEN men were in the bunch
with Murphy, Hannigan and the
otners on the 110O-foot level when
Grant first saw them. He has no
idea how they got there or what
tney were doing. He did not re-
member how many men were on tba
other deck of the cage in which he
lne TO safety, or who they were.
n Grant testified positively to the
Iact that Burke, through the tele-
phone, ordered timbermen to make
tne descent through the Desert
Queen shaft.
CrOss-Examined by Sanders.
Burke learned from the eager of
the mine that the mine was afire.
Grant was not sure there was
tire; Burke told him. Hence he
left no word for the oncoming shift.
The fire was blazing when Burke
ordered timbermen down the Desar+