Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-07-25

MEN WHO ESCAPE
SWIM TO SAFETY
Rumor Has 1t That Three Per-
ished at Lemoot, an H, C.
Frick Property Great Prop
erty Losses Result,

tHy Morning Joornai special ressea Wire,
UniontuWn, l'a., July 3I.~-Caught
like rats IN "A trap when water rushed
into the manwaS OF the Superba No.
mine at Evans station. three miles
north Of unionlown this afternoon.
following a cluudburst thirteen men
were drowned and thirN seven es-
capped after a most narrowing expert
encc. The men were drowned about
1000 feet from the mouth Of The
mine. their only avenue OF escape.
The majority Of the victims had
large families and about thirty chit
dren are deprived Of their bread win
ncrs.
The men who escaped were forced
to half swim and half walk To the
pit mouth through water ranging in
dopth from their waist to their necl<s.
The majority Of the miners who es-
| capped were Knocked down by tim-
bcra that were sent down the mine
with great velocity IN the raging cur
rent. Several men were being carried
back in the mine To certain death
when rescued by their companions.
1t was stated tonight by officers of
the mine that il would take at least
sixty days to clear the mine OF water
and until that time. bodies must re-
main in the mine.
superintendent Buttermore was
the first man to see the water start
IN the manway. He raised the alarm
ana an the men on the outside rushed
| into the mine, yelling loudly as they
| went.
The wives ana families Of the min
crs ana drivers In the mine. when the
alarm was raised rushed to large
hole made by the rushing water az
| the manhole ana threw bushes poles
and whatever timber they could find
into the water to stop It's onrush Fail-
ing in this they rushed to the mouth
Of the mine. bat We're stopped by the
men who guarded the entrance.
several arge pumps VIII be placed
IN the mine tomorrow and everything
possible viii be done to get the bod
les.
The water rose 50 quickly following
the cloudburst that it practically de-
stroyed all railroad ana street rail
ways In Fayette county.
Nothing could be dnue to avert the
catasirophc a dam that had been
bnilt around the nanway a day or
TWO ago when lhe water was high.
was washed away ana the waters
rushed into the mine So rapidly that
the pii was filcd IA less than thirty
minutes.
IT was reported tonight that three
men had LOST their lives IN Lemont
No ,. mine of the n. G. Frick coke
Company, about half a mile from the
Supcrba mine. About hundred men
were caught in the flood there but
All escaped except the three who are
unAccouuted for Andy MueIlak. one
Of tnr survivors. when he realized that
water was rushing Ia with such rapid
itv as to flood the entire mine, caught
a wagon that was attached to the
ears of cont and while hanging on
the chains was drawn 10 safety by two
mules.
Another man. John Rapko. who
was given a lamp by William Smith,
me of the drivers In order that both
,ould have their WAY lighted, imme-
lately disappeared with the lamp
utc,ns smith - .tsh' HE way ont in
darkness.
II ia reported that several other
men have pershed IN the mine. but
,fficials declare that the complete
isl is only thirteen. Thirteen checks
we're left on the check board and the
fficials estimate the loss In this
manner. although there are persistent
umors that the death list may reach
iXtpen