The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-02-23
Blaze in Lower Levels Burns the Timbering, and the GalIows Frame, Cages and Gear
 Fall Into the Depths
 Damage Heavy
FORTUNATELY NO LIVES LOST
Buikheading Was Resorted to and the Slopes Closed off From the Shaft. Shaft is Being Filled With Earth
 and Tailings to Smother Fire

MORENCI, Feby 23.-One of the
 most serious fires that ever visited Morenci was discovered in the West Yankee mine shaft at S:3O Monday night, by night watchman Pat DevIin
 who noticed smoke issuing from the
 mouth of the shaft. The blaze orig
 mated In one of the lower levels. The
 lire department responded to the al
 arm in quick time and up to the time or It's appearance on the scene no flames were visible, only a dense vol
 ume of smoke issued from the shaft
 collar.
 About the time the hose was coup-
 led and ready for the attack on the
 hre, flames broke out of the collar of
 the shaft, and it soon became evident
 that the entire imbering from the
 collar to considerable depth as well as the gallows frame was doomed to destruction.
 The ga1lows frame fell in a few minutes after the flames reached the well-seaSoned structure that burned like kindling wood. The cages and gears of the hoist went down with a rush to the depths.
 The blaze was communicated to the assay office and ore chutes but the flames were extinguished after con siderable damage had been done. The electric feed wires were burned, cut ting off the power from the .concen- trator for three hours.
 Failing to gain headway against the ire from the top, hose was brot
 into the lower levels through the tunnels and a large force of men were put at work bulkheading the entrance to the various stopes. The heat was so intense and the fumes so noxious that the men had to work in short shifts frequently relieved At noon Thursday it was believed that the bulkheading had confined the fire to the immediate vicinity of the West Yankee shaft, and one or two stopes nearest the shaft. The fire is still smoldering and the full extent of the damage can not now be determined.
 Air was admitted to the lower lev els as an experiment on Thursday, but the smoldering timberss quickly burst into flames and the vents were again closed. A track was then laid across the shaft mouth and carloads of tailings and dirt were dumped into the shaft to choke it and smother the fire below.
 When the fire is conquered the shaft will be retimbered and put again in commission
 The West Yankee is one of the old est and best of the Detroit company's 3 compartment and about 700 feet deep, the cages being operat- ed; by a first motion, hoisting engine. From it is 'hoisted ore from the West Y Yankee, Old. Yankee and Ryerson hines
 The hoist house, engine and boil ers were not injured and compara- lively little damage was done above ground.
 The loss to the company will be but the accident will not Lffect the copper output or number if men employed but little if any
 The origin of the fire is not known, ut generally attributed to a lighted andle carelessly placed by some em- 'loye. No lives were lost and no per, on seriously injured, though many f the workmen were rendered un- onscious through the smoke and umes.