The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1912-02-08
Fifty Feet of Solid Earth
Separates Workers From
Their Families and
Freedom
I BUNKER HILL OWNERS
BLAMED FOR NEGLECT
Cage Laden With Ore Strikes
Rotten Timbers and Many
Tons of Earth
Fall
HUNDREDS VOLUNTEER
AND PROMISE RESCUE
[SeseiqI Dispatch 10 The Call

A MADOR CITY, FEB. =
"A Sixty-three men were en-
4 n tombed in the famous Bunker
Hill mine, three-quarters of
mile north of here, at o'clock this
afternoon, when the shaft caved in.
About 50 feet of solid earth sepa-
rates the men from freedom, and hun
dreds of miners and citizens have been
working in short relays to reopen the
shaft and rescue them. When the
accident occurred the miners were at
work on the 1900 foot level, but no
one was killed or injured
The miners did not learn Of their
Imprisonment until notified from the
surface by telephone The telephone
wires were not damaged BY the cave
in. The miners were instructed to
make their way by ladders to the ZOO
foot level As soon as word was re-
ceived that the 63 men had reached
the 200 foot level Superintendent
Hanlpden set his rescuers to work.
Hundreds of Rescuers
1t was unnecessary to call for vol
unteers. Within Is minutes after the
shaft was filed hundreds OF miners
and citizens reported to Superintend
ent HamDden that they were ready
to undertake the work systematic
plan was outlined and the men began
digging out the shaft.
Words of encouragement were sent
to the men below the surface and they
were told that their freedom would be
only a matter OF a few hours. The
depth of the cavein was learned soon
after the rescuers went to work, and,
unless there are more caveins, ii is
thought that the entombed men will be
rescued late tonight
Although the buried miners are with
out food, there is plenty of water and
SUFFICIENT air in the mine, so there is no
danger for "a hours, at least They
were cautioned against entering the
shaft. for fear Of falling stones strik-
ing them.
Mine Owners Blamed
Neglect on the part of the mine own
ers in not supplying strong timbers for
the mine shaft is given as the cause OF
the accident. The timbers lining the
Eides of the entrance to the deep mine
are old and rotten.
The breaking Of rope attached TO
a cage laden with ore caused the eavein.
The ore cage was just about to be
dumped into galley about 80 feet
above the mouth of the shaft when the
rope parted. The heavy cage struck
against the side of the shaft. No one
was riding in the cage.
Great care is being taken by the
rescue party to guard against further
caveins. Strong timbers are being
nlsced all about the shaft as fast as the
earth is removed. These timbers are
being reinforced with heavy braces.
Families Use Phone
The families of the imprisoned miners
reached the mouth of the shaft short
time after they were entombed. There
was much rejoicing. among the women
and children especially, when they
learned that their loved ones were
alive The telephone was kept in al
most constant use in communicating
words of love and cheer to the pris-
oners.
The Bunker Hill mine is the deepest
and one Of the oldest of the state. 1t
has been in the possession of the pres
ent owners about 10 years and always
has paid large dividends. The mine is
more than 1000 feet deep.
At o'clock tonight the rescuers had
made considerable headway in clear
ing the shaft and the work was going
along smoothly There We're no fur
ther accidents and the men on the sur
face are confident that those walled in
beneath wiQ bs rescued before mid
night