Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-06-12

one other shaft, the Spectator, about
80Ofeet distant. connecting with the
Granite Mountain on the different
levels.
BY night that shaft also was in
danger, as waters from the levels
was running into it and had caved
a portion. There was no fire in this
shaft, however. Tons of water are
being poured into the Granite Mount.
ain shaft and from points on connect
ing levels with adjoining mines as
near as it is possible to get to the
scene of the fire.
AS yet there has been no organ
lied attempt to combat the fire only
to the extent of affording egress to
bodies and with the exception that it
is widespread and appears to be ex-
tending little was known tonight as
to just what physical damage had re-
suited. only that it was very large.
1t is. believed that the mine damage
will exceed $1,000, 900, with the liabil-
ity insurance which the North Butte
company carries itself of $4,000 for
the life of each miner lost, this being
a statutory provision under the COM
pensation laws of Montana.
Seething Furnace.
That workings in the immediate VI
cinity of the shaft, for 200 feet both
above and below the 24O0-foot level
where the fire originated, were for a
time a seething furnace is indicated
| by developments of the rescue work
The faces of bodies found hundreds
of feet from the shaft itself on the
700 and 500 foot levels, a distance of
1900 feet above the origin of the fire
! were burned.
I While the morgues were being
filled with bodies a dozen or more
men overcome by gas and rescued
from the workings were revived at the
mine itself by first aid methods and
a dozen more were removed to the
hospitals for treatment. Many mem.
bers of the rescue crews were over
come. The American Red Cross to
night volunteered it's services.
The rescued in the North Butte
numbered 222 and in the Diamond
mine 60.
Later Report, 20 Saved.
Twenty-Five of 20 miners imprison
ed on the 240O-foot level of the Spec
ulator mine of the North Butte Min
ing company since last Friday night
26 of whom were brought to the sur
face alive Sunday, owe their live
to Manus Duggan, a nipper boy, 2,
! years old, one of their crew on tina
level.
OF AS in the mine workings, 9
are missing, 5 unidentified bodies ar
at undertaking rooms and at tn
, mine, while 81 dead have been iden
titled
The total of dead is estimated a
100.
: Use Their Clothing as BuIkhead.
Directed by Duggan, who is nc
among the list of those rescued an
for whom fears are expressed an
prayers for his safety being said, tn
rescued men constructed a bulkhea
in what is known as II "X'' crosscu
on the 2400 level, stripped naked an
stuffed the bulkhead with their clotl
ing and bits of canvas. tagging an
dirt, at 1 o'clock Saturday morning
| They made a second bulkhead wit
dirt a short distance from the orii
> inal one at the crosscut openin.
: This kept the gas out and for a tim
: they were in comparative safety.
Until they were taken out of tn
: mine Sunday afternoon the men r.
NAMED in this bulkhead drift. TIL
men, without clothing, food or drinl
= stuck in the drift until the gas b.
came so foul Duggan directed thel
to get ready to break out and max
a try for the shaft. Breaking dow
{ the bulkhead with the assistance
, three others, Duggan went throug
first, the others following. At til
shaft the men rang for the cage,
is understood, and it was sent to til
2400 level Immediately, although til
: men on the surface understood til
y call to have come from the 26(
> level.
= Duggan, after his heroic work
= SO hours, went ahead to test the ga
. and became lost. Officials of II
company express the fear that
has been lost, although the men
:, saved from death think he made g
: attempt to reach the 1000 level al
:, gain the Rainbow shaft of the col
= pany from there.
Owe Their Lives to Duggan.
- 1--WE owe our lives to Manus Du
to reach the surface, said. HE W;
the one who directed all the wor
None of us would be here today if
were not for him.
e. Johnson was given a drink of bra
al dy before he continued his story.
e "Duggan told us all to go into Il
Id drift and after we got in there
81 got a piece of canvas. Then we too
d, off our clothes and choked out t
Il