Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-06-09

are known to he dead and no hope
f. held cut for the recovery Of 169
others trapped underground by
fire I'm the Speculation copper mine
near here early today, Out Of 4I5
men iu the mine at the time the
fire broke ont, more than tw0-
thirds are uuaceouuted for. Twelve
bodies have been recovered.
THE fire. which started on the 2400-
foot level. communicated quickly 10
others. cutting of all escape from men
ON lower levels. Dense smoke, which
poured from the shaft in great clouds,
retarded rescue work Miners in ad
Joining properties, ordered up from
underground as q precauton, went 70
work as rescuing gangs, aiding ma
ti0ual guardsmen who had been called
10 the scene Because Of the smoke
and danger. they were able to do lit
tie. until the arrival Of safety first
cars from Red Lodge and Colorado
Springs Warning Of their danger
came ln time enough to permit men
in upper levels to escape They inn
mediately formed rescue parties and
attempted 10 90 down the shaft TO the
men on lower levels, who are, it ia
thought. ent0mbed. Their efforts were
frBitiess
Account for 218 OF as.
One hopr after the outbreak Of the
fire, L. r. Frink, superintendent; W.
ID. Corners, foreman and y. d Draw
Icr general manager Of the Granite
shaft. owned by the North Butte COM
pany. declared they could account for
2I2 Gur Of AS VINO were in the shaft
when the fire started
Holm Cofemetteu and John Boyce,
VINO were the first two men TO be
taken from the shaft alive, told OF sus-
tanning their lives by cutting the air
hose and sucking the air by turns uu-
TIL the rescue party arrived They
were on the 70o-f0ot level at the out
break of the fire.
Started From Lamp.
According to miners who escaped.
the fire started from flames Of car
blda lamp.
Two men who were working on the
Tgg foot level reported that As had
persisted ON the level where they
worked, they alone being saved.
Men equipped with safety helmets,
t8 Withstand the effects Of smoke and
fumes. entered the Spectator shaft
soon after
Ioa HFiltftA Eobme0s
There were as men on the night
shift OF these 2l3 escaped through
levels connecting with other mines
The gas spread to the Diamond Mine
and took a further toll of life In that
property. Helmet men. mine rescue
crews and safety first squads from all
the mines in Butte undertook 10 pene-
trate the gas filled workings Of the
Spectator The Diamond and High Ore
mines iu the hope OF fadiug the larger
body of miners for whom hope Of res
cue was not given up today Officials
said that If taa ISL missing miners are
not found to have made their way to
the High Ore mime workings they are
doomed
Officials issue Statement.
A statement by officials Of the North
Butte company issued just before
noon today, gives 2f known dead as a
result Of the Spectator mine fire. 1877
missing and 212 known to have been
saved The list Of missing now in
cIudes such men as are believed yet
10 be in The mine
Probably 100 Dead.
Pittsburgh Pa, June g-Omcers Of
the bureau Of mines stationed here to-
day received word from the district
manager at Butte that probably one
hundred had persisted iu the accident
al the Spectator mine. Rescue car
no :. which belongs i'm that district,
has been ar Billings, Mont and has
been called 20 the scene as has car No.
which is in Colorado The mining
interests at Butte are credited with
having one Of the best reseIe orRani-
cations in the country. ard ~, with the
assistance of the trained crews from
the federal cars. are relied upoH to
hurry the work of rescue at the mine.