The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-09-13
SUFF0CATED IN
FLOODED MINE
VICTOR FoRs8ERe AND HARRY
LONG LOSE LIFE.
FUMES FROM A GAS ENGINE
Air Supply Had Been Cut off and En-
CINE at Bottom of Mine Had Con-
tinued in Operation. Elk
haust Fouls Air.

Victor Forsberg, No. lis North p
street, aged about fifty years and Har.
ny Long aged Is, son of G. ID. Long,
No 902 North Market street are dead.
the result of suffocation in the coal
mine on the MILFORD Andrews place
just northeast of town in Spring
Greek township. The bodies were re-
covered early this morning. The vic
Tins went into the mine about $3.50
Friday evening to replenish supply
of gasoline for an engine operating a
pump. They were overcome by the
fumes made by the engine. The body
Of Long was recovered about three
O'clock Saturday morning and the
body of Foreberg was rescued about
700 o'clock
Messers Forsberg and G. D. Long
had leased the mine of MILFORD An
drews the owner and intended operat-
ing the property through the work of
assistants hired for the purpose. Thorn
as Watson was working by day and
Mr.. Andrews at night. A considerable
quantity of water had drained into
the mine and this was being removed
by means of a pump operated by
gasoline engine placed at the bottom
OF the mine. Air for the mine was sup
piled by another pump located at the
surface The air supply pump went out
OF commission through the failure OF
the top engine about 80 o'clock Fri
aay afternoon, but the engine pumping
the water continued in operation. The
exhaust from the lower engine filled
the mine with gas fumes that could
not escape to the surface as the air
shaft was sealed by the height of the
water in the mine.
Forsberg and the younger Mr.. Long
knew of the work in progress. They
went out early in the evening and dis
cussed matters with Mr.. Andrews who
had entered the slope about six thirty
O'Clock and found the air very bad. He
had the understanding that the men
were not to enter the slope and
thought they had returned to the city,
So he went to his home and did not
know of their disappearance until call
ed over the phone during the night.
Mother Gives the Alarm.
Mrs. Long, mother of Harry became
alarmed over his absence. 1t was I'M
derstood when he left home that he
was to return at about certain hour
and that he would not stay at the mine
all night. The mother was apprehen-
sive and worried. Her worry turned
TO alarm as the boy did not return.
She called her brother Walter Dexter.
Mr.. Dexter at once called Mr.. Andrews
and a hurried investigation indicated
that something was wrong. Mr.. Dexter
and Grover Hawk started Immediately
Tor the scene spreading the alarm to
all persons available at the early hour
Of l a. m. Policeman F. NJ. Blair, Har-
rold Dodds and Elery Alexander joined
the party and DR.. F. L. Barnes was
also soon at hand. F. A. Dewitt also
Joined the party and aided in the work.
When those who had been in charge
of the work gathered at the mine all
circumstances and evidence tended to
Show that the men had gone into the
slope and must still be in the mine.
Entrance was impossible at this time
as the air was very foul
The engine operating the ventilation
apparatus was wrecked beyond hope
of repair. Harold Dodds and Elery Al
exander volunteered service at this
point and for two hours continuously
kept the fan turning by nand and
through their efforts the condition OF
the mine was improved to the point
where it was possible for the rescuers
to enter.
Bodies are Recovered.
Rescuers including Dexter and Hawk
took chance about 8 o'clock and
went in. About one hundred feet from
the entrance of the slope they came
upon the body of the young man. He
was about twenty-five feet up the slope
when he fell unconscious. Beside him
stood the gasoline can with which he
had been supplying the engine.
The reseuers were themselves al
most overcome and could not pene-
trate further. They did not locate the
.eiuer man until later.
In the meantime Ray Garner had
brought out new gas engine from
the FIJI Garner store. This was soon
placed in commission, the ventilation
I attached and for three hours this was
in operation before the parties could
explore the mine with any degree OF
safety.
Mr.. Forsberg was found at the bot
tom of the mine lying behind the en-
CINE, near which he had evidently
been working, possibly assisting in
supplying the fuel.
One of the bodies was taken to the
Cheesman establishment and the 9th
err to the Wilcox Garland Wilbur rooms
and an inquest will be held.
2 Both Were Well Known.
Victor Forsberg came to Oskaloos;
about three years ago from Colorado
springs. since which time he has beef
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