New Britain herald., 1922-09-19
Jackson, Cal., Suffers Worst Blow In His- tory = Financial Aid Is Furnished Victims Families.
4 agitation Is Begun for Leg. islative Action to Guard Against Repetition of Argonaut Tragedy.

Jackson, Calf, Sept. 1s.-(By the Associated Press)-Jackson. mining town in the mother lode country, has paid the toll demanded of those who delve in the earth for gold and stands unafraid but not dry-eyed today.
 Men Died August 2S Forty seven of her men died in the Argonaut mine early on the morning of August 2S, she learned last night and today she awaits the bringing of their bodies from the rock tunnel walled in with f1imsy bulkheads of their own building that had been their tombs for three weeks. But Jackson is unafraid, for her men showed they know how to die, moreover, those who did not meet that fate showed they knew how to live for they gave of themselves without stint in the ef- fort to save their entombed fellows.
 It was California's worst mine dis aster in one of California's greatest gold producers, and it was the hardest blow Jackson ever has had to suffer.
 Were Fighting Fire
 Three weeks ago last Sunday night men deep in the Argonaut believed they smelled smoke. A shift boss took two men and went to investigate They found the shaft afire at the $500 foot level chanced death from gas and were carried through the fire to the top of the mine. Then began the work of fire fighting which presently merged into one of rescue for the men below for the fire blocked the shaft and prevented the escape of the miners.
 Men came from all over the west to offer their services, the fellowship of the miners bringing hearty offers of service from all who couhf get to Jackson. Mining companies 1T, dis tant states, even in Mexico, telegraph ed offers of assistance. The Kennedy Mining Co. operators of an adjoining shaft, sunk the bitterness of a law suit in it's willingness to be of service and loaned all its property and facili- ties to the work of rescue.
 Rescuers Worked Ceaselessly
 Sweating shoulders and unbreaka- ble wills drove steel picks at the rock until this hole had been enlarged enough to permit man to pass. Five men made an unauthorized explora- tion of part of the Argonaut, seeking survivors at the imminents risk of their own lives. The opening was en- larged so that rescue crew could pass and all day explorations went on without any result.
 The levels were clear, there was no sign of any miner left in them, either dead or alive. The rescue men, hamp- cred by their oxygen helmets and the heat of the underground workings, turned their attention to exploring the cross cuts and drifts leading from the tunnels already traversed. In one they found a bulkhead that had not been there when the miners went below In that fatal mine three weeks ago.
 Did Not Die Instantly
 Hope rose anew at this evidence that some at least of the entombed men had not died an instant death rom the gases thrown of by the fire n the shaft and the rescuers pressed on They found another bulkhead not  d with town clothing like the first put erected of earth rock and debris t was a pitiful structure, gaping in places so that the rescuers could see trough it but it checked the air cur. ents somewhat and the men in the 'Xygen helmets halted before it afraid o tear 1t down while the air before t was poisonous lest they thereby ause sudden death to any who might 'e alive beyond it.
 Find second Bulkhead
 Hope stood at its highest when this econd bulkhead was found and from hat height it made its greatest plunge Before those who waited above for ews of their loved ones knew even hat the rescuers had broken through he bulkhead word came that the odies of 42 men had been found and ounted.
 Not long after word came up from ne temporary station hurriedly ad- anced to the 4,200 foot level near ear the bulkhead place, that the ther five also had been found dead Jackson took the blow calmly and ItStniiN loullu COlnlOEl III tue Sule gained from notes left by NO Of the men and from the reports f rescuers regarding the mems work efore they died that a quick and lerciful death had come 10 them in cad of the agonies of starvation. here was no lingering in inky dark ess 5000 feet below sea level The as came. then lethargy, then obli- ion,
 Records scrawled on paper by one Ian and scratched on a. timber by mother showed they had lived but tile more than three hours after -ecting their pitiful barricades. Sad- est of all was the mute record of le bare beginning of third bulk cad when gas had driven them from le scene of the second
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