The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-19

BuL at 4 o CLOCK I0ey were In the en-
brace of death, huddled bodies lying
still.
This fact was established by two
notes, one from William Fessel. miner
and chemist, and father of family,
who persisted, and the other from an
unknown hand.
Fessers note was burned deep into
the wood on the innermost of the two
bulkheads which the men frantically
had constructed to keep out the gas.
He had used the flame of his tiny
miners carbide lamp and had scared
the wood with this message:
Three a. m. Gas very bad WeNare
going TO leave you. William Fessel."
second note, penciled scrawI.
was picked up on the wet floor of
the drift. 1t read:
Three o'clock. Too much gas"
Below was a rudely scraWled figure
a.. 1t appeared as if the writer had
eHdeavored to write a message at 4
o'clock, but the gas had already over
powered the men and they were fall
ing into the sleep which was to be
their last
Law is Inadequate.
(By the Associated Press.l
jackson, Sept ia telegram from
H. Foster Balm, director of the U. S.
head of the bureau in this district,
commenting upon the lessons to be
learned from the Argonaut disaster,
was made public here by Mr.. Piekard.
1t said:
The safety codes now prescribed
by law are inadequate in not requir-
ing for deep metal mines that there
should be hosting equipment in more
than one exit, mechanical control and
proper splitting of air currents and
provisions for their reversal in emer-
gencies.
LAS a result many metal mines in
America. are working with fully as
great fire hazards as at the Argonaut.
mo cost, however. which will per-
init the financing and operation of
necessary mines is too great if it af-
fords real protection to life and
Mr.. Balm added that after each
has done everything possible there will
remain an unacceptable life and prop
erty loss in mining as in other indus
tries, but until we do all that is pos
sible we may not salve our con
sciences"
Facts to Governor.
A history of the Argonaut disaster
resulting in the loss of forty-seven
lives will be presented to Gov. William
D. stephens in few days by his per-
sonal representative, Clarence E. Jar
Wis of the state board of control. What
action the governor would take, Mr..
Jarvis said today he was unable to
forecast.
Mr.. Jarvis said he believed every
thing possible had been done to rescue
the men and that the methods en-
ployed were efficient. As to whether
escape might have been possible when
the fire started on August 81, he de-
clned to express a positive opinion.
In this connection he mentioned a
mine disaster in another state in
which he said 1913 lives had been lost,
altho the mine had ten exits.
Jackson mining town in the mother
lode country, has paid the toll de-
manded of those who delve in the
earth for gold, and stands unafraid
but not dry-eyed today. 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
tAmsy bulkheads of their own build
Ing that had been their tomb for
three weeks. But Jackson is unafraid
Tor her men showed they knew how
to die. Moreover, those who did not
meet that fate showed they knew
how to live, for they gave of them
selves without stint in the effort to
save their entombed fellows.
Story OF the Tragedy.
1t was California's worst mine dis
aster, in one of California's greatest
soid producers. and it was the hard
est eioW jackson ever has had to suf-
Ier. Three weeks ago, last Sunday
night, men deep in the Argonaut be-
leVed they smelled smoke. A shift
BOSS took two men and went to inves-
tisate. They found the shaft afire. at
she $500 foot level, CHANGED death
e. rom gas and were carried thru the
rlre to the top of the mine.
They haaar ha
presently merged into one of rescue
Tor the men below, for the fire
DlocEed the shaft and prevented fhe
escape of the miners.
Men came from all over the west
70 oIfer their services. the curious fell
f foe,I OF miners bringing hearty Of
ters OF service from all who could get
70 jackson. Mining companies in dis
lant states, even in Mexico, tele-
graphed proffers of assistance The
kennedy company, operators of an adj
joining shaft, sunk the bitterness of
lawsuit in its willingness to be of
service, and loaned all its nroner+v
and facilities to the work Of rasc,,e
For many weary days, disappointed
sometimes by unexpected difficulties
and heartened som etimes by eoualIed
unexpected bits of good luck, rescue
crews drove thru the ehoked tunnel
that once had connected the two
--'ANS "a pabtCl Gu at the TOCk SeDdrdC-
ing one of the Kennedy,s drifts from
the Argonaut's 1900 foot level.
Yesterday, a drill was driven thru
the last barrier of rock into the Argo-
naut.
Explored Without Result
Sweating shoulders and inbreakable
wills, drove steel picks at the rock
until this hole had been enlarged
enough to permit a man to pass. Five
Inen made a hasty and unauthorized
exploration of part of-Argonaut, seek
ing survivors, at the imminent risk of
heir own lives. The opening was en-
larged so that a rescue crew could
bass 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, hampered 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 that