The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-09-19
ALL FOR
ONE, ONE
FOR ALL
Fought Intelligently
Coolly, Against
Deadly Odds

JACKSON, Cal, Sept. 10
--Jackson's heart today is
filled with pride for her AZ
brave sons.
Her men made a wonder
full. gallant fight for life.
They fought coolly, intelli-
gently. all together and they
failed thru no fault of their
own.
They fought like heroes,
all for one and one for all.
That is what the mute evi.
Idence in the 4,350-foot level
tells.
when tho fro broke out IN ths
Argonaut mine at midnight NOR,
than three weeks ago. the 81 mer
were scattered miles apart In th'
different levels OF tho mine.
Somehow. they managed 20 get to
Eother. Tho ones who discovered
tho fire first notified their fellow
workmen.
They were cool, and they
planned wisely. They came up
from lowvr level because they
knew they would be flooded
with water.
They chose one level where their
chances for life would bo best. II
was not an easy thing TO get ~
men. desperate with approaching
death. together. II was a miracle
almost that they stuck together
fought together for tho common
safety OF all.
The first bulkhcad the men built
was an excellent piece OF work
manship. miners say. II was OF
timberr and clay. working under
greatest difficulties. I'm tremendous
haste. The men were able to do
the right thing and do II well.
Not well enough. but tho miracle
is that they did Il as well as they
did.
Behind II they tried TO build a sec.
ond bulkhead.
All this inside Of three hours, for
the fire was first discovered at mid.
night. and the note found In the drift
with tho men was dated 3 a. m.
For their second bulkhead ma.
terIal was running short. They did
the best they could. They tore Off
their clothet TO fiii up the cracks.
But there WIS not enough. And the
gas was getting into their systems.
Phcy finished Il. tho. and retired
a little farther into the drift.
They gamely tried 10 start third
bulkhead. They got II half built OF
mud and clay they could get there
In the drift.
And the end came. II must have
come 10 them all at about the same
time. for they were lying together,
fallen across each others bodies.
One man. William Fcssel. was able
to scrawl a note. He wrote IL on a
piece OF board. - a. m.,' IL said.
gas bad" Then the figure "a" and
nothing else. That note Is comfort.
ing jackson today.
IL proves that the men died only
three hours after they were trapped.
II takes away forever the thoughts
OF horror. the fear that the men suf.
fered. and they were the hardest OF
all the hard things to bear.
THANK God. they died that
way" men and woman say Il
whenever they meet this morn
ing. IL ~ one thought upper
most In every mind. They died
without suffering. just went
out easily and quietly TO sleep.
William Fessel's note has comfort.
ed broken hearts In every homo to-
day. Along the street men are re.
calling little things this morning, last
small memories.
"He said to me. the very night he
went down for the last time. God. |
hate this night duty. Next week I'll
be thru with it"
"He was so kind.hearted; why, l
remember"
And IL knew he would be brave
and coolheaded He was that kind"
Candles are burning this morning
in the dim light of the church on the
hillside.