The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-08-29
Little Hope
Held Out
for Rescue
Crews Work Throughout Day
Without Avail In Attempt
to Save Men Trapped
in Gold PIT.
Boss Hero Of Disaster

w. ]. cosd. 63l South Thirty
eighth avenue. is one Of the principal
stockholders oi the Argonaut mine,
in which A. men arc reported en-
,ombed by fire.
There Is no danger Of dust or
other explosion In a gold mine" said
Mr.. coad last night The only in
ilammable thing is the wood bfaeing
about the shafts and leads. There is
q vast amount Of such timber. how
ever, in a gold mine and fire. once
well started, is difficult TO check
Jackson, Cal, Aug. 2s.-By APJ
Mine rescue crews worked without
avail today IN the Afgonaut gold
mine in which ~ men were en-
iombed AT midnight by fire. The
men were thought to be between the
1850 and 4.s00-ioot levels, while the
main body of the fire was more than
1900 feet above them.
Employees OF the mine were sent
into the Kennedy mine which con-
rects with the Argonaut mine
through a tunnel, but which is closed
by concrete bulkhead, with instrue.
tions 10 break down the bulkhead
and enter the Argonaut.
IL had been reported that the Ken
nedy tunnel had collapsed, but the
report was not verified. Early today
V. s. Garbarini OF the Argonaut sue
ceeded in restoring the cut off air
supply 10 the 2.800-foot level, and
efforts were continued TO extend the
air supply.
Mine Recently Drained.
The Argonaut recently was drained
OF flood waters, which were poured
in the mine when il was on fire, and
the state industrial accidental com.
mission announced that the soft dirt
in the mine was nearly as great
menace 10 the fire fighters and res.
cuers as the fire itself, il the fra
burns the timbers in the mine.
The Argonaut mine, ono OF the Ia
nous gold producers IN California,
was opened rs years ago. The mine
is controlled by New York men and
is a short distance from Martell, IN
Amador county. The Kennedy mine,
adjoining, was opened in the 'o0s and
always has been productive.
II the tunnel in the Kennedy has
collapsed, but little il any hope is
expected for the entombed men.
During the day pipes were put into
the Argonaut 10 carry water down
to the burning timbers. Before that
water had been sent down in skips.
Forty-Two Married.
Forty-two OF the entombed men
are said to be married. Most OF them
live in this region. One OF them,
George Steinman. has four children
The fire has already developed one
hero. Clarance Bradshaw, shit
boss Bradshaw, in signalling for
the shift TO quit work shortly after
midnight, found that the signals
would not work after two OF the
miners had been summoned. A few
moments later the shaft filled with
smoke and Bradshaw knew that the
signal wires had burned out and
communication with the remainder
OF the shift was cut off.
Bradshaw quickly hustled the men
into the skip and all three were
hauled TO the top, Then Bradshaw
re.entered the skip with an assist
ant and tfrpd to plunge through the
iire-iilled shaft TO where he believed
the remainder OF the shit were To-
Gated, lie was overcome by gas at
the 2,S00-ioot level, and was hauled
to the surface unconscious. lie was
taken % his home. where he revived.