The Daily Alaska empire., 1937-04-22
20 YEARS AGO
 From The Empire
APPRIL p, 1917

| It was Sunday and everybody was l Hooking from Juneau to Douglas Island where the previous night the
 great cave-in had taken place. The lTreadwell, Mexican and 700 mines on the island, owned by the Tread iwell Company, from whose work Ifngs 17,0O0,000 tons of ore had been taken out in more than 30 years, lwere today filled with water from ttne lowest levels to tide level. Eff teen million dollars is the estimat- ed damage done. The cave-in oc- icurred at 11;30 D. m, Saturday yApril 21.
 < Between the 700 mill and Bunk
 house No. 4. thousands of tons of
 water poured through the opening
 caused by the break of stope, into the three big mining proper
 ties. Within one hour every man except possibly one, reached the surface and every level of the var ious mines were filled with water
 D, Two of the company's houses, ] tile Treadwell Natatorium and the lTreadwell fire hall, caught in the maelstrom caused by the cave-in, and the rushing high tide water swung around and around and then disappeared into a hole, lost to view even at low tide.
 A huge oil tank located on the beach near the 700 mill collapsed and the steel frames were twisted like paper, oil sucked down by the force of the water found its way through the various levels of the mines and emerged in the old Glory Hole a thousand feet distant.
 Huge cracks in the earth extend from the 700 mill, up the hill to the old Glory Hole and down to the mess house end on the baseball grounds. Persons living in houses on the hill moved out Saturday when the cracks began to appear.
 Bunk House No is out of plumb 6 feet, ready to slide into the abyss. The club house is also equally out of plumb and all were conjecturing when the next slide would occur and how far its ravages would be felt.
 The Ready Bullion mine was be- lieved to be safe. A small trickle of water entered it, but men were put to work building concrete bulk head as an additional brace to the one already in place. There are approximately 1000 miners out of work, although scores are being used on the surface protecting the mills and shops and adjusting conditions either to expedite speedy dismant- ling of the valuable machinery or in preparing for work which will in- sure the opening of the mines filled with water.
 C Guards are stationed around all dapger points and none are allowed twitl1in 1000 to 1900 feets of the points which are in a precarious condition.
 When the first rush of water was noticed Saturday night, warnings were immediately sent out and sig nals were displayed on the various levels where miners were at work. The excellence of this safety first system easily describes why, out of $50 men below the surface at the time, only one is reported missing.
 Today groups of miners, many with their families, are waiting anx- 'iously for the next step, either to be made by the unseen power of earth and water, or a cessation of anxiety and word from the com pany officials as to the next move to be made.
 The II o'clock shift had been on duty for only one hour when or ders came from the underground superintendent Landsburg for all men to go to the surface.
 Charles Horner and Assistant Su- perintendent Wayland, the last men out of the Mexican shaft from the bottom of the mine, the 2100-foot level, stepped out of the cage to safety just as the inrushing water forced an airdraft against the cage The roar of the water was heard for blocks.
 Weather report: Maximum, 58, Minimum, 49; Clear.
 eAlaskan by Lester b Henderson.