The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-01-16
10
Men When Ore
Breaks Loose

Frank Starry ana Ted Hollands
worth, both employees of the Uni
Versal Zonolite Insulation Co., in
e Libby, suffered a narrowing exper-
fence Tuesday morning, narrowly
escaping with their lives.
The men were working at the
mine site on Zonolite Mountain at
the time of the accident which oc-
Cured at $50 a. m. Both men
were working on the frozen ore
in the transfer bin. The mass of
ore suddenly gave way. Hollands
worth caught hold of a rope hang
ing near him but Starry went down
through the bin with the ore.
Eddie Johnson came up after
couple of picks just as the accident
happened. While he ran for help,
Hollandsworth hurried down the
ladder and ran around to a truck
which was parked beneath the
chute from the bin. Moving the
truck, he saw Starry's legs from
below the knees hanging out thru
the chute where his body was we'd
ged. Catching the imprisoned man
by the feet, Hollandsworth pulled
him from the aperture. The res
cuer was standing on a cement
slab, and in order to keep his COM
panion, who was unconscious, from
falling heavily on the cement, he
released his hold on Starry's feet
and caught him about the waist.
AS the mans body came free from
the chute, the heavy mass of ore
behind, hurled him forcefully 4
gainst Hollandsworth, knocking him
down. Before the uninjured man
could get to his feet the heavy
flow of ore began covering both |
men. With the unconscious Starry !
lying across his stomach and the
heavy ore rapidly burying them both |
Hollandsworth experienced the hor-
rible sensation of being buried a
live
Meanwhile Johnson had met AL
len Van Horn and hastily told him
Of the accident Van Horn hur-
RED to the top of the bin where
the men had been working and
called down inside. Il heard his
voice, and answered him." remar-
ked Hollandsworth yesterday even
ing when interviewed bye FepeE-
ter; and then added 1T helped
my feelings a lot for knew helpj
was there"
Although pinned down, the con-
scious man had the presence of
mind to reach up with his right
arm, so the rescuers would have
more chance to locate him and his
companion beneath the pile of ore.
Van Horn shut off the chute,
then turned to give assistance to
the buried men. Only part of the
fingers of Hollandsworth's hand
still showed above the ore. John
son had spread the alarm and help j
with shovels was coming, but with 4,
out waiting for more help or tools {
Van Horn began digging with his
hands. When he reached Hollands Z
worth's face, the man was still con- S
scious and told him he was not {
nurt but to hurry and uncover
Starry With the arrival of more \
help and the shovels, both men I
we're soon released, and Starry, still {
was hurried to the hos [
0ital, regaining consciousness en- S
-oute. His companion remained for {
4 time at the mine but also was c
aiken to the hospital for examina-
ion and treatment. !
Starry suffered from shock and e
severe bruises, but was able yes {
erday to be out and around. Hol-
andsworth found that in addition .
o scratches on his face, and severe
hook, he also has badly twisted
eft leg which is very painful from
he knee down. Both men however
consider themselves very fortunate,
IS indeed they were, for it was
,nly by a near miracle that they
death Hollandsworth has
,een with the company since Sep
ember Is, l945, and Starry, foc
bout a year. Z
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