united states mine rescue association | Tank's Poetry |
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Official list of the deceased:
Five Believed Dead as Explosion Traps Coal Mine Operators Ogden Standard Examiner, Utah February 12, 1938 First reports of the blast were received here this morning by short wave radio at the Wyoming national forest headquarters from a forest station near the scene of the blast. The forest service reported that Henry Ash of Star Valley, Wyo., had been killed when he was blown completely out of the small mine by the blast. The report added that the fate of four other men John Baker, his son Bill, Rulin Ivy and Henry Malbrom, all of Star Valley -- is unknown. Both tunnels to the small mine were blocked by the blast and rescue workers and forest service officials have been unable yet to open them. Rescuers from here must travel 160 miles in a round-about route to reach the scene of the blast. They are not expected to reach the mine until late this afternoon. The mine is operated for the Vail Coal Company of Pocatello, Idaho, by Dan Schitzh of Kemmerer. Only a few men are employed at the mine which last year turned out 7,000 tons of coal. The mine is known as a truck or wagon mine. State Mine Inspector Hugh McLeod and Lincoln County Coroner Ted Kirkwood planned to leave for the scene of the blast shortly after noon. What caused the explosion or the exact time it occurred was not known at the forest headquarters. All reports on the blast are being handled by short wave radio as there are no telephones in the vicinity. Regional Forester R. H. Rutledge said today he has instructed Supervisor C. B. Arentson of the Wyoming national forest to throw all needed forest service, and CCC resources into efforts to rescue four men reported trapped in the Blind Bull coal mine by an explosion which killed one. Arentson telephoned here this morning that word of the disaster was telephoned by a woman who walked seven miles from the mine to the Meadow Creek ranger station on Grey's River. Rutledge said he expected enrollees from the Alpine CCC camp, about 35 miles from the mine, to be pressed into service. Rescue efforts will be hampered by snow which reaches 10 to 15 feet in depth there. |
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