Tank's Poetry
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united states mine rescue association
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Tank's Poetry |
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Ten men were killed when a man-cage fell 900 feet. Immediately prior to the accident, 5 men, including the cager, got on the lower deck of the 2-deck cage at the 3,450-foot level. They were hoisted to the 3,050-foot level to complete loading on both decks.
The cager permitted 6 men to get on the lower deck, making a total of 10 men. The cage doors were then closed and fastened. The engineer was signaled, and the cage was lowered until the upper deck was flush with the station floor. While the cager was opening the cage doors to the upper deck, the rope broke about 1,200 feet above the cage. No evidence was on the cage guides to indicate that the safety catches contacted them. The cage was used exclusively for hoisting and lowering men and material.
10 Men Plunge to Death in Idaho’s Worst Mine Disaster Twin Falls Daily News, Idaho October 7, 1936 The body of Louis Goff, 25, of Mullan, was found this afternoon crushed under the wreckage and debris at the bottom of the mine. The lower deck of the elevator cage had just been loaded. Cageman Henry Aune, at the surface, was lowering it so men could enter the middle deck when the cable snapped 1400 feet above. The cage shot downward with the men, with tons of cable whipping behind and crushing the wreckage at the bottom. Company officials completed identification of the mangled bodies late today:
"This is the worst accident in the history of Idaho mining," he said. Body of Tenth Mine Tragedy Victim Found Ogden Standard Examiner, Utah October 7, 1936 State officials looked today to a coroner's inquest to reveal why an elevator cable broke, dropping 10 miners 900 feet to death in the Morning Mine shaft, near Mullan. The men had just boarded the cage, or elevator, on the 3,050-foot level after a night's work when the massive cable snapped 1,400 feet above. The cage plummeted to the bottom of the shaft followed by the wildly whipping 55,600 pounds of cable, which tore framework from the shaft. The bodies were so mangled that identification was difficult, and it was not until late yesterday, more than 12 hours after the accident, that it was determined 10 men had lost their lives. At first it was believed only nine died. Arthur Campbell, Idaho state mine inspector who was here to investigate another mine fatality Monday, said an inquest would be held in the district court room at Wallace today. At the request of officials of the mine, Campbell said he had ordered sections of the cable near the breaking point taken to the inquest. Study of them by experts may indicate what caused the break. Some 20 other miners waiting to board the cage when it dropped, mine officials and others were expected to testify. "This is the worst accident in the history of Idaho mining," Campbell said. Yesterday's victims:
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