Tank's Poetry
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united states mine rescue association
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Tank's Poetry |
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Already thirty-seven dead bodies have been recovered from the mine, and it is known that many others are still in the fiery furnace. The number is only a matter of conjecture. It is probable that none will escape. The first news of the tragedy was received in this city by Manager Smith of the mine company at 1:20 this afternoon in the shape of a telegram from the Mine Superintendent at Franklin. This message stated that the mine was on fire and many miners, both white and black, were imprisoned. Later a second telegram was received saying that thirty-seven dead bodies had been taken out and that it was supposed that there were more to be recovered. Manager Smith sent out a special train bearing Superintendent Corey and a crew to assist in subduing the flames and rescuing the imprisoned men. The officials in this city are reticent, and refuse to give out any information. The fire, it is said, caught in breast No. 62, in the sixth level. At 4:30 o'clock it was under control, and rescuers entered the mine. An Explosion of Gas in a Washington Coal Mine. Albuquerque Morning Democrat, Albuquerque, NM August 25, 1894 Seattle, Wash., August 24 -- a terrific gas explosion occurred in the Franklin's mine at Franklin, near this city, this afternoon. Sixty-two miners were imprisoned and 37 were killed. The rest escaped alive. The fire was soon extinguished and the work of taking out the bodies began. All were recovered. The Official List of the Deceased:
At 12:45 this afternoon a fire was noticed by some of the drivers on the sixth north level and notice was given to the men inside who were working in different places, some in the breast about the level and others along the gangway. As soon as it was known that there was a fire, many of the men in the gangways rushed back to notify the miners further in, while others rushed out and reached the main shaft. It is certain that all the men in the breasts reached the gangway in safety. In all about 70 men were at work in the sixth level, and north of that about 40 lingered at breast, six where the fire originated, and made an attempt to put out the fire. The breast was burning fiercely, and before the miners knew it the fires had communicated to breasts 60 and 61 and smoke began to issue from breast 61 and in that immediate vicinity. Several of the men who lingered at the burning breast 62 took warning and fled, but all who remained were overcome and asphyxiated. It is evident that all the men had time to come out, for those at work in the further breast reached the shaft in safety, while those who were the nearest the shaft, and consequently more removed from danger remained. They evidently believed they were in perfect safety at the fire, but while they lingered the smoke oozed out from some outside place further south and the bodies were all found south of breast 62. They were all found within a space of 500 feet. |
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