Report of the Bureau of Mines of the Department of Internal Affairs of ...

140 REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF MINES. Off. Doc.
AV'hen tliey had reached the third lift it was found that the smoke
had cleared away so thej^ could begin lighting the fire. By this
time there was a large force of men present fighting the fire. A
short while thereafter Mr. Frank Pardee came to the scene, followed
liy
Mr. Yeager, the general inside foreman, who personally directed
and joined in the efforts to extinguish the flames. Mine Inspector
Davis appeared early on the morning of the ninth and was present
e^ery day, assisting in the work of extinguishing the fire. Three
shifts of men under the alternate charge of Mine Foreman Thomas
Hale, George Ernold, Robert Hillhouse, Conrad Miller and John Zell
htpt up the work of fighting the fire, which extended from the pump
house of the third level, through the column way up to the turnout
on the second level. When they reached the scene on the turnout
tliey immediately set to work to extend the pipe line up the slope,
fighting every inch of the way through the smoke and flames, until
they succeeded in completely extinguishing the fire, about 4.00 P.
M., October 10. On the same day about 6.00 P. M., Forrest's body
was found by Robert Hillhouse and John Zell lying on the slope near
the first level. Urban's body had been found by the Mine Inspector
and Mr. Yeager, earlier in the day at a point 351 feet east of the
slope, in the parlor gangway. The position in which these two
bodies were found, showed that while trying to make their escape,
they fell
from the fire.
victims to asphj^xiation from the fumes and gases escaping
Sixteen mules stabled on the east side of the same slope were also
suffocated.
Much praise is due to the managers of the colliery, particularly
Mr. Frank Pardee, general superintendent, for the precautionary
measures taken by them to guard against mine fires. All persons,
other than the pumpmen themselves, had positive orders against enttring
the pump rooms, and even they were not permitted to enter
with a naked light, as the company furnishes lanterns to every
man in charge of pumps. Another rule, and in the opinion of the
%rriter a very good one, is that it is the duty of the pump man to
d.'!mj)en the roof, side and floor of the room in his charge every day.
Ill addition to this, barrels are constantly kept filled with water, and
hose connections are attached to the column of each pump, which
was in readiness for any emergency, still, with all these jtrecautions,
two men perished in this conflagration.
The origin of the fire was for a time a mystery, but after
Ji careful investigation, together with the testimony of those first
to appear upon the scene, the writer believes beyond a doubt that
the origin was incendiary.