1892 — May 14, Anaconda Copper Mining Co., Anaconda Mine cave-in, Butte, MT — 9

— 9 Blanchard death toll.

Our reading of the detailed newspaper accounts from the Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, just west of Butte, makes it clear that there were nine deaths – all of whom are named below. The United States Mine Rescue Association also notes 9 deaths, probably for the same reason we do. We do not use the day after reporting of a range of 8-12 deaths from the Anaconda Standard of May 15, in that there were several survivors. We do not use the Eastern State Journal report of 11 deaths because we speculate the death toll reflected day-after reporting which turned out to be incorrect.

–8-12 Anaconda Standard, MT. “In an Instant. Miners Buried Under Tons of Earth…” 5-15-1892, 1.
— 11 Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892…” 12-31-1892, p. 1.
— 9 Anaconda Standard, MT. “Seeking for the Cause…Anaconda Mine Disaster.” 5-17-1892.
— 9 United States Mine Rescue Assoc. “Anaconda Copper Mining Company…Cave-in.”

Narrative Information

Eastern State Journal, Dec 31, 1892: “May…14. 11 miners killed by a cave-in at the Anaconda mine, Butte, Mon.”

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States:
“Anaconda Copper Mining Company
“Anaconda Mine Cave-in
“Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana
“May 14, 1892
“No. Killed – 9
“Disclaimer: This disaster is not included in the CDC/NIOSH mine disaster list, and is not found at the MSHA accident archive. The exact disaster date is in question, but there is much confidence it happened in mid-May 1892.

“Following a cave-in in the Anaconda mine, Frank Agassin was rescued after 55 hours. He was the sole survivor of a disaster which took the lives of 9 other miners. Amazingly, he spent the entire time imprisoned in a space which measured 1.5 ft. x 2.0 ft. x 4 ft.

“Nine miners were killed and five were injured from a cave-in that occurred in the Anaconda mine.

“The deceased:
• John Smith [34, from Kimball, SD ]
• William Clark [20, of St. Austell, Cornwall. ]
• John Nordstrom [Body sent to sister at Beawawe, NV ]
• Seward Stewart [Lived at the Sturtgarter house on East Park street. ]
• William Highland [Last name spelled Hyland in Anaconda Standard, 5-17-1892.]
• Jerry N. Harrington [“employed in the mine for years.” Anaconda Standard, 5-17-1892.]
• Timothy C. Murphy [Had been employed for a month; Anaconda Standard, 5-17-1892.]
• Quinn Leary [Also noted as a fatality in Anaconda Standard, 5-17-1892.]
• Daniel Sheehan.” [Last name spelled Shenhan in Anaconda Standard, 5-17-1892.]
Newspapers

May 15: “Butte, May 14. – As the result of a sudden and terrible accident which occurred late this afternoon, at the 800-foot level of the Anaconda mine, twelve miners are believed to have been killed outright and four men were injured. At this hour, midnight, four bodies have been recovered and lifted to the surface. The names of the men are:

John Smith.
Seward Stewart.
William Clark.
John Nordstrom.

“The names of those who are missing and who are supposed to be dead are:

William Hyland.
T. C. Murphy.
John D. Sullivan.
Frank Agazza.
Quinn Leary,
Dan Sheehan.
John Davis.
Jerry N. Harrington.
….

“Butte, May 14. – A few minutes after 3 o’clock this afternoon, a cave [in] occurred at the Anaconda mine, which resulted in a terrible loss of life. The cave occurred on the 800-foot level, east on the fourth floor. As near as can be ascertained, 15 men were working on the floor at the time. A quantity of earth and timber fell without the warning of a second, and covered them from sight.

“It was a long time before the full extent of the disaster became apparent. The first reports that came downtown were to the effect that five men had been killed. Then the number was said to be only two or three, but soon afterwards it became evident that the disaster was much greater than first reported.

“The work of rescue was begun within a very few minutes after the news reached the surface. Superintendent Kane went to the 800-foot level himself and directed the work. The men worked in 10 or 15-minuted reliefs, each relay containing about 25 men. The earth in its fall had been packed so solidly that it was almost like digging in frozen ground, and to the eager rescuers progress seemed very slow, although in fact, considering the difficulties at hand, it progressed with marvelous rapidity.

“The firs man brought out was P. J. Murphy. He was not completely covered and his injuries were so slight that he was able to walk home, after reaching the surface. Next Kike Langhran was brought out, taken to the surface and was carried into the dry house. Dr. Heber Robarts, who had arrived, examined him and found him suffering from a severe scalp wound and bruises about the body. The physician did not consider his injuries necessarily dangerous, although they might so develop.

“The third taken out was James Breen, who was injured about the legs, but it is believed not seriously. He was struck by a shovel handle. By this time there had been obtained from the bosses and men working in the vicinity, a list of those employed on the fourth floor at the time of the accident. There were 15 of them altogether and their names were as follows: William Hyland, Tim C. Murphy, Quinn Leary, Jerry N. Harrington, Seward Stewart, Dan Sheehan, John Nordstrom, John Smith, John D. Sullivan, Frank Agazza, John Davis, Mike Langhran, James Breen, P. J. Murphy and Robert Warks. Of these 15, the first 11 had not been recovered or heard from and were all supposed to be dead…Robert Warks was the next man found, but it required hours of hard work. His leg was caught between two heavy timbers and a vast amount of dirt had to be removed and the timbers cut away before he could be lifted out. This not only necessitated very slow work, but very careful work. The danger was that by some unfortunate action Warks would be placed in a worse position and smothered by more dirt before he could be rescued. It was also feared that careless work might result in the entombment of some of the rescuers. Warks was in a sitting position and talked cheerfully with the rescuers. Water was handed to him. ‘I know you’re doing your best, boys,’ he said. ‘Can you stand it?’ asked a friend. ‘If God will help me,’ was the answer. ‘But I guess my leg is a goner.’ All efforts were concentrated to get Warks out, as it was thought improbable that any one else was alive. There was no knocking to be heard and no sound to indicate that any of the other entombed men had any life remaining.

“At 6 o’clock four canvases and four stretchers were taken into the mine. Ten minutes later a signal of three slow bells was given. The body was raised carefully to the surface wrapped completely in canvas. It was the body of Jack Smith, the first dead man taken out. The body was placed in an undertaker’s wagon and carried to town. Work progressed slowly and it was thought it would be morning before the bodies could all be taken out. Meanwhile Anaconda hill was black with people who came from all over the city, but particularly from Dublin gulch and Centerville….

“Up to 10 o’clock this evening, three bodies had been taken out, two more had been uncovered but not yet extricated and four men had been recovered injured. It was 8 o’clock in the evening before Robert Warks was released from the timbers which were crushing him. He constantly grew weaker from pain and loss of blood. By tender, careful hands he was raised and carried to the cage, and taken to the surface. A hack had been waiting four hours and he was placed in it. He immediately fainted. Both his leg and his arm were crushed, but it was believed he would recover.

“The three slow bells, of such dreadful meaning to all miners, sounded again and the body of William Clark was raised, wrapped in canvas. Clark was an unmarried man living in Walkerville. His breast was crushed, his face was black, apparently from where the blood had rushed into his face. Clark’s name had not been in the list of the missing.

“Jack Smith, the first man recovered dead, was about 23 years of age, unmarried, and boarded at Harry Hurley’s. He recently came here from Dakota. A half hour later, a third body was brought to the surface, that of John Nordstrom. He as a Swede, a powerfully built man, about 30 years old. He also was unmarried. His head had been crushed and blood oozed from his eyes. These were all the bodies that had been taken out up to 10 o’clock, but at that time another body had been partially uncovered. There is little hope that any of the other men are alive, and it will probably be late to-morrow before the bodies are all taken out….

“A fourth body has been taken out, that of Seward Stewart. A blow to the head had apparently killed him….

“The accident occurred without any warning, and very quickly after a blast. The blast doubtless loosened an immense volume of rock, sufficient to crush anything in its path. The number of killed at this hour is variously estimated at from 8 to 12. It is feared the latter figure will prove more nearly correct….” (Anaconda Standard, MT. “In an Instant. Miners Buried Under Tons of Earth. Twelve Were Killed. Yesterday’s Frightful Accident in the Anaconda Mine.” 5-15-1892, p. 1.)

May 16: “Butte, May 16. – Hundreds of people all day long were standing around the Anaconda mine waiting for some word from the rescuers who were exerting their efforts to save the life of Frank Agazza, the Frenchman who was entombed alive in the disaster of Saturday. The work had been going on steadily, but necessarily very slowly, ever since it was learned that the man was still alive. Only about 20 inches of way had been opened in 24 hours, and the thought that the slightest wrong move or n accident would probably result in the imprisoned man being crushed, necessitated careful and very slow work….

“Early in the day the rescuers approached him near enough to hold a continued conversation with him and finally a small opening was made between the timbers in front of him and he could be plainly seen in his prison. He became quite cheerful, even speaking in a joking way about his position. He at that time said that he was resting easy, and that the space in which he was lying was about three by four feet, with a timber lying across his back but giving him room enough to change his position. However, he was necessarily very much cramped. His injuries, he said, were not severe, but he believed that his nose was broken and that he has a bruised shoulder and a wound on his head….

“The opening made through the fallen mass in the direction of Agazza is just large enough for one man to crawl through and therefore but one man at a time can work in it. Food and drink were easily pushed in during the day, and when the shift changed at 5:30 o’clock this afternoon he was informed that the men expected to have him out in two or three hours. Agazza said he did not know anything of any of the other men, but thought that a dead body was lying some distance back of him….

“The timbers used were 10×10…on all the levels of the mine…The system of doubling up is adhered to, that is each post or support has four other posts instead of one….”
(Anaconda Standard, MT. “Seeking for the Cause, A Rigid Examination into the Anaconda Mine Disaster.” 5-17-1892.)

Sources

Anaconda Standard, MT. “In an Instant. Miners Buried Under Tons of Earth. Twelve Were Killed. Yesterday’s Frightful Accident in the Anaconda Mine.” 5-15-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/15%20May%201892,%201%20-%20The%20Anaconda%20Standard%20at%20Newspapers.pdf

Anaconda Standard, MT. “Seeking for the Cause…the Anaconda Mine Disaster.” 5-17-1892.)

Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892 – The Chronological Record of a Memorable Year….Demons of Destruction.” 12-31-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/white-plains-eastern-state-journal-dec-31-1892-p-1/

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disaster in the United States. “Anaconda Copper Mining Company, Anaconda Mine Cave-in.” Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/anaconda_1892.htm