Death in Osceola #3 by the Houghton Keweenaw County Genealogical Society
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On Saturday, 7 September 1895, the Copper Country experienced its worst mining accident ever, resulting in the loss of 30 lives and threatening the future of mining operations of the Osceola Mining Company. About 11:30 1M that morning, with all of the day shift of over 200 workers working underground, a fire was discovered
in No. 3 shaft of the Osceola Mine, in Calumet. Mine boss, Captain Richard Trembath and a crew of men attempted to extinguish the fire with buckets, and Captain Edwards
left them to summon help in fighting the fire. Upon returning, he was told by men coming up that it was impossible to descend either No. 3 or No. 4 shafts because of the thick smoke. He then sent men down the remaining three 3 shafts, Nos. 1, 2 and 5, to warn the men underground of the danger and order them to come to the surface. Rescue parties were sent down, but were ultimately driven back by fumes, heat and smoke. Skips were kept running in shafts 4 and 5 to help men to escape, bringing them up slowly so that any men there whose strength was exhausted might be able to roll into the skip. The skips brought up load after load of men until about 3:00 PM. Only after careful consideration, when it was certain that no one could possibly remain alive in the mine, Shaft No.3 was sealed at about 4:30 PM in order to check further progress of the fire.
(from the Forward)
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