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Tuesday February 15, 1916
Butte, Montana - Miners Trapped by Fire, Rescue Attempts Ongoing

Newspapers across the nation this morning are reporting on the fire which erupted last night in the Pennsylvania Mine at Butte, Montana. We offer a few examples:

From Salina, Kansas:

PENNED IN BY FIRE
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Flames In Airshaft of Anaconda Mine
Imprisoned Miners At Butte.
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TEN VICTIMS KNOWN DEAD
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Other Workmen Have Not Been Heard From
Since the Disaster.
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Butte, Mont., Feb. 15.-At least ten miners lost their lives in a fire which started last night in the air shaft on the 12,000 [1200] foot level of a mine of the Anaconda copper Mining Company and which still was burning early today....

Pennsylvania Mine, about 1900
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From the Chicago Day Book:

RESCUERS SEEK 24 MEN CAUCHT IN MINE FIRE

Butte, Montana, Feb. 15.-Rescue squads with helmets were today fighting their way to 1,200 foot level of Anaconda Copper Mining Company's Pennsylvania mine here where 24 men were believed to have perished in fire late last night.

Two of first Bodies recovered were William Mitchell, assistant mine foreman, and Neil Brennan, miner.

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Draeger breathing helmet.
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From Portsmouth, Ohio:

10 MINERS DIE; 12 MISSING IN BIG MINE FIRE

Butte, Mont., Feb. 15.-At least ten miners lost their lives in a fire which started late last night in the air shaft on the 1200 foot level in the Pennsylvania mine of the Anaconda Copper Mining company and which is burning fiercely early today. A dozen others are missing, but it is believed that all but three or four of these went home without reporting off shift. Two of the dead, William Mitchell, assistant foreman, and Neil Brennan, were overcome by smoke and gas while engaged in rescue work on the 800 foot level. The cause of fire has not been determined.

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SOURCES

The Salina Evening Journal
(Salina, Kansas)
-Feb 15, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/92680716/

The Day Book
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Feb 15, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/77809695/

Portsmouth Daily Times
(Portsmouth, Ohio)
-Feb 15, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/41134487/

IMAGES
Draeger breathing apparatus.
Butte, Montana, Pennsylvania Mine, 1200 ft Level
Butte, Montana, Pennsylvania Mine, postcard
Butte, Montana, Pennsylvania Mine, ab/ 1900
http://buttehistory.blogspot.com/2013/04/buttes-second-deadliest-mine-di...

See also:

Pennsylvania Mine, Postcard
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Mine Disasters in the United States
-by the United States Mine Rescue Association
http://usminedisasters.com/
Anaconda Copper Mining Company
-Pennsylvania Mine Fire
February 14, 1916, Butte, Montana,
No. Killed - 21
http://usminedisasters.com/saxsewell/pennsylvania_mine.htm

"Butte's second deadliest mine disaster"
by Richard I. Gibson
http://buttehistory.blogspot.com/2013/04/buttes-second-deadliest-mine-di...

The deadliest mine disaster in Butte was the Granite Mountain-Speculator Fire
of June 8, 1917, which killed 168 miners.
http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/butte-residents-remember-nations-deadlies...

"A Reexamination of the Granite Mountain-Speculator Fire"
-by James D. Harrington
pdf! https://mhs.mt.gov/Portals/11/education/docs/CirGuides/Harrington%20Butt...

Frank Little and the Speculator Mine disaster, 1917
WE NEVER FORGET

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0zVuy0m66E width:420 height:315]

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Miner's Lullaby - Utah Phillips