Martino Lorenzo Coppo

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The Mining Gazette Date: September 17, 1924

"One Man Missing in C. & H. Fire Blaze on 57th Level of Mine Forces Suspension."

Fire on the 57th level between Calumet No. 4 shaft and the Red Jacket shaft of the Calumet & Hecla conglomerate mine last night forced a temporary suspension of mining operations in the property. One man Tony Coppo, pump man on the 56th level of No. 4 shaft, was missing last night and had not been located up to a late hour despite efforts of rescue crews to penetrate that part of the mine.

Coppo was the first man to observe the fire. About 5 o'clock he telephoned to the pump man on the 62nd level of the same shaft and asked him if he could smell smoke and gas, the pump man, whose name is Rost, replied that he could. Coppo then asked Rost to ring for the skip and on the way up to signal for a stop at the 56th level to pick him up. Rost did so and waited at the 56th level for Coppo as long as he dared, but found no trace of the man and finally forced to go on without him when the smoke and fumes became too dense for safety.

The smoke and gas penetrated other parts of the mine meantime and none of the night shift was sent down. Fire fighting crews entered the mine, but it was 10:30 o'clock before the fire was definitely located on the 57th level between No. 4 shaft and the Red Jacket shaft. The heat and the gas and smoke made the task of fighting the fire difficult and relief crews were at once organized and sent into the mine in relays.

Gas was observed in all parts of the Calumet & Hecla conglomerate system as far as Hecla and No. 5 Tamarack, but it was said the fire was localized on the 57th level near the Red Jacket shaft.

The fire, which is confined to a small area, broke out between shifts. The day shift men had come to surface and the few men left in the mine easily made their escape, with the exception of Coppo. Early in the evening attempts to reach the fire through No. 4 shaft were abandoned and efforts, then were confined to the Red Jacket shaft. It is believed the fire will not extend to other parts of the mine, but will be controlled and confined to the 57th level, a short crosscut between the two shafts.

Transcribed by: Jacquie Sherrer