The worst hard-rock mining disaster in
American history happened just before midnight on June 8, 1917 in the
Granite Mountain mine shaft. A tragic accident more than 2000 feet below
ground began this nightmare for not just the miners in the mine that
night, but for the whole town of Butte, Montana. Flames, smoke and
poisonous gas shot through the mine shaft and throughout the many
tunnels that connected the shaft underground. Within an hour, more than
400 men were trapped below with no known way out; more than 160 men
died.
Michael Punke tells of that fateful night
and the events of this mining town in his book, FIRE AND BRIMSTONE-The
North Butte Mining Disaster of 1917.
