MINER CRUSHED SAVING THE LIVES OF COMRADES

Physicians Hope He Will Survive – A British Columbia Workman Who Should Receive the Victoria Cross For His Courage.

RARE act of heroism, such as deserves to be recorded in history and song, was performed at Rossland, B. C., the other day, which saved the lives of two miners and proved plain Jim Hemsworth to be one of nature’s noblemen, says a Spokane correspondent of the San Francisco Examiner. The Victoria cross had been bestowed on many less entitled to it than Hemsworth and there is no doubt that this brave deed will be recognized by the bestowal of a similar honor should the brave here survive the injuries that he received in saving the lives of his comrades.

It was the shaft of the Young America mine at Rossland camp that Jem Smith and Frank Conson came so near meeting with a frightful death, which must have been certain and swift but for the prompt and heroic act of their comrade above, who in saving their lives did so at the risk of his own.

Smith and Conson were working at the bottom of a narrow shaft, at a depth of nearly 150 feet, engaged in loading ore into an iron-bound bucket, while Jim Hemsworth’s duty consisted in hauling the bucket to the surface by means of a windlass. The heavy bucket, filled with or, had almost reached the top of the shaft when the iron crank of the windlass suddenly snapped in two like a bit of pine, hurling Hemsworth to the ground.

Springing to his feet, half dazed by the blow, Hemsworth saw the windlass whilrling around at a frightful rate of speed as the loaded bucket shot down the shaft upon the men below. He had not a second to lose. There was just one chance to save them and he took that chance. Jumping forward, he threw his body upon the cogs of the whirling windlass, thrusting his arms and shoulders between the swiftly-revolving wheels. With an awful jerk the loaded bucket stopped just above the heads of the two terrified miners far down in the shaft.

Pale as death and with the blood flowing from him in streams and suffering intense agony he never uttered a cry or even a sound as the jaws of the wheels pinioned him fast, as in a vise. Superintendent Shields witnessed the accident from a short distance away, but so horrified was he at the sight that for a moment he stood as if paralyzed.

Quickly recovering his faculties he rushed to Hemsworth’s aid and in a twinkling had blocked the machinery and caused Hemsworth to be released from his perilous position. As Hemsworth staggered back and was about to fall Shields caught him in his arms, at the same time exclaiming: “My God, Jim, this is awful!” “Oh, what’s the difference,” answered the plucky fellow, “so long as I saved the boys?” It was not long, however, before the intense pain he suffered, together with the loss of blood, began to have its effect on Hemsworth’s powerful constitution and he became too weak to stand.

A litter was hastily formed by men who had by this time arrived. Tenderly the wounded man was placed upon it and with the utmost care Hemsworth was carried to Rossland, a mile away, and placed on a cot in the hospital. His wounds were dressed and the injured man made as comfortable as could be under the circumstances. The attending physicians are at this time unable to state how seriously Hemsworth’s injuries are likely to result, but unless he is hurt internally they hope to save his life. His arms, however, in all likelihood, will have to be amputated at the shoulder.

-Jim Hemsworth, the hero of the Young America Mine, who saved the lives of his two companies with the loss of one of his arms, was presented with a medal of the Royal Humane Society of Canada last evening at Rossland by Hon. T. Mayne Daly.

The Vancouver Semi-weekly World, 14 May 1897, Page 1