On September 7, 1935 John Alger of Denver, Colorodo lost his life in a bunkhouse/storage shed fire that took the life of six men. The building was located at the American Gold Lode Mine near Alma, CO. in Park County. The eighteen men were trapped inside a narrow bunkhouse also used to store dynamite. The doors were regularly locked each night to prevent employee theft. The small windows of the building were barred and covered with iron gratings. There was snow on the ground and it was an unusually cold night even for the 13,000 foot location. An uninsulated pot belly stove pipe was blamed as the cause for this tragedy. Escape was made more difficult as the building was ignited while the men slept. Some of the men were able to pry a small opening through a barred window at one end of the deathtrap allowing nine to escape. At the other end the door was locked as the six doomed men tried vainly to take the thing down to no avail. Their charred remains were found in front of the door. Three men also burned who survived the ordeal were taken to hospital.
Along with John Alger, the other deceased were Ira Nerim of Denver, CO, Marion Sprague of Butte Montana, John W. Prince of Pueblo, CO, Bryan Lee of Fairplay, CO and William Frasier of Twin Lakes CO. The remains were identified by Dr. R. M. Burlingame - Park County, CO Coroner.
Along with John Alger, the other deceased were Ira Nerim of Denver, CO, Marion Sprague of Butte Montana, John W. Prince of Pueblo, CO, Bryan Lee of Fairplay, CO and William Frasier of Twin Lakes CO. The remains were identified by Dr. R. M. Burlingame - Park County, CO Coroner.
On September 7, 1935 John Alger of Denver, Colorodo lost his life in a bunkhouse/storage shed fire that took the life of six men. The building was located at the American Gold Lode Mine near Alma, CO. in Park County. The eighteen men were trapped inside a narrow bunkhouse also used to store dynamite. The doors were regularly locked each night to prevent employee theft. The small windows of the building were barred and covered with iron gratings. There was snow on the ground and it was an unusually cold night even for the 13,000 foot location. An uninsulated pot belly stove pipe was blamed as the cause for this tragedy. Escape was made more difficult as the building was ignited while the men slept. Some of the men were able to pry a small opening through a barred window at one end of the deathtrap allowing nine to escape. At the other end the door was locked as the six doomed men tried vainly to take the thing down to no avail. Their charred remains were found in front of the door. Three men also burned who survived the ordeal were taken to hospital.
Along with John Alger, the other deceased were Ira Nerim of Denver, CO, Marion Sprague of Butte Montana, John W. Prince of Pueblo, CO, Bryan Lee of Fairplay, CO and William Frasier of Twin Lakes CO. The remains were identified by Dr. R. M. Burlingame - Park County, CO Coroner.
Along with John Alger, the other deceased were Ira Nerim of Denver, CO, Marion Sprague of Butte Montana, John W. Prince of Pueblo, CO, Bryan Lee of Fairplay, CO and William Frasier of Twin Lakes CO. The remains were identified by Dr. R. M. Burlingame - Park County, CO Coroner.
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