Malfunction at Historic Gold Mine in Colorado Leaves 1 Dead and a Dozen Trapped
A rescue operation at a historic gold mine in Colorado was underway on Thursday evening after an equipment malfunction during a tour left one person dead and a dozen people trapped 1,000 feet below ground, the authorities said.The Teller County Sheriff’s Office received a report shortly after noon local time that an elevator transporting visitors at Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near Cripple Creek had malfunctioned and stopped at the midway point, according to Jason Mikesell, the Teller County sheriff.It is unclear exactly what failed within the elevator trolley, or whether the people who were on the elevator at the time were going down into the mine or coming up from a tour, Sheriff Mikesell said.Officials believe the fatality happened during the malfunction.
Four other people had minor injuries.Eleven people who were in the elevator were rescued, Sheriff Mikesell said.It was unclear whether the elevator was safe to use to rescue the remaining 12 people trapped at the bottom, Sheriff Mikesell.
A tour guide who the authorities said was an experienced former mine rescue worker was among those at the bottom.The authorities said that the mine itself did not collapse.Local and state emergency workers, including a state elevator engineer, were on scene to assist with rescue efforts.“Everyone is giving us everything they possibly can,” Sheriff Mikesell said.Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine stopped operating as a working mine in 1961 but has become a tourist attraction, where miners guide visitors on tours 1,000 feet below the earth’s surface, according to its website.Gov.Jared Polis of Colorado said in a statement that he had spoken with local officials and was sending state resources to assist in the recovery efforts.“We will do everything possible and assist the county to ensure a speedy and safe resolution of the situation,” Mr.
Polis said.The mine was named after Mollie Kathleen Gortner, the first woman in the Cripple Creek Gold Camp to strike gold in 1891....