The date was February 23, 1911 and the night shift had just returned to the surface of the mine at 4:30 AM. While in the cage, they noticed a slight scent of smoke. Once at the surface, they reported the smell of smoke to the hoist engineer, who in turn reported it to the day shift foreman on his arrival two hours later. The day shift foreman and the superintendent entered the mine. So, began a tragic day in the operation of the Tonopah Belmont Mine which resulted in the death of several miners and making one miner a hero.
This is the story of "Big" Bill Murphy. Hero of that tragic day.
