Two weeks after a deadly cave-in inside Butte’s Minnie Healy Mine, four bodies had been recovered from beneath the rock and dirt.
The fifth man, Isaac Abraham, had vanished.
Everyone believed Abraham had been caught in the collapse. He had been known to be near the cave-in when it happened, and there seemed little reason to think he had escaped. Yet no body was found.
Even stranger, the mine gave up no clue. The odor that had filled the workings before another victim was recovered had disappeared once fresh air was pumped inside, and it never returned.
Then came the rumors.
Several people claimed they had seen Isaac Abraham alive after the disaster.
What Became of Body
BUTTE, Montana. — Considerable mystery surrounds the disappearance of Isaac Abraham’s body, which was supposed to be lying under a mass of rock and dirt in the Minnie Healy Mine.
Abraham was supposed to be one of five unfortunate men who lost their lives as a result of a cave-in in that mine some two weeks ago, but up to today no trace of his remains has been found, although the other four bodies have been recovered and buried.
Another strange thing is the entire lack of odor in the workings near where the accident occurred.
Before Dwyer’s body was recovered the stench had become almost unbearable, but after he had been taken out and fresh air pumped into the mine, the odor disappeared and has not returned.
Added to this, several people claim to have seen Abraham since the accident occurred, but as he was known to be in the vicinity of the cave-in at the time of the accident, this is hardly credited.
There is much speculation among the miners of the camp as to his whereabouts.
Source: The Morning Astorian. Astoria, Oregon. March 6, 1904.
