47 Down: The 1922 Argonaut Gold Mine Disaster

A riveting account of the worst gold mine disaster in history In 1922, 47 miners were trapped 4,000 feet underground by a fire in the Argonaut Gold Mine in Jackson, California. As the trapped men's families stood vigil at the entrance, rescue workers rushed to the mine from across the state. So did scores of reporters, and for two weeks the unfolding story was worldwide front-page news. Down below, a small army of rescuers, desperate to reach the 47, labored to restore an old tunnel that once connected the Argonaut to its nearby competitor and bitter rival, the Kennedy Mine. This gripping narrative tells a compelling tale of heroism, tragedy, and conflict as it explores the all-too-familiar theme of corporate greed versus worker safety. O. Henry Mace (Sacramento, CA) has written on western history and assembled collector's guides to early photographs and Victoriana.