Horrific history at Milford Mine
Feb. 5, 1924. A day of history for Minnesota. A day of heartache and heroism for young miner named Frank Hrvatin Jr. It was a day like most others at the Milford Mine, two miles north of Crosby in Crow Wing County.
Miners were laboring underground on the 175-foot and 135-foot levels of the 200-foot-deep manganese mine, owned by George H. Crosby. Frank Jr., and his dad, Frank Sr., were both hard at work that afternoon — the elder Hrvatin performing his duties as a blaster, the son laboring aside his veteran partner, Harry Hosford.
The miners had blasted an underground shaft near the adjacent Foley Lake, and Frank had just dumped ore down a transfer chute, when a sudden gust of wind hit him. It was rather strange, he thought.
But he had little time to consider it further, as rushing water appeared on the level below. “Look at the water, Harry!” Frank shouted to his partner. “Oh, my God! For God’s sake run!” replied Harry. “The whole lake has come in!” Harry’s observations proved correct. The boggy water from Foley Lake roared into the mine, filling it in no time to within 15 feet of the surface.
The blast of wind that preceded the gushing water blew out the carbide gas lamps on many miners’ hats or knocked them off altogether.
Miners scrambled for their lives in the darkness.
Frank and Harry tripped along a 600-foot drift until they reached the shaft and began frantically climbing the ladder. Frank pulled Harry, who was soaked in mud to his waist, onto the ladder behind him.
A veteran miner, Matt Kangas, was already navigating his way up, but had little strength for the 175-foot climb to the surface.
As water rose up the shaft, Frank jumped in to help — supporting the older miner’s legs on his shoulders, rung by rung, the entire way out.
All three made it to the surface, collapsing once they’d reached the top. They were the last ones to find their way to safety. The last of only seven miners who survived.
Frank remained by the shaft, staring into the murky, bubbling water. He knew his father was still trapped below with the others.
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