47 Down: The 1922 Argonaut Gold Mine Disaster (Hardcover)

by O. Henry Mace (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This volume details the fire in the main shaft of a Jackson, Calif., Argonaut gold mine, which trapped 47 miners 4,650 feet below ground in the summer of 1922. It took rescuers three weeks to get to where the miners were trapped by the fire as family members and friends, co-workers, the press and countless Americans awaited word of the foregone conclusion. Mace researched the mine fire for seven years; his dedication pays off in a well-rounded examination of the fire and the mining industry. Even without coming to a conclusion about which rescue plan would have given the miners the best chance of survival, he thoroughly explores the scientific and structural implications of each course of action complete with diagrams, technical data and testimony from those involved. Though Mace never really steps outside the facts long enough to capture the experience of the trapped miners, his intimate portraits of the miners' families, mine employees and, especially, journalist Ruth Finney, explore the countless ways the mining disaster changed those who were close to it. Mace also smoothly connects the fire and the mining town of Jackson with bigger American and world affairs like the war in Europe, immigration, Prohibition, advances in communication and the growth of women's rights. Mace may not have hit the "Mother Lode," but his tireless digging has certainly uncovered a forgotten nugget of Californian and American history. Photos.
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Review
"...a well-rounded examination. Mace smoothly connects the fire and the mining town of Jackson with bigger American and world affairs." -- Publishers Weekly, April 26, 2004

"A damn good read!" -- Amador Ledger-Dispatch

"Mace captures all of the drama and heartbreak... This book is exceptional historical reporting and highly recommended." -- Tucson Citizen

"[Mace] does a great job of capturing the culture of the "tramp" hard-rock miner of the day." -- Richard L. Bullock, D. Eng., P.E, Mining Engineer

This volume details the fire in the main shaft of a Jackson, Calif., Argonaut gold mine, which trapped 47 miners 4,650 feet below ground in the summer of 1922. It took rescuers three weeks to get to where the miners were trapped by the fire as family members and friends, co-workers, the press and countless Americans awaited word of the foregone conclusion. Mace researched the mine fire for seven years; his dedication pays off in a well-rounded examination of the fire and the mining industry. Even without coming to a conclusion about which rescue plan would have given the miners the best chance of survival, he thoroughly explores the scientific and structural implications of each course of action complete with diagrams, technical data and testimony from those involved. Though Mace never really steps outside the facts long enough to capture the experience of the trapped miners, his intimate portraits of the miners’ families, mine employees and, especially, journalist Ruth Finney, explore the countless ways the mining disaster changed those who were close to it. Mace also smoothly connects the fire and the mining town of Jackson with bigger Am erican and world affairs like the war in Europe, immigration, Prohibition, advances in communication and the growth of women’s rights. Mace may not have hit the “Mother Lode,” but his tireless digging has certainly uncovered a forgotten nugget of Californian and American history. Photos. (May) (Publishers Weekly, April 26, 2004)

"Mace researched the mine fire for seven years; his dedication pays off in a well-rounded examination of the fire and the mining industry…he thoroughly explores the scientific and structural implications of each course of action complete with diagrams, technical data and testimony from those involved…his intimate portraits of the miners' families, mine employees and, especially, journalist Ruth Finney, explore the countless ways the mining disaster changed those who were close to it. Mace also smoothly connects the fire and the mining town of Jackson with bigger American and world affairs like the war in Europe, immigration, Prohibition, advances in communication and the growth of women's rights…his tireless digging has certainly uncovered a forgotten nugget of Californian and American history." (Publishers Weekly)

"Mace's "47 Down" is the riveting account of this tragedy and it has the same emotional impact of the recent best-seller "The Perfect Storm." Mace writes with taut prose, grabbing his reader by the collar… Drawing on newspaper accounts, diaries, government reports and official documents, Mace captures all of the drama and heartbreak of this event. This book is exceptional historical reporting and highly recommended." (Tucson Citizen)

"O. Henry Mace’s recently released book, 47 Down: The 1922 Argonaut Gold Mine Disaster in my words is... a damn good read! Wading in a calm little pond, by the time you’re in up to your ankles you find yourself pulled in by the quicksand of the story." (Amador Ledger-Dispatch)

"Mace has researched the subject so well that you will think that a mining engineer has written the tragic story of "47 Down". Not only does he do a remarkable job of making the reader feel and understand this colossal tragedy that captured the attention of all America, but he also does a great job of capturing the culture of the "tramp" hard-rock miner of the day." (Richard L. Bullock, D. Eng., P.E, Mining Engineer)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (April 21, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471446920
• ISBN-13: 978-0471446927
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #155,775 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #12 in	Books > History > United States > 20th Century > 1900s-1920s
  #33 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Civil > Environmental > Mining
  #37 in	Books > Science > Earth Sciences > Prospecting & Mining

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping historical rescue saga, August 19, 2004

By	Lutyens Fan (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

"47 Down" refers to the number of miners trapped in one of the deepest and most prosperous gold mines in the California foothills, in the year 1922. I bought the book because of a distant relationship to one of the individuals managing the mine, thinking this would be a good way to learn some family history. I was prepared to wade through what I thought would be dry melodrama, but I was gripped from the first pages.

In addition to learning a great deal of interesting information about mining and mines, I was completely captivated by the human story of the trapped miners and the bravery and ingenuity of the rescuers. There is a story line involving the contemporary media which was also interesting in that it points out how little some things have changed. The technology of the media may have evolved, but the competition and frenzy for a good story and headlines has not changed much. This was a terrific book that will interest people who have no idea what mining is all about as well as those who do.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, Insightful Read!, February 8, 2005

By	Kimberly Ann Lish - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As an avid reader of non-fiction books based on historical events, I picked up 47 Down in hopes of learning a bit about my home state and in return I got so much more. Not only does O. Henry Mace give a gripping account of a disaster that affected the lives of many but a concise representation of the background and history of mines in California and across the country. What I appreciated most about the book is the detail the author took into researching the lives of not only the 47 miners and their families, but also the reporters, rescue workers, and the town as a whole. By the time I closed the book I had a clear picture in my mind of what life was like in Jackson, California 1922. I can hardly wait for the next book O. Henry Mace writes!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mining Tragedy Brought to Life, September 1, 2005

By	Paige Montgomery (Baker, OR) - See all my reviews

I read this after reading a book about a silver mine fire in Idaho. This is more of a historical type book, but it held my interest. The book author did his homework and brought this sad story to life. I recommend it.