1 dead, guests trapped in Mollie Kathleen gold mine | News

CRIPPLE CREEK – One person died after an equipment malfunction during a tour of the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek on Thursday, according to the Teller County Sheriff's Office.

Twelve people remained trapped 1,000 feet deep in the mine as of 4:30 p.m., and 11 others were rescued 500 feet down after a mechanical problem. According to the sheriff's office, the first call came in around noon.

Officials said during a late afternoon news conference that emergency crews were working on plans to get the 12 people back to safety. Those stuck at the bottom of the mine have blankets, chairs and water and are communicating with emergency responders above.

Officials reported that at least four people suffered minor injuries, including back and neck pain, and were treated at the scene. According to authorities, two children were among those rescued and received psychiatric help.

Teller County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Renee Bunting told The Gazette that the mine did not collapse.

According to its website, the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine is a former gold mine turned tourist destination that takes guests on a vertical descent 100 stories underground. Tours take place at an altitude of 1,000 feet, but the elevator shaft is deeper.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department reported receiving a 911 call to assist with the mine incident around 1:30 p.m. The fire department sent, among other things, heavy rescue workers and rescue workers to the mine.

Gov. Jared Polis' office sent out a news release Thursday afternoon saying he had committed state resources to assist Teller County authorities with rescue efforts.

“I have spoken with the Teller County Sheriff and county commissioners and will remain in touch as this rescue operation progresses,” Polis said in the news release. “We will do everything possible and help the district ensure a quick and safe resolution to the situation.”

The state has a Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management field manager on site and the state Emergency Operations Center is activated and supporting resource requests. Both a mine rescue team from the Department of Natural Resources and a transportation inspector from the Department of Labor and Employment were on the scene, according to the governor's news release.

“We are extremely grateful for the quick response from all agencies involved and keep everyone in our prayers,” said Cripple Creek Mayor Annie Durham. “It is still an active investigation and we are hoping for the best outcome.”

According to Mollie Kathleen's website, the last day of tours this season was scheduled to be Sunday.

The mine was named after Mollie Kathleen Gortner, who was the first woman to discover gold at the Cripple Creek Gold Camp in 1891 and staked a claim on her own behalf, the website says.

The mine closed in the 1960s, but since mine tours were doing well at the time, it was decided to continue the tours, the website says.

Revenue from the tours is used to maintain the mine and ensure it is in a “safe, operational mining condition,” according to the website. Local officials said the last “incident” at the mine occurred in 1986, but did not provide details.

This article is being updated.