Men had died before in Haunted Mine, but not by bullets

Fire rages through Haunted Mine, economic mainstay of the coalmining town of Genesee, Colorado. Some miners have been rescued, but seventeen still are tragically trapped in the mine's depths. Tony Sheridan, the handsome, outgoing and seemingly much-adored nephew of Genesee's "benevolent despot," old Matthew North, heroically descends to the bottom of the mine in a desperate last effort at rescue. He does not return, however, nor do any of the missing men. All hope is abandoned, the ventilating shaft is shut off...