William Francis Murphy

WILLIAM F. “BIG BILL” MURPHY WAS A larger-than-life man working at the Desert Queen Mine when the alarm sounded on February 23, 1911, warning of a fire at the Tonopah Belmont. Disregarding his own safety, Bill answered the call for help, unaware that his decision would cost him his life.

Bill was born and raised in Huntington, Quebec, Canada, on June 11, 1881. He was shaped by good schools, the example of good parents, the steady influence of home, and the simple life of the country. From these foundations, his character was formed.

Like many young men of his generation, Bill was captivated by the westward pull of opportunity. Accompanied by his close friend James F. Darrah, he traveled through the north and northwest and eventually into California, settling for a time in San Francisco around 1902. In early 1904, James’s cousin Hugh conceived the idea of making an ocean voyage and was surprised when Bill insisted on going as well. They spent six days at sea and several weeks in the Hawaiian Islands, returning home with little more than pleasant memories.

Back in the United States, Bill drifted into prospecting and mining, work that would ultimately write the final chapter of his young life.

When fire broke out on the 1,166-foot level of the Tonopah Belmont Mine in the early hours of February 23, 1911, more than twenty miners were trapped underground. At the time, Bill was working below ground at the Desert Queen Mine, on the opposite side of the mountain. Upon hearing of the disaster, he came to the surface, ran over the mountain, and descended to the Belmont portal.

The cage was already in operation. Bill climbed aboard, fully aware that he was descending into grave danger—and that his friend James Darrah was still below. He made two trips underground, rescuing several men who were close to death. When the engineer asked how he felt, Bill replied simply, “I’m all in,” though he remained calm and composed.

Knowing that James had not yet been brought up, Bill made a third descent. He carried his friend to the cage and placed him inside. Exhausted and overcome by smoke, Bill collapsed, fell from the cage, and was crushed. His mangled body was later recovered and brought to the surface.

Seventeen miners died that day. A series of miscalculations and fatal decisions by senior mine officials—including Superintendent T. F. M. Fitzgerald—contributed directly to the loss of life. Some men had reportedly been threatened with the loss of their jobs if they refused to return underground. Public anger over the disaster and an apparent attempt to minimize the death toll raised fears of violence from miners and grieving families. Although no formal charges were filed, an official inquest was held soon afterward, during which seventy individuals were interviewed.

Much more could be written about the Belmont Mine fire, and readers are encouraged to pursue further research. This account remembers William Francis “Big Bill” Murphy, who ran toward danger so others could live. He was not yet thirty years old.

A monument honoring Big Bill stands in downtown Tonopah, erected by the Tonopah Main Street Murals and Monuments Committee, in front of the post office. Directly across the street is a mural depicting the mass funeral for the fallen miners, the long procession moving slowly down Main Street toward the Old Tonopah Cemetery in a blizzard.

William Francis “Big Bill” Murphy