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Monday Evening, November 15 1909 300 IN MINE, NOT ONE LIVING: Latest Conclusion in Mine Disaster - Bodies Now Being Brought Up Cherry, Ill., Nov. 15 - That not one man of the three hundred or more entombed in the mine will be taken out alive is the practically unanimous opinion of those today on the scene of Saturday's disaster. NO OXYGEN THERE Rescuers made three descents this morning, but no sign of life was seen and the rescuers declared that every bit of oxygen of life giving air was exhausted and that no life could exist for hundreds of feet beyond the shaft entrance. A few miners camps and lamps were seen, tragic tokens of the first mad rush for safety by the miners who escaped, but no bodies were found. This indicated that when the miners realized they were penned hopelessly in the pit they rushed to the furthermost end of the vein, where some air might be found that would keep them alive till help came. DENY THIS HOPE Notwithstanding the report of the rescuers State Mine Inspector Taylor expressed the opinion that a small supply of air still exists in the mine and there is a fighting chance for those within. Miners who have inspected the opening deny this claim. SEALING WAS RIGHT Frantic protests of the state commission against sealing the mine last night are met today by the assertion of experienced miners that it was the only way to smother the fire and afford the hope of escape to the entombed men. RESCUERS IN THE MINES Several rescuing parties who went down this morning returned from the second vein at 9:30. They brought the report that the mine is caving in in several places. They also declared that none of the entombed miners were near the landing and that it was impossible as yet to make an exploration of more than a few feet beyond the shaft entrance. The mine is still on fire and it is now known that more than 300 miners are inside. |
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Oxygen Tanks for Mine Descent |
THE INQUEST
The coroner's inquest will be resumed today, and it is expected that something will be learned concerning the cause of the explosion and who is to blame. The inquest at present will be as to the cause of death of the rescuers. A party of nurses from Chicago who arrived last night, today were turned into comforters of the families probably bereft. Throughout the hamlet are scattered cottages in various stages of completion. It seems likely that many of these cottages will never be finished. BRINGING UP BODIES The bodies of the miners will probably be brought to the surface this afternoon. Preparations have been made and searching parties provided with oxygen helmets to guard against smoke will carry stretchers on which to bear the bodies to the shaft at the bottom. From there they will be hoisted to the top. THOUSANDS OF VISITORS Thousands of visitors came to the mine this morning. Special trains being weeping relatives summoned by telegraph arrived at the station and heart-rending scenes were enacted as they met other relatives and were told the worst, which appears to be the only possible outcome of the disaster. PLAN OF RESCUE This morning it was the plan of the state mining officials who have taken charge of the mine since the fire Saturday to raise the cover of the hoisting shaft and lower rescuers to the third vein where if alive the men now 400 feet beneath the surface are waiting. |
| SHAFT SEALED
Late last night the air shaft, the only opening besides the hoisting shaft, was hermetically sealed. This was done to smother the fire and make it possible for the rescuers to pierce lower levels. David Ross, secretary of the state labor commission declared last night that it was extremely improbable that any one would be found living. Richard Newsam, president of the state mining board said it would be a miracle is one person had been spared. |
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NO SIGNALS HEARD Rumors that a shot was heard beneath the surface and that rappings on pipes had been used to indicate that the entombed miners were living were this morning declared absurd. R R Ried, a miner, who lives 500 feet south of the mine entrances and above one of the branches, is said to have heard or felt the shock resembling a revolver shot or an explosion. J P Buck, chief clerk of the St. Paul Coal company, who have been employed about the mines for thirty years asserted that no revolver shot could have been heard or felt on the surface. Other officials declared that the explosion of a stick of dynamite would be unlikely, anyway, and that it would serve if it occurred, to lesson the chance of the men's surviving. |
| STILL ON FIRE
Though tests yesterday seemed to indicate that the fire had burned out, smoke continued last night to issue from the air shaft until it was sealed and as it found vent, the smoke poured out of the hoisting shaft the morning as the covering was removed. AWFUL MINUTES IN DARKNESS Cherry, Ill. Nov 15 - Implicit obedience by Engineer John Cowley to orders may have caused the death of the rescuing party which went down in the St. Paul mine Saturday afternoon. This information was brought out at the coroner's inquest which began yesterday afternoon. According to the testimony of Cowley, who is engineer of the main shaft, he had been told by Third Vein Boss Alexander Noesburg, before Noesburg went down in the mine (part missing?) When the rescue party had been at the bottom of the shaft some time and without getting in communication with the engineer by the usual means, Martin Powers, Dr. Howe and Herbert Lewis, the latter a brother of one of the party, rushed to Cowley and demanded that he raise the cage. Cowley refused acting under Noesburg's orders he told the coroner's jury. For ten minutes he would not listen to their frantic appeals, but finally referred the matter to Quinley, superior of the top cage. Quinley hesitated and Machinist John Shadester told Cowley he should raise the cage, saying Cowley testified "nobody is alive down there." Cowley then brought the cage to the top but every one of the men in the rescuing party was either dead or dying. Cowley declared that after the cage with the men in it had been raised it was let down and raised five or six times. WILLIAM VICKERS FIGHT FOR LIFE CRAWLED 200 YARDS William Vickers, who was at work at the face of the mine, was one of the few who came out alive. For more than 200 yards he crawled in the dark on his hands and knees using the rail as a guide to the bottom of the shaft. At one point he met sixty five miners sitting in a row who had given up the struggle and were waiting resignedly for death. DESCRIBES FIGHT FOR LIFE "I and my buddy (partner) were at work on the second vein level when the alarm of the fire was sounded", said Vickers "We started by the bottom but had gone but a few feet when our lights went out. The first entry was filling up fast with smoke and made us gasp for breath. Several times we attempted to light our lamps without success, all about we could hear the shouts of our comrades in adjoining rooms, who, like ourselves, had been left in the dark. Calling to my buddy I warned him to get close to the roadbed and I began to crawl along the rails, shouting at intervals to my buddy to let him know where I was. HAUNTED BY SIGHT OF COMRADES At one point we passed about sixty-five miners sitting by the roadside almost in a stupor. I tried to rouse them and encourage them to go on, but they seemed to have given up all hope and did not stir. I had no time to lose and counted on sending back relief from the shaft. The sight of my doomed comrades is something that will haunt me to my dying days. WAS ALMOST OVER When within 100 feet of the mine mouth, I began to grow faint from the effects of the smoke and exhaustion. Smoke was growing more dense every foot I progressed and my courage was fast going. I pulled my coat closely about my face and bending closely to the rail, struggled on. ESCAPED DEATH BY THREE MINUTES I escaped death by just three minutes. When I arrived at the bottom of the shaft the cage was about to ascend. I shouted as a signal and two men broke their way to me and dragged me to the cage. I lost consciousness, and when I came to I was safely to top. My buddy had followed closely all the way out, and encouraged by the light held by the cageman, managed to reach the shaft and was carried with me to safety. TOBACCO POUCH SAVES TWO A tobacco pouch was the means of saving the lives of John Phillips and Edward Surrock, miners in the second vein. Phillips on his way to the shaft found many lying on the track in the main entry. He dragged the form of his comrade until he was almost overcome by smoke. He searched for something to cover his nose and mouth. The only thing available was a small sack in which he carried his tobacco. Emptying it, he put one end in his mouth, pulled the rest of it over his nose and fastened it around his head by a string. By crawling with his head close to the rail, he struggled toward the shaft carrying the other man with him. FATHER TRIED TO SAVE SON The most pathetic incident was the saving of John McGill and his young son. They left the place where they were working when the alarm was given and before half the journey was completed, the boy began to grow dizzy. Clasping the father's hand he said weakley, "Pa, I am dying, leave me and save yourself if you can." Although greatly weakened, the father raised the now unconscious son, and taking off his belt, strapped the boy on his back and struggled on. Within the shaft, he staggered and fell. Before losing consciousness he shouted for help and his cries were heard. Rescuers picked up the two forms and bore them to the cage and they were hoisted to the surface.
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