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Saturday Evening, November 20, 1909
FORTY OUT ALIVE: MAY BE 150 MORE MAY BE 150 ALIVE |
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Cherry, Nov. 20 - A man just called out from the car window that
he believed 150 men were alive in the east shaft.
Cherry, Nov. 20 - At 2 o'clock this afternoon it was reported that forty men were alive in the mine. The men were reached after a wall of debris had been broken down. ONE RAISED HAND At first the men were supposed to be dead, but one of them uplifted his hand and the rest were found to be breathing. The live men were immediately rushed to the hoisting shaft and stimulated. One of the men after being brought to the sunlight after seven day's entombment was able to mutter incoherently. It appears that the men after discovering their predicament walled themselves in. |
| THE FIGHT FOR LIFE
The fight against death was lead by Joseph Crescini. Crescini was one of the two men brought up in the cage. He reported between thirty and forty other men alive in the south wing. In the darkness where they waited for seven days in an agony of hunger and suspense, they lost track of time and thought today was Sunday. GIVEN FOOD The two men were given nourishment in the form of milk diluted with water and administered in small portions until their stomachs could retain it. COME UP SMILING The next trip brought seven other survivors. They were smiling and healthy save for weakness due to lack of food. WOMEN FOUGHT Women who had stood for days and nights with only a hope of recovering the mutilated forms of their husbands and sons fought with the soldiers to reach the mouth of the pit. The latter with the greatest gentlenes srestrained them, explaining that to over-run the pit would only delay the rescue. They followed the advice and there was no interference. LIFE IN THE TOMB After the disaster, under the leadership of Crescini such food as remains in the dinner pails was assembled and the men were put on short rations. FEEBLE CHEER When the explorers broke into the tomb-like prison, then men were all seated, but with the ray of light which shot into their prison from the lights of the searching party there they jumped to their feet and gave a feeble cheer. STARTED TO DIG They said that they had started to dig their way out, their barricade having been almost impassibly reinforced by cave-in. MET BY WIFE When Spagatta was led from the cage he ran fairly into the arms of his wife and two children. KISSED RESCUERS FEET There was a short hysterical torrent of endearing words and then the mother turned and kissed the feet of the man who had brought her husband out, the children following her example. WIFE FAINTED The wife of another man fainted in her husband's arms. NONE FOR THESE When the last man was up, the women who had found none they recognized walked about distracted, again and again, returning to attack the military guard. |
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Saturday Evening, November 20, 1909
FORTY BODIES BROUGHT UP Cherry, Ill., Nov. 20 - A great heap of bodies was reached in the mine today after a night of desperate effort to remove obstructions. In one great pile behind a "fall-in" of gravel, timber and coal, the explorers discovered thirty bodies. STRETCHED ON THE GROUND They waited until daybreak to bring the bodies to the surface, when in the half light of the sun's first rays a ghastly procession began. On a canvas stretched upon the ground one by one, thirty bodies were placed upon it. A few women were present at the time, but for the most part the village had not been awakened. |
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Identification of Bodies |
PATHETIC SCENES
When the town awakened, the pathetic scenes which accompanied the recovery of the first dead were reenacted on a larger scale.Owing to the condition of the bodies they will be held only twenty-four hours for identification. If not recognized within that time, a record will be preserved and an internment carried out. Laborers worked all night digging graves in anticipation of the recoveries today. IDENTIFICATION A ROUTINE The work of identification became a routine as the day progressed. When-ever a time check was found in the pocket the number was looked up on the books and the name announced. |
| ALL DIED EARLY
The finding today of full dinner pails convinces one of the state mine inspectors that all the miners died of suffocation Saturday soon after the fire broke out. TOTAL IS FORTY By 1 o'clock this afternoon forty bodies have been brought to the surface and the majority of them identified. Of the 300 victims not more than 200 can be identified. GRIEF IS TERRIBLE Charity Goes Everywhere in Cherry With Heavily Laden Baskets Cherry, Nov. 20 - Science, connected with desperate work, has checked the fire which caused 300 deaths in the St. Paul mine. Charity poured into the homes of the survivors and relatives, but could not subdue the grief over the dead men being lifted from the tomb. REPLACED BURNED TIMBERS Last night miners replaced the burned timbers in the galleries, clearing the obstructions which impede access to the coal veins for more than 250 feet from the main shaft. Beyond that the latent fires still burn. IN NAME OF CHARITY Last night men carrying huge baskets, tramped through the unlighted streets delivering supplies. Charity of a less heroic, but more expensive character comes from the St. Paul railroad. Experts, soldiers, nurses, doctors, reporters and others totalling more than 300, are housed in the company's sleeping cars, eating excellent meals in the dining cars. A thousand are served daily without a hitch. TAYLOR'S WORK APPRECIATED Taylor, who repeatedly explored the mine when it was in the most dangerous state received yesterday from his first employer, W. E. Phelps of St. Joseph, Mo., who hired him thirty-five years ago in the Coal Mine in Elmwood, Ill., a telegram, reading: "Highest appreciation of your nerve and daring. May God bless you and protect you." |
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