Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-06-27
THE MINERS.
The Rescuers Reach the Mine-Delayed by
Precautions-Great Anxiety - : Shut
Down In the Coke Region.

with the news that the Hill Farm mine
had been reached. The news spread like
wildfire, and in half hour the newspaper
men and physicians were podding up the
hill to the pit mouth.
When the mouth of the mine was
reached it was learned that about 1886
this morning a hole was broken through
the coal into an opening on the other side.
At once arrangements were made to keep
out the air. The hole was bratticed up
with muslin and canvas door made.
Then a test of the air was made, aud il
was found to be very good. An hour and
half was lost in waiting before the In
spectors would permit the men to pro-
ceed. The shift working now is clearing
the space in the opening. No one knows
what is ahead, but if the maps are correct
there should be but little trouble from the
falls of slate and stone.
saw Mine Inspector Keighley, who
said: "We broke into an opening this
morning. ] at once had the hole closed.
We lost an hour and a half waiting to
have the air tested and the currents fixed.
1t would be fatal to turn IN the air now.
We have fifty men working, and l must
protect them. That is why am using so
much caution. hope to know the fate
of the men before o'clock this afternoon.
Of course it may take longer"
&C. If the men survived the explosion,
and the air IN that entry in the Hill Farm
mine is as good as the opening you struck,
what are the chances of the men being
alive ?"
"VerY good. Under such conditions l
think we can bring some of them out
alive. You can rest assured we will do
the very best we can"
Every one was wearing a more hopeful
expression this morning, the agony be-
ing almost ended aud it will be a most
joyful day if the men are brought out
alive,
A few moments later | saw District
Master Workman Kerfoot. He has been
at the mine since early this morning. He
said 81 can only learn that the men
have struck through the coal, as they
have been doing al along. They don't
know any more where they are now than
they did yesterday. They can't know
where they are nntil they strike the fiat.
Then they can tell something.
At 10 o'clock visited the mine again.
Inspector Blick had just come out of the
mine. He looked very cheerful and said
h felt much encouraged. "We are still
working in the goh, but have only few
feet to go till we reach the line"
"What about the hole YOU made through
the coal ?" asked the Inspector.
"Well, you see we did break through
and found the ventilation all changing.
Of course this put us to our metal. We
worked very hard to find where it came
from, We don't know yet, but we dc
know that it did not come from the Hill
Farm mine, and that it is not going that
way"
'What progress are you making ?"
"We are pushing things at a most lively
rate. We are making better headway
than at any time during the past three
days. The 'gob' is loose, much looseI
than we have had for some time"
"How far are you from the line ?"
From to IA feet, and think we will
be there soon. The men are working like
beavers and are anxious to get through
All of them are satisfied that we are doing
the best we can"
District Master Workman Kerfoot this
morning ordered out all the miners in the
entire coke region. 'rhey are to meet al
Scottdale tomorrow in convention. The
subject to be discussed is the recovery Of
the imprisoned men, dead or alive.
Kerfoot is reported as saying that with
his force he could have cleared away the
entire surface of the Hill in which the Hill
Farm mine is located. The officials oi
the company say they would be glad tC
have their coal exposed. 1t is certain thai
Kerfoot will be kept out of the Mahoning
mine. 1t is also ascertalned that Inspec'
tor Keighley and his men will push along
in the same direction they are going. The
Inspector said he can get all the men
needed, and would keep on the lire fol
ten days if necessary.
Mr.. Seldom Taylor, a civil engineer
from Pittsburgh, was down the mine twice
this morning. The last visit he paid wa:
just short while before II O'clock. The
talk around the mine has been concerning
the action of Col. Kerfoot in stopping the
works throughout the region,
Mr., Taylor said " Every one can
say that Peter Wise has worked right
along through this trouble like man,
He told me in talking of this order Of
Kerfoot's that he could not understand it,
He said Kerfoot had no authority to issue
such an order. He further added that
every member of the Board of Knights OF
Labor who had visited the mine since the
work of rescue began mad approved Of
each step. 1t strikes me that this is
pretty hard on Kerfoot.
GT,,et ,,bat o.nod tl,;c oonron4.o.. Il. 4