Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-20
NINE LIVES SAVED.
Death Baffled by the Rescuers
in the Pewabic Mine.
NINE NEE SET FREE FROM PRISON,
Where They Had Been Since Last wednes.
day Shut in by . Fall of Rock and Tim.
ber-Joyful Scene When It Was Known
They Were Safe-Not One of Them
Hurt, hut AL Suffering from Hunger
and Lack Of Water.

and Lack Of Water.
IRON MOUNTAIN, Mimi, July s0-Huu.
dreds Of people surrounded the shaft of
the Pewabic mine when the rescuing 9
party penetrated the fallen rock and
| reached the chamber where nine men had
been imprisoned since 6 o'clock Wednes.
day evening. The men were all alive and
unhurt, but they looked the worse fol-
their experience, as they had had nc
drinking water and nothing to eat at all.
They had drifted into the fallen rock
from their side twenty feet. Superin.
tendent Brown had nourishment ready
Tor them, and after partaking of it they
were all driven TO their respective homes
The cavc-in occurred just as the men
were preparing to leave the mines. The
men had proceeded from the second level
to the first when a pillar became dis.
lodged and tons of earth and rock came
down, blocking the entrance to the shaft.
Found Safety In q Dry Drift.
All work in other portions of the mines
was suspended, and as many as could
crowd into the entrance Of the dismantled
shaft were set to work. The managers Of
the mines formed the rescucrs into relays
and the work progressed rapidly The
pipe that supplies air to that part of the
mine was not broken ami the imprisoned
men were supplied with oxygen. When
the men heard the crash of the breaking
timbers they all made they way to dry
drift on the first level. Their miraculous
escape is considered one of the most re.
markable in the history Of mining. 1t
was most difficult task for the by ystcric.
al wives and children OF the imprisoned
miners to fully comprehend the joyful
shouts of the rescuing party when the
last mass of debris and timber had been
pulled aside, disclosing the nine miners
who had but a few hours previous been
given up as lost.
when the Why to Life Was Opened.
When the way to life was opened, foi
an instant the rescued men were stag.
gercd by the influx OF fresh air and light,
and then their hnggard faces were lighted
by the smiles that only humanity and
love of the dear ones at home can pro.
duce. Superintendent Brown, of the
mine, who had been warned by a signal
upon the iron pipe that the nine miners
We're safe. mentally checked off the names
OF the rescued party as the men were cs
cortcd from the level.
"kuowed the Boys Was all Right"
Tho meeting of the miners and their
families renewed the hysterical joy of the
women. Children huggcd the big,
brawny limbs of their fathers and cried
their JOY. Miners who had labored all
night IN the rescuing relays with pick,
shovel and tamping rod, smiled grimly
and endeavored to disparage their own
heroic work by rcmarking: I'VE knowed
that the boys was all right in the first
level air chamber, and a blast or two
would help Us dig 'cm out"
Names OF Those Rescued.
The recued miners are: Frank Bowden, |
Peter G. Carlson, James Canine, Paul
Farrctti, AIsc Fleming, T. F. johnson,
Michael Ruani,. Matrillo Sonora, and Ed. |
ward Webb. |