Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-07-06

Anthony CTOrOOQo 1OuS 4OlldShl
John Gill, Peter Savoskiz
John Gaffney Andrew SlovinSki,
Daniel Gavin, Simon Maskovitz,
p. S. Kelly, John CadanlZky
Hoistrich,
About two weeks ago the surveyors
reported to General Superintendent Law
that the mine was squeezing, and that
unless steps were Immediately taken to
timber it a caye-in or fall might be
looked for. Supt. Law lost no time,
and at once put number of men at
work to brace the falling roof. The
squeeze continued, however, and Sat
urday the situation became alarming.
In the afternoon a slight fall occurred,
and the men who were at work mad to
retreat before it. A consultation OF
mine officials was then held, and it was
decided that heroic measures would have
to be res0rted to to prevent heaVy DAM
age to the mine.
Inside Supt. Langan gave instructions
that the most experienced miners should
be secured. Expert timbermen put in an
appearance at that hour and were soon
lowered into the workings. They made
down the slope. The work of propping
proceeded rapidly until II o'clock, when
another fall occurred. 1t made a low,
rumbling roise, and the flying debris
drove the men back. Then the squeeze"
ceased again and the men thought it was
until 1920 O. clock when, so it is presumed,
the roof fell in without warning, making
a tremendous crash.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 3O.-The situ-
alton at the Pittston shaft has under-
gone no change since midnight The
rescuers continue to work under diff
culties. The squeeze" is now general
and at the foot of the shaft can be heard
the loud, rumbling noise of falling rock
in distant parts of the mine.
At 5 o'clock there was another slight
fall which drove the men back. Double
timbering is now being resorted to. 1t
is very slow and tedious work and even
under the most favorable conditions the
workers could not hope to clear gang
way to where the entombed men are in
less than month.
The cave-in at Evansville some two
years ago offers a precedent for the
officials of the twin shaft. AS long as
there is a possibility of any men being
alive they feel it their duty to continue
the work of attempted rescue. In the
Evansville cavern six men were impriS-
oned in breast of the mine for nineteen
days. On the nineteenth day they were
reached. Five men were dead and one
was alive. The living man was big
joe" Polander. He il now employed
as carpenter at Hazelton. He has been
interviewed on the probable fate of the
men Ill the illusion mine anu says II CUeT
are alive and the air is pure where they
are they will be able to live for ten days
at least 1t is taken for granted there
is water where they are and all of the
men carried good supply of food, which
could be used sparingly during their i'm
priSOnment.
Another large crowd gathered about
the mouth of the shaft this morning. In
the crowd were twelve wives of en-
tombed men. They still have hopes that
their loved ones will be brought out alive.
Supt Law says that all that was posi-
bic to do is being done.
The appeal sent out by the board of
trade is already meeting with liberal
responses. A gentleman from New York
who does not want his name made pub
lie sends $1,000. Smaller subscriptions
ranging from So to $25 have been re-
ceived 1t is expected that the whole
country will respond to the appeal. With
the exception of Supt Langan's family,
all the other families of the imprisoned
miners are in destitute circumstances.
Some of them have already received tenn
porary aid from the town authorities.
1t is stated this afternoon that the
namber of men in the twin shaft is be-
tween SiXty-nine and SeyentV-tWO