New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-01
BURIED MINERS SAVED.
ENTOMBED FIVE DAYS.
Condition Good after Ordeal an
Flooded Coal Nine.

caused by the breaking of a wall of an aban-
doned mine, were rescued at 10 o'clock tonight.
They were greatly exhausted. and owing to their
weakened condition il decided not TO bring
them out until after the mine has been drained.
Never in the history of the mining region has
such a joyous scene been witnessed as when the
unfortunate men were reached. Hundreds who
were gathered about watching the work of res
cue cheered laughed and cried.
The men were reached at 10 o'clock by Stiney
Rodon and Charles Ream, who made dash
| through fifty feet OF water filled heading.
Earlier in the day John Bolya brother of one Of
the imprisoned men, and three comrades made
futile attempt to reach the entombed miners.
These men came back half drowned. and re-
ported that portions of the heading were still
completely filled with water, and that more
pumping would have to be done before the
captives could be reached. The efforts at pump
! ing were then redoubled At 10 o'clock the
water had SO far gone down that it was re-
! solved to make more attempt to break
| through to the overcast, where it was believed
the miners still alive.
Stney Rodon and Charles Ream volunteered
for the service. Like the party that set forth
earlier in the day, they left the pumping crew
and plunged out into the water and darkness
over an hour elapsed before either man was
heard from and then Ream came swimming
back through the heading, bringing the first
news from the imprisoned seven. The effort
had neaFly exhausted Ream. He reported that
| the seven men were alive and all in good shape
| but that until more pumping was done the pas
| sage TO the place where they had taken refuge
was impossible to those who could not swim
When the news received that the seven
men were alive, it was resolved to allow them to
remain where they were until the heading had
! been pumped out
| Rean and his comrade carried TO the captives
simply n flask of brandy and a little water.
! Ream reported that since the breaking OF the
| walls between the abandoned workings Mike
| Bolya had been charge of the movements Oh
! his comrades. Bolya who Is mine contractor
! was man acquainted with every turn or the
/ nine In which he was imprisoned When the
! flood broke out according to the story he told
/ Ream he led his comrades TO the highest point
/ In the heading where the overcast was situ-
ated Under Bolya's direction, each man before
! fleeing seized his lunch basket. When they ar
/ rived at the overcast every lamp but one WAS
/ extinguished and pne by one the lamps were
/ each burned out until when they were reached
/ by Rodon and H"am. there was only a single
! light remaining. and that in danger or running
/ low ct any time.
noIva stated that the lamps were kept light
/ ed because the darkness and noise OF the water
rushing IN the headings II was driven back
| and forth by the expansion of air cushions
/ caused by the food was terrifying that the
! men feared that their would leave them
/ II left in darkness. lie said that OF all the
/ dangers they faced the darkness was tho most
! terrible.
When stock was taken of the available sup
/ ply OF provisions il found that three pas
| kets were but half ernptied. This scanty store
I Of rations was husbanded until Monday morn
ing, after which the men had nothing to eat.
! iU1uri
/ they had gone without water. fearing to drink
/ the water from the abandoned works.
Ream stated that at the place where the men
had sought refuge there had been supply of
ties left for track laying purposes. With these
| Bolya and his comrades had built a platform.
upon which they had sought refuge and when
found they not only high. but dry.
The rescue was effected much sooner than even
the most optimistic had expected. Late this af-
! ternoon the largest pump broke. This accident,
with the failure of the rescue party headed by
John Bolya, had cast down the hopes OF those
who had been engaged In the struggle since Sat-
urday
Johnstown. Penn. May 1.-Shortly after 10
o'clock Superintendent Delaney made trip to
the place where Bolya and his comrades had
sought refuge and returned with more details
concerning the condition of the and
| their ixrrsriences. According to Delaney. Bolya
was Informed by one OF hts men Saturday after
noon that water was coming into the heading
where they working Being acquainted
with the mine Bolya at once started for the
highest point. Before this place reached
the men had wade through water waist deep
once in a place of safety, Bolya started to plan
a means of escape. Within a short time after
the flood broke loose he and his companions had
rigged up a pump which they found and began
pumping the water that lay between them and
the pit mouth into dip on the other side of
them They pumped continuously Saturday
night and Sunday. Sunday night some of the
men slept. Monday they began pumping again
TO overcome the intense cold when not pump
ing the men dug coal. When first caught an
attempt was made to escape by means of
loaded mine car. but this plan was found i'm
practicable. AT Bolya's suggestion man
was kept tapping the compressed air pipe
The signals were always four taps and then
three, to indicate that they were in the fourth
right heading and that seven of them were
alive. No matter what the answer. this signal
: never changed.
At various times, the hope of rescue dleu
i'll their breasts, Bolya had difficulty in prevent
ing his companions from attempting TO swim TO
safety
| 1t was not until Monday that they began TO
be discouraged The seven as they
pumped placed stones TO mark the fall or the
water. Monday the water seemed to- them TO
stand stationary. At time did Bolya lose his
nerve When his comrades became discouraged
he was ready with some plan that engaged their
activities.
! AT | o'clock this morning the men had not
been brought out of the mine. although special
train was ready to take the party to the Wind