The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-05-02
GRITTY MINERS
FIGHT FOR LIFE
Story of Experiences of the Seven
Men Rescued From Flooded
fOuStWeII Mine


seven men rescued from the Foust-
well mine are doing we'll today
The men were reached at 10
O'Clock last night by Stlney Redon
and Charles Ream. who made dash
through fifty feet OF water-nlled
! headlines. Early in the day John
Bolya, brother of one OF the i'm
prisoned men, and three comrades,
made a futile attempt TO reach them.
| They came back half drowned and
reported that portions of the head
ings were still completely filled with
water and that more pumping would
have to be done before the impris-
oned men could be reached. The ef-
forts at pumping were then re-
doubled. AT 10 o'clock the water
had so far gone down that it was
resolved TO make one more attempt
to break through to the overcast,
where ii was believed the men were
still alive. Stiney Rodon and Charles
Ream volunteered for the service.
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 nearly exhausted Ream He re-
ported that the seven men were
alive and all In good condition, but
thai until more pumping was done
the passage to the place where they
had taken refuge was impossible to
those who could not swim.
Ream and his comrade carried to
the imprisoned men simply flask OF
brandy and little water He re-
ported that Mike Bolya had, since
the breaking of the walls between
the abandoned workings. been in
charge of the movements of his COM
rades. Bolya Is acquainted with
every turn of the mine When the
food broke out he led his comrades
to the furthest point In the heading,
where the overcast" was situated.
Under Bolya's direction each man be-
tore fleeing seized his lunch basket.
When they arrived al the overcast
every lamp but one was eXtinguished
and one by one the lamps we're each
burned out until when they were
reached by Rodon and Ream there
was but single light remaining and
that in danger of running low at any
time
When stock was taken of the
available supply of provisions, II was
found that three baskets were but
half cmptied This ceanty store Of
rations was hushaaded until Monday
morning when the men had nothing
to eat During the whole riraa thoy
had gone without water fearing to
drink the water from tha abandoned
workings
Ream said that At the place where
the men had sought refuge there had
been supply Of ties fol track laying
purposes With these Bolya and his
comrades had built platform upon
which rhey mad sought refuge and
when found they were mol only high,
but dry
Superintendent Delaney has made
his report. containing more details
concerning their experience
4 short time after the Hood broke
loose acmording to Dclaney's story,
Bolya and his companions had rig
gcd up IA pump, which they foud. and
began TO pump the water that lay
between them and the pill mouth in
Il 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 in
tense cold when not pumping the
tapping continuously on the COM
pressed air pipe. The signals were
always four taps and then three, to
Indicate that they were in the fourth
flSnl neaulnR anu thdl SEVEN ol
them were alive.
At various times. as the hope OF
rescue faded, Bolya had difficulty in
preventing his companions from at
tempting to swim To safety.
The seven men, as they pumped,
placed stones to mark the fall of the
hn
TO them 10 stand stationary. AT no
time did Bolya lose his nerve. When
his comrades became discouraged he
was ready with some plan that en-
gagged their activity
Chase Freighting Outfit.