Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-30
MUST SEARCH IN DARKNESS
Danger of Explosion Makes 1t 1mpos-
sible to Use ANY Lights on the Trip
WADE AND GRoPE THEIR WAY
Alright Cans and Drinking Water
With Nourishing Food Being
Laboriously Carried to the I'M
prisoned Men-Many Are Idle.

The seven entombcd miners at the
Bcrwin-White mine at Foustwell, i'll
Somerset county, Pa, are said to be
still alive, and a party OF their COM
rades started TO their rescue under
great difficulty this afternoon. EX-
traordinary precautions have been
taken to save the lives OF the men.
YOUNGSTOWN. Pa. April 30 Still
alive" is the report brought to the surface
this morning by the rescuing party that has
been trying to reach the seven men who
have been imprisoned in the Berwind-White
mine at Foustwell, Somerset county. since
last Friday. by rush of water that filled
all the headings of the mines. Without
food or water. the men have been able to
make known that they were not drowned,
by tapping on compressed air pipes. signals
that but renewed the vigor of the men
working at pumps to empty the mine suffi-
GENTLY to enable the men to be brought out
Nine pumps have been at work since
last Friday night. and yesterday another
one of immense size was added TO the
equipment. Chugging away, these ten
pumps are emptying the mine at the rate
of 2ONO gallons minute. and this morning
II was expected that by early afternoon the
men would be reached,
Physicians are at the mine mouth. while
groups of miners and their families. with
friends of men thought to be amC * the
Inn her
the watch for something definite in the
way Of news of the men. dispensing to their
homes only to return in a short while.
Preparations for Treatment.
Upon the advice of the physicians prep
Hrations have been made for the treatmen;
of the men as soon as they reached.
When The water has receded to a level per-
uniting man to wade into the mine with
even his head above water one man will
be sent in with water. as this, the phys-
clans say, the men will need most. Liquid
food will also he taken in To them. This
will be done according to the physician in
charge. it is expected the men will be
too weak to wade through the water, and
they would be in danger of falling and
drowning.
Cots and Bedding.
Cots, handaGes and bedding have been
placed in a tool mouse near the mouth of
the mine, and a temporary hospital pre-
pared to cope with any injuries or Illness
the men may have suffered has been made
of the building.
Today for the first time since the acct
dent the relatives Of the imprisoned men
became skeptical, and TO reassure them as
70 the nature Of the tappings heard a
party Of foreigners was conducted into the
strated that the sounds came from the men
behind the water. and were not made by
the rescuers above to deceive
The mines closed down today in conse-
quence of which many men are idle 1t is
feared they may attempt violence against
persons responsible for blasting through
into the water filled working in case their
former feilowworkmen are found to be
dead.
Started in the Mine
At l2.3" pm. four men started into
the mine in an effort to reach their UNI
fortunate colleagues. They were forced
to wade. and in a crouching position as
the passage was but four feet high
There was sufficient room between the
water and the roof to give a clear space
for the mems heads. one of the four
was brother OF Michael Bolya the
foreman. W no Is one OF the NntoTtnndteS
SIung across the shoulders of the res
cuers were air-tight cans carrying drink
ing water and nourishing food in liquid
form.
Wading to Their Necks
Wadng up 10 their necks in tn black
and muddy water these men crawling and
STOPPING. Will have mile 70 traverse be-
fore reaching the heading. where the pris-
oners are said To be located. Through the
dark tunnels their way can be found only
by feeling along the rough walls. as lights
cannot be used for fear of gas explosions
The party sent in for fear that the
unfortunates would attempt to come out in
their enfeebled condition. and meet with
further accident. At the mouth OF the
mine is a crowd of men ready 10 follow the
four that have already started. These
gangs Will he sent in soon as the water
viii permit OF bringing a body out. The
progress OF the four rescurers will neces-
sarily be slow, and II is expected to be well