Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-01
MINERS SAVED FROM
ICY COAL SHAFT
Seven Starved Toilers Are Taken
From Death Trap After Many
Hours of Agony and Torture.

the weeping wives of their comrades and
the aged father Of Mike Bolya, who had
prayed increasingly in the kitchen of the
miners little home since the men were re-
ported missing, the four rescuers kept on
until they found the water clear up to the
roof OF the tunnel Even there John Bolya
would not consent to turn back
Tying rope about his waist John Bolya
rushed through the flood, hoping to find that
few feet further on the tunnel level was
higher and the water might not reach the
roof His heroic effort nearly cost him his
life. After what seemed to his fellow res
cuers like an age, probably minute or less
they pulled him back. choking and almost
unconscious. and held his head up till he
could get his breath. Then the party re-
pumps must continue work another two
hours, probably, before rescue could be
effected. =
Before retreating the men threw their bot
that they would be foated through to the
beleaEuered ones.
The rescuers reached the surface after
spending four hours in the icy water. They
were numbed and exhausted. but Bolya
was first among the volunteers to make the
next attempt. In his place two men who
knew every foot Of. the tunnel were sent
after the pumps had reduced the water
level another foot.
Entered the Mines.
At 9:15 these men. Stiner, Roden and
Charles Ream. entered the mine When
the time grew long and they did not re-
turn. as had the other rescue parties, the
crowd grew even more anxious than they
had been throughout the long afternoon.
Suddenly there was shout from those near
the mines mouth as Ream appeared. drip
ping with dirty mine water. He nodded
"yes," and raising one arm stiiled the
crowd. and in few words related that he
had made his way along with Roden
through the water to the imprisoned men
and found them all alive and WELL This
was the start. The rescue was most dra-
matte Inside of few minutes, -Ream
started back at the head of a party to get
the men. This party was equipped with
small quantity Of supplies for Immediate
relief.
This party returned to find the seven prls-
oners chatting cheerfully with the other
rescuer. Roden, and relating their expe-
riences. Water and brandy were dealt out
in small quantities by one of the physicians
who accompanied the party.
The men wer, lot started for the mouth
of the mine at once, as in some places the
water was so deep that it would have been
impossible to get them through without
subjecting them to plunge in the icy wa
ter, which the physicians thought would be
extremely dangerous. The men as a whole
were able to WALK with assistance, but after
emerging from the mine mouth they were
pital they were fed, and In a few minutes
were all sleeping soundly.
Description of the Torment.
The foreman of the party, Mike Bolya,
gives graphic description of the imprison-
ment which after the mental torment of the
first few days had ceased simply resolved
itself into case of waiting for rescue. He
states that when his men and himself first
realized the rush of the waters they were
working in a point from which they had to
make a hasty escape Being familiar with
the interior of the mine they at once made
their way to one Of the highest spots In
No. heading.
At first the men were in a complete state
of collapse, but their courage reasserted it
self and they determined to make the best
of the situation. At no time did the i'm
prisoned men suffer from lack Of air.
Their first thought was to let the men on
the outside know that they were still awe
in order that no time would be lost in start
the Ar-pipes, and on this started the inces-
SAINT tapping which was first noticed Satur-
day morning by the mine officials. When 1t
became apparent that they would be i'm
prisoned for some time Bolya asserteu him.
self 1nd ordered the men to put out their
lights in order that the small amount of oil
on hand might be husbanded. The scraping
In the dinner pals were put into common
fund and doled out sparingly at long Inter-
walls.
Bolya about Saturday noon, according to
his calculations located big pile Of mine
ties, and before the mems strength failed
put them to work building a small hut on
the high spot on which they were camping
when found.