Omaha daily bee., 1907-05-01
ENToMBED MINERS RESCUED
Men Imprisoned in PennsyIVnnia Mine
-Four Days Found in Good
Condition,

PITTSBURG, April 30.-After being en-
tombed since last Friday noon in Berwind-
White Coal company mine No. 80, at Foust-
well. near here, the seven miners who were
shut off from the world by sudden rush
Of water caused by the breaking of a wall
Of an abandorod mine, were rescued at 10
O'Clock tonight. The men were greatly ex-
hausted
Owing TO their weakened condition 1t was
decided not to bring t'em out until after
the mine had been drained.
The men were reached N.IU o'clock by
stiney Rodon and CS :, res Ream, who made
a dash through fitty feet Of er-filled
heading Earlier in the day John Bolya,
brother Of one of the imprisoned men, and
three comrades. made a futile attempt to
reach the men. They camej back half
drowned and reported that portions Of the
heading were still completely filled with
water and that more pumping would have
to be done before the imprisoned men could
be reached. The efforts at pumping were
then redoubled. At 10 o'clock the water
had 80 far gone down that II was resolved
to make one more attempt to break
through to the overcast, where it was be-
lieved the unfortunate men were stlll alive.
Stiney Rodon and Charles Ream volun-
teered 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 ef-
fort had nearly exhausted Ream. He re-
ported that the seven men were alive and
all in good shape, but until more pumping
was done the passage to the place where
they had taken refuge was impossible TO
those who could not swim. Then Il was
resolved to let them remain where they
are until the heading had been pumped out.
Ream and his cOmrade carried TO the i'm
prisoned men simply a flask of brandy and
little water. He reported that Mike Bolya
had, since the breaking OF the walls between
the abandoned workings, been in charge
OF the movements OF his comrades. Bolya
is acquainted with every turn of the mine.
When the flood broke out ne led his COM
rades to the highest part in the heading,
where the overcast was situated Under his
direction each man, before fleeing. seized
his lunch basket. When they arrived at
the overcast every lamp but one was ex-
tingu!shed, and one by one the lamps were
each burned out until when they were
reached by Rodon and Ream there was but
a single light remaining and that In danger
OF running low at any time.
When stock was taken OF the available
supply OF provisions Il was found that three
baskets were but half emptled. This scanty
store OF rations was husbaned until Mon
day morning, since when the men had had
nothing TO eat. During the whole time they
have gone without water fearing 20 drink
the water from the abandoned workings.
Ream said that al the place where the
men had sought refuge there had been a
supply q ties left for tracy-laying purposes.
with these Bolya and his comrades had
built a platform, upon which they had
sought refuge and when found there they
were not only high, but dry.
The rescue was effected much sooner than
even the most optimistic had expected. Late
this afternoon the largest pump broke. This
4 fact, together with the failure of the rescue
I party headed by John Boys, a brother OF
the Imprisoned man, had cast down the
hopes of those who had been engaged IN tho
struggle since Saturday.