Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04
SEVEN ENT0MBED
MINERS SAVED
Men Penned in Flooded Shaft Four
Days Are Rescued
HEROIC WORK OF RESCUERs


Johnstown. Pa. May AFTER one
Ti the most narrowing experiences in
The mining annals of the state the
seven men who have been imprisoned
by food ia Mine IS OF the Berwind.
White operations at Foustwen since
last Friday afternoon. were rescued
alive and well For over 100 hours the
rescued men were hemmed IN on all
sides by a flood OF water that had
broken through from an abandoned
working Their rescue is the result OF
the unCeasing struggle against the
rising waters made by the workmcn
and the officials of the Berwind oper.
atoms.
The men were reached on Tuesday
night by Stiney Rodon and Charles
Ream. who made a dash through 80
feet OF water-flled heading. Earlier IN
the day John Bolya a brother OF one
OF the imprisoned men. and three COM
rades made a futile attempt TO reach
the imprisoned men. These men came
back haif drowned and reported that
portions of the heading were still com
pletely filled with water and that more
pumping would have 90 be done before
the imprisoned men could be reached.
The efforts at pumping were then re-
doubled when the water had SO FAR
gone down that 10 was resolved To
make one more attempt 20 break
through Co the overcast where it was
believed the unfortunate miners were
stll alive. Suney RoIon 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 dark
ness. Il was over an hour before
either man was heard from. and then
Ream came swimming back through
the heading 20 the pumping crew.
bringing the first news from the i'm
prsoned seven. The effort had nearly
| exhausted Rcam. He reported that
the seven men were alive and all ia
good shape. but that until more pump
ing was done the passage 20 the place
where they had taken refuge was i'm
| passable 10 those who were unable 70
swim.
when the news was received that
| the seven men were alive 70 was re-
solved TO allow them 20 remain whore
they were until the heading had been
pumped out
Ream and his comrade carried 20 the
| imprisoned men simply a flask OF
/ brandy and a little water. He report
| cd that Mike Boiya had since the
/ breaking OF the walls between the
abandoned working and the present
/ onc~.ffDre haor, Ia .borsro ~ tho v,,,,s.,.
| ments OF his comrades. Balyo, who Is
a mine contractor, was a man &C.
| Quaintcd with every turn og the mine
! in which be was imprisoned when
! the food broke out. according 90 the
! story ne told Rcam. he led his com.
| rades 90 the highest point In the head
| ing where the overcast" was situated.
| Under Bolya's direction. each man be
fore fleeing seized his lunch basket
| When they arrived at the overcast
every lamp but one was eXtnguished.
and one by one the lamps were each
burned out until when they were
reached by Rodon and Ream there was
but n single light remaining. and that
was in danger OF running low at any
time. Bolya stated that the lamps were
| Dui utu bttauat the uaihutSS ana the
noise of the water rushing In the head.
ings as IL was driven back and forth
| by the expansion Of air cushions caus
ed by the food was so terrifying that
the men feared their reason would
leave them If left in darkness. Bolya
} stated that OF all the dangers they
faced the darkness was the most ter
, | rible.
4, When stock was taken OF the avail
able supply of provisions, it was found
that three baskets were but half emp
tied, This scanty store OF rations was
husbanded until Monday morning
since which time the men had nothinl
to eat. During the whole time they
were imprisoned they had gone with
= out water. fearing TO drink the water
2 ! from the abandoned working.