Milford chronicle., 1907-05-03
SEVEN ENTOMBED
MINERS SAVED
Men Penned in Flooded Shaft -Four
Days Are Rescued.
HEROIC WORK OF RESCUERs

Johnstown, Pa, May 1.-After one
bf the most narrowing experience in
the mining annals of the state the
seven men who have been imprisoned
by a food in Mine 3S of the Berwind.
White operations at Foustwell since
last Friday afternoon. were rescued
alive and well. For over 100 hours the |
rescued men were hemmed in on all I
sides by a food 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 workmen
and the officials of the Berwind oper
ations.
The men were reached on Tuesday
night by Stiney Rodon and Charles
Ream, who made a dash through so
feet of water-flled heading. Earlier in
the day John Bolya, a brother of one c
OF the imprisoned men, and three com j
rades made a futile attempt to reach
the imprisoned men. These men came t
back half drowned and reported that s
portions of the heading were still com.
pletely filed with water and that more g
pumping would have to be done before Il
the imprisoned men could be reached d
The efforts at pumping were then re hi
doubled When the water had so far eC
gone down that It was resolved to to
make one more attempt to break pl
through to the overcast where.it was th
believed the unfortunate miners were pl
still alive Stiney Rodon and Charles in
Ream volunteered for the service. Like le
the party that set forth earlier in the VI
day, they left the pumping crew and as
plunged out into the water and dark hi
ness. It was over an hour before BE
either man was heard from, and then he
Ream came swimming back through pa
the heading to the pumping crew hi
bringing the first news from the i'm tel
prisoned seven. The effort had nearly de-
exhausted Ream. He reported thai col
the seven men were alive and all In an
good shape, but that until more pump
ng was done the passage to the place
where they had taken refuge was i'm w,
'assable to those who we're unable tG
win.
When the news was received that tho
he seven men were alive It was re Tho
olved to allow them to remain where Ton
hey were until the heading had beer I'm
umped out. 49,
Ream and his comrade carried to the aws
Imprisoned men simply a flask Of intC
randy and little water. He report n
4 that Mike Bolya had since the ios
reaking of the walls between the erT
0andoned working and the present sev,
been in charge Of the move w
nf &c
'A-lS u ms coinIaues' balyo' VINO Is no {
mine contractor, was a man ac liko
tainted with every turn of the mine c,,rr
which he was imprisoned. When bv :
e flood broke out, according to the tbo
ory he told Ream, he led his com. the
des to the highest point in the head n h
g where the overcast" was situated the
lder Bolya's direction, each man be str,,,
re fleeing seized his lunch basket of :,
hen they arrived at the overcast v,os
cry lamp but one was extinguished ,,,o ~
d one by one the lamps were each u,oro
rned out until when they were ,,bor
80 ~ i'Uuon anu I.eah lnere was CLING
30 iisAt remaining and tha' wall.
. II Hanger OF running low at any of tn
le. Bolya stated that the lamps were into
rned because the darkness and the, mon
Sc OF tne water rushing In the head.
s as it was driven back and forth
the expansion of air cushions caus.
by the flood was so terrifying that ''e''
men feared their reason would. nv,
We them If left in darkness. Bolya C "a
ted that Of all the dangers they ta,,.i .G,.e,
ed the darkness was the most ter So enc,
e. IIee
1hen stock was taken of the avail. aSsis, 5 J,
supply of provisions, it was found SaDt,.- Snu :
three baskets were but half emD. -, ~
This scanty store Of rations was eu ~
banded until Monday morning ta.., "a. ii9
e which time the men had nothing ',as'e. Ds'seu
Eat. During the whole time they ,else, .el ses
imprisoned they had gone with IL rIoVi 80 !
water. fearing to drink the water D'I D., -
! the abandoned working. -'ou =.
zoo e,,--. to % I