New-York tribune., 1908-02-18
Rescue Parties Dig for Men Inn prls-
oned When Dam GiCeS Way.

Pottsviue Penn, Feb. 1T.-Twenty-eight
miners were imprisoned In the MidvaTey CoIIiery.
near Mount Carmel, this morning. by the break
ing Of dam of water which had formed in a DRIFT
causing rush Of mud into a gangway where
the men were at work All day long a party
of rescuers endeavored TO reach the entombed
men, and shortly after o'clock tonight they
were ENCOURAGED by sounds Of digging from
the inside Later shot was also heard. indi-
eating that the men were at work to effect their
own rescue and also giving assurance that the
air was good.
Among the men entombed are a number OF ex-
perienced miners. and 1t is believed that it Will
be possible to effect the rescue OF all the men,
unless some of them should haze met death by
being srnothered IN the rush of mud when the
dam broke through the gangway-
Seven Of the number are Americans-Peter
Robert. miner. Mount Carmel; George Smith.
driver Mount Carmel; William Farley, loader,
Connersville; James McGovern. starter, Mid
valley: Albert Ford, loader. Mount Carmel
Charles Becker miner. Midvalley. and Bernard
Shannon, miner MidvaIIey- The other en-
ton7bed men foreigners.
The men had been employed in No drift Of
the east side gangvay driving heading 20 the
surface The heavy rains and thaw Of the last
few days had caused great dam Of water 70
accumulate in No 20 breast OF No drift and
the pressure became heavy that It finally
broke through and a great sea OF mud flowed
into the gangway where the men were at work,
filling it for about three hundred and fifty feet,
and it will be necessary 70 dig through this bar
rier Of mud to get al the workmen from this
direction. Three different rescuing parties are
at work. One force is digging away the great
bank OF mud which fills the gangway, another
gang is driving heading from adjoining
gangway. while the third force has been put
to work at the point where the imprisoned men
were to have driven the heading TO the surface
from the gangway in which they are i'm
prisoned. II is believed that the last gang Will
be the first to reach the entombed men, and it
is hoped 10 be able to get them out or give them
food and drink by tomorrow morning
The work OF rescue is under the direction OF
Mine Inspector James A O'DonneII, OF the 18th
district, assisted by Inspector B. Evans, OF the
10Th district. ODonneu has a force OF one hun
dred men working under him, and they are
taking turns in regular relays OF two hours
work and four hours rest
With some Of the best miners employed by the
company among the imprisoned workmen. the
officials have little fear Of the ability Of the
to take care Of themselves and to work wisely
to assist in their own rescue
Great crowds have gathered around the mouth
Of the slope and announce their intention OF re-
manning all night. They include the families Of
the imprisoned and also the families Of
some of the in the rescue parties
During the day women and children gathered
about the mine. having rushed there from their
homes at the first alarm. They could not be
prevailed upon to go home. but insisted upon
manning about the mouth Of the slope until they
received some word from inside. After the rap
ping was heard from the imprisoned men these
fear stricken ones were greatly reassured. and
many of them returned to their homes, while
others built big bonfires. with the intention OF
camping out during the night.
St. Clair, Penn, Feb. 1I.-Jonas Silcox. who
would have been elected to the School Board
Of St. Clair to-norrow's election, was killed
this afternoon by explosion Of gas in the
Eagle Hill colliery of the Philadelphia & Read
ing Coal & Iron Company and Thomas Wade
was perhaps fatally burned A shot brought
<aTIo , and sod I0.5yr