Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-18
BURIED MEN SIGNAL,
TWenty-eight Miners Penned In Colliery Near Mount Carmel.
VICTIMS TRY TO DIG WAY OUT

Women and Children Camp at Mouth
 of Mine Awaiting Rescue of lmpris-
 oned ReIatives-causht by Avalanche
 of Mud and Escape Cut Off.
 Pottsville, Pa, Feb. IS. - Twenty eight miners were imprisoned in the Midvalley colliery, near Mount Carmel, by the breaking of dam of water which had formed in a drift, which caused rush of mud into gangway where the men were at work. All day long a party of rescuers endeavored to reach the entombed men, and they were given encouragement by sounds of digging from the inside. A shot was also heard, indicating that the men and also giving assurance that the air Is good.
 Among the men entombed are num- Der of experienced miners. and it is believed that it will be possible to ef- feet the rescue of all the men unless | SolhS VI tuClu nave lutI utdtu by being smothered in the rush of mud when the dam broke through the gang i way. .--
 Three Rescuins Parties.
 The men had been employed in No. 4 drift of the east side gangway, driving heading to the surface. The heavy rains and thaw of the last few days had caused great dam of water to accumulate in No. 20 breast and No. 4 drift, and the pressure became so heavy that it finally broke through, and great sea of mud flowed into the l gangway, where the men were at work. It filled it for a distance of about $50 feet. and it will be necessary ! to dig through this barrier of mud to 1 get at the workmen from this direc- tion. .. | Three rescuing parties have been put to work in an endeavor to release the entombed men, One force is digging l away the great bank of mud which fills the gangway. Another gang is en- gagged in driving heading from an ad- joining gangway, while a third force has been put to work at the point where the entombed men were to drive the heading to the surface from the gangway in which the men are now imprisoned. It is believed that the last gang will be the first to reach the en- tombed men, and it is hoped to be able to get them out or give them food and drink by morning. ...I
 The work of rescue is under the di- rection of Mine Inspector James A. O'Donnell, assisted by Inspector B. I. Evans. O'Donnel has force of hundred men working under him, and they are taking their turns in regular relays of two hours work and four hours rest.
 Crowds Camp at Mine.
 The noise of men working with picks inside gave the rescuers great encouragement, and it is believed that the majority of the men entombed are alive. although it Is scarcely possible that all of them were fortunate enough to have escaped the great rush of mud when the dam broke. With some of the best miners employed by the company among the imprisoned workmen the officials have little fear of the ability of the men 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 have an nounced their intention of remaining during the night. They include the families of the entombed men and also the families of some of the workmen who are engaged in the effort to rescue the imprisoned men.
 During the day women and children | were gathered about the mine, having | rushed there from their homes at the | first alarm of the disaster They could ! not be prevailed upon to go home, but | insisted upon remaining about the mouth of the slope until they received some word from inside. After the rap ping was heard from the entombed men these fear stricken ones were greatly assured, and many of them re- turned to their homes, while othersi built big bOnfres with the intention' of | camping out during the entire Flight. | The miners about the colllerE were formed into a temporary police force to | Eaan tho crnudS hack In Lx- .e4z.