Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-02
CHRISTMAS UNDER GROUND.
Three Ninrrs Hurled FOR Three weeks
Have 81 FeaSt--Eig supply Of Iro-
visions Sent Them.

fPfNhN s'h'
Ely, Nov, Dec. 2~G-Buricd 1000 feet
deep in the earth for n days. but happy
and hopeful Of carly rescue, three plucky
American miners. a. u. Bailey, c. d.
Brown and James Donald. celebrated
Christmas with n bountiful feast Of dain-
ties. Christmas greetings were not lack
ing, and tho telephone wire running
down into the WORKINGS where the men
are imprisoned was kept busy carrying
the cheering messages of tho rescuers,
who have been unceasing in their efforts
to reach the mon. Other messages from
distant friends were read over the wire,
and equally cheerful greetings came from
the mine.
The seasons best in the edible line
We're sent to the miners by means Of the
six-inch water pipe which leads into the
shaft. Wines, fruits. cigars. everything
the men did or could desire were lower
ed from the huge stores nat came from
all directions from sympathetic persons.
Meantime by night and day rescuers,
headed by John Gallagher, n mine super
intendent. are carefully working their
way toward the entombed men. Every
prccaution is necessary. and Is being
taken. The rescuers and tho men they
~ w SAVE hllOW llltl u idlS' Slioh' OF
a pick, a charge OF dynamite ever so
slightly excessive or a hidden defect in
the timber they are using, may start
loose earth and rock moving and smother
the helpless trio.
The rescue party Is working for the or
binary days wages, and if they succeed
the only reward they viii receive will be
the gratitude OF the men they save. Each
/ now shift 10 iipdar+ol,, with tbo e.. ~.
energy, the same keen watchfulness ana
the same confidence Of success as when
tho work began three weeks ago.
Twice the workers believed they were
within n day or two Of success, and twice
their hopes were dashed when the treach-
erous earth slid again.
WERE BURIED DECEMBER A..
1t was on December 4 that a sudden
crash of timbers, a munled clatter of rock
and a cloud OF dust pouring up the shaft
told the engineer of the Alpha mine that
the five men he had just sent down in
the cage were buried 1000 feet deep. a
thousand men quickly gathered about the
shaft and began the rescue work. Gala
CHER learned in n few hours that two
Greeks were hopelessly buried. but tha'
the three Americans were In no imme-
date danger. BY removing the cap OF
the six inch pipe running to the bottom
Of the shaft the victims managed to talk
with Gallagher.
Gallagher ordered ingenious devices OF
rubber .n which to pass food and liquids
down the pipe, and was soon able tc
supply the men. Each day word of the
progress made has gone to the men. Gal
lagher declares that the men can be
saved, and that he viii save them, al
though he admits that It may take many
more days of the hardest kind Of work.
HAVE FOOD, WINE AND TOBACCO.
The entombed men have plenty OF room
to move about and exercise. They have
lights. cigars. Tobacco and cards, ant
are we'll supplied with wines, In addition
to cooked food, eggs and milk. They
all spend much time conversing over tn,
telephone with their families and friends
They are we'll posted on the worlds new
by newspapers and haye evinced thu
nveliest interest in the developments a
Goldheld.
The 5c0-foot level was reached last Sun
day, and as all the indications pointed t.
the probability that the earth from Their
down was standing solid it was expecte'
that tho work would progress rapidly
But the ground where the run occurre,
is still settling. Tho superintendent, fear
b ing a temporary ~stoppage of the rescu
work by an accident, has sent dow
extra supplies Of food and water, an,
:, to-day the entom5el men had enough pro
= visions to last three weeks.
t One danger above all others threaten
the rescuers. A cave below the tempo