The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-02-20
MINERS ENTOMBED
Iwenty-Eight imprisoned Near
Mt. CarmeI, Pa.
R UE S HARD At WOF X
Sounds Of Digging From Inside IndL
cate Entombed Men Are at Work to
Effect Their Own Reseue-Rush Of
Mud Filled Gangway.

cate Entombed Men Are at Work to
Effect Their Own Reseue-Rush Of
Mud Filled Gangway.
Pottsville. Pa. Feb. IS.-Twenty.
eight miners were imprisoned I'm the
Midvalley colliery. near ut. Carmel.
by the breaking OF a dam Of water
which had formed in a drift which
caused rush OF mud into a gang.
way where the men were at work.
All day long a party of rescuers en-
deavored to reach the entombed men.
They were given encouragement by
sounds OF digging from the inside.
Later shot was also heard. indicat.
Ing that the men were at work to Of.
feet their own rescue and also giving
the assurance that the air Is good.
Among the men entombed are a
number OF experienced miners. and il
is believed that It will be possible to
effect the rescue OF all the men un-
less some OF them should have met
death by being smothered in the
rush OF mud when the dam broke
through the gangway Seven of the
number are Americans. They are:
Peter Robert. miner Mt Carmel;
George Smith. driver. Mt. Carmel:
William Farley. loader. Connersville;
James McGovern. starter. Midvalley:
Albert Ford loader. Mt Carmel:
Charles Becker miner. Midvalley:
Bernard Shannon, miner. Midvalley.
The other sntombed men are foreign.
ers.
The men had been employed In No.
drift OF the east side gangway driv.
ing a heading TO the surface. The
heavy rains and thaw OF the last few
days had caused a great dam OF water
TO accumulate In No. 20 breast OF No.
drift and the pressure became so
heavy that il finally broke through.
and a great sea OF mud flowed into
the gangway where the men were at
work. II filled It for a distance OF
about $50 feet, and II will be neces-
sary to dig through this great barrier
OF mud 10 get to the workmen from
this direction. Three different rescu.
Ing parties have been put TO work in
an enucavor TO rescue the entombed
men. One force Is digging away the
great bank OF mud which fills the
gangway. another gang is engaged in
driving n heading from an adjoining
gangway. while a third force has been
put TO work at the point where the
entombed men were to have driven
the heading to the surface from the
gangway in which they are now i'm.
prisoned. 1t is believed that the last
named gang win be the first to reach
the entombed men, and It Is hoped
soon to be able to get them out or give
them food and drink.
The noise OF men working with
picks inside gave the rescuers great
encouragement. and II 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 20
assist in their own rescue.
Great crowds OF people have gath
cred around the mouth OF the slope.
and have announced their intention of
remaining during the entire night.
They are 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 chill.
dren were gathered about the mine,
having rushed there from their homes
at the first alarm Of the disaster.
They could not be prevailed upon 10
go home, but insisted upon remaining
about the mouth of the slope until
they received some word from inside
After the rapping was heard from the
entombed men, these fear-stricken
ones we're greatly reassured, and many
Of them returned TO their homes
while others built big bonflres.