The San Francisco call., 1909-11-22
Desperate Fight TO Save Buried
Miners Continues With ALI
most Superhuman Zeal
Diggers Working Night and Day
at Cherry Believe EntOmbed
Men Are Still Alive
Dead Bodies Are Abandoned to
FOrestaII Death of Living
From Starvation
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

Especial Dispatch 10 The Call
"HERRY. H.. Nov. PA fight for
the lives of more than 100 miners
- who were entombed over a week
ago in the St. Paul mine disaster is be-
ing made tonight. A force of so men is
working desperately to dig through a
cavein in the second vein of the mine.
Behind this barricade it is believed the
entombed miners are struggling for life,
battling against hunger and thirst
Rescue Spurs Workmen
The rescue Of the 20 miners yesterday
has spurred the workmen on to almost
superhuman efforts. All day and ali
night they worked in eight hour shifts
10 dislodge hundreds of tons of earth
and stone that is blocking the passage
way TO the imprisoned miners. Several
members Of the rescue party worked
until they fell over in exhaustion and
had 10 be carried from the mine.
The belief is growing stronger that
the entombed men are alive, although it
is feared they may be dying of starva-
tion and thirst. Several members OF the
rescue party are certain they have heard
signals from the east end Of the tunnel,
where the miners are supposed TO be
imprisoned.
Such is the anxiety Of the rescuers to
reach the dying miners that a number
Of fem went on q strike this afternoon
beca use one of the foremen refused to
permit them to enter one OF the tunnels
leading 10 the east chamber They re-
turned to work later when it was ex-
pIained to them that the air tunnel con-
tained black damp, deadly poison
Deadly Damp Threatens
All efforts 10 drive this poisonous air
from the tunnel have been futile, and
the rescue party viii have to depend
on digging through the cavein.
All day long the wives and children
Of the unfortunate miners stood about
the main shaft Of the mine pleading
with the rescuers who entered the tun-
nels 70 renew their efforts They stood
shivering in the cold. waiting and hop
ing for the news that some men had
been found alive.
I know they are alive" sobbed one
woman. My man is down there. God
viii save him"
The members of the rescue party
who staggered from the mouth of the
pit were surrounded instantly and a
babel Of questions hurled at them.
We can see the bodies. There are
piles Of them They're dead; all dead,
was the reply Of the first, and those
who followed gave no more cheering
answers.
But they could be living back there;
they could be alive, Tom, couldn't
they?" came voice from the group
about one.
Heart Rending Scenes
No chance began the miner; then
paused as he saw the trembling hands
OF the old man who had pressed to his
side.
why, sure, didn't the others come
out?" was the quick reply. Don't you
worry, he'll be up soon"
Among those who clung throughout
the day to the belief that additional
rescues Of living men are probable is
Richard Newsam, president of the Illi-
nois board of mine inspectors
,Scotchmen are the most resourceful
miners in the world" he said, rand
there are p of them down there, dead
or alive. I can see no reason why they
should not have found some refuge.
just as did those who came up yester-
day. But eight days have passed and
we must hurry if they are not to
perish Of thirst and starvation. Every
thing possible to hurry on the work of
exploration is being done"
Others hold this same view-that
haste alone can save the miners If
any are imprisoned alive. Each hour
that passes now is looked upon by the
watchers as making the chances of
escape pitifully less.
The men they brought up could not
have lived more than few hours long
er," said one despairing woman. IF
they don't come up today they'll come
up dead"
Fire Causes Alarm
A fire in the mine early in the day
caused some uneasiness. The blaze
started in the second vein within SO
feet Of the main shaft Chicago fremen
entered the mine and extinguished the
flames within short time. Little dam
age was done beyond stopping the
work of the rescuing party.
While a number of bodies were
brought to the surface during the day,
raising the total of rescued dead to
So. more than SO bodies were left lying
in the tunnels below. The rescuers
brought out only those bodies that