Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-18
Five Hours Conference of Experts
Decides Against Breaking Seal.
STATE TROOPS ARE ON GUARD
Fear that Attempt May Be Made
Wreck Sleeping Cars. q
SHERIFF OUIETs AGITA1, (
British Miner Makes speech
Crowd, Telling Them Men Below
Were Murdered by Bung-
ling of Experts.

CHERRY, H. Nov l7.-After claiming
them for four days the ST. Paul coal mine,
in which are still entombed the bodies OF
800 or more miners. as a result of last
Saturdays disaster, today refused to yield
up its dead.
Utter failure to devise any satisfactory
method OF recovering the bodies attended
the work of rescuers
Tonight the interior of the mine was
burning almost as fiercely as ever. the lift
ing Of the seal over the mouth Of the
hoisting shaft indicating by frequent puffs
Of smoke, the presence Of the flames.
While the two companies OF state troops
sent here 70 prevent possible disorder re-
mained all day idle in their cars, except
for guard duty about the mine and sleep
ing cars at night, an important conference
was held. At this conference. which lasted
five hours. there were present federal, state
and local mining experts. The meeting
was called in response to a feeling that
efforts should be made to penetrate the
mine and bring up the bodies at all haz-
ards. But at its conclusion It was decided
that no immediate descent could be made
into the gas and heat-filled caverns with
out risk of killing the rescuers
I'VE met nothing but obstacles in our
efforts" declared State Mine Inspector
Thomas Hudson "The situation is most
distressing"
Experts at Conference.
The conference was attended by Presi-
dent Earllng of the railroad; George S.
Rice Of Pittsburg, of the United States geo
logical survey; J. w. Paul. in charge of
the government rescue work; Illinois State
Mine inspectors w. w. Little and Thomas
W. Little. Indiana Mine Inspector James
Apperson; Ohio Inspector George Harrison:
Apperson, Ohio Inspector George Harrison,
Of the state Mine Inspecting Commission
and others.
Various schemes were proposed. Among
them was one to open up an air shaft,
distant from the hoisting shaft. which
hitherto has been worked, and by means
of a gigantic fan produce n false air cur
rent which would carry the gas and heat
away from the shaft down which Il was
intended to send the rescuers.
Some OF those who opposed this declared
the entire project for rescue would have
to be indefinitely postponed. They as
serted that the internal fires were intense,
that It would be useless to risk more lives
and that in fact the mine would have to
be sealed up for weeks and perhaps for
months before the mine could be cooled
off. Scores OF women continued to linger
about the ground So great has been the
anguish and mental strain during the last
four days 1t is feared many women are on
the verge OF insanity. One woman who
dtciared she had had dreams and Visions
Of her husband and brother stin living in
the mine, shrielSed piteously implored them
to {. an the shaft snd then fell in a sense
less heap in the sand.
Temperature OF Mine Taken.
n Determined to show the people that
Wverything possible was being done the
authorities threw open the mine company 5
grounds and allowed crowds to gather near
the shaft. Details Of what was being done
were publicly announced As Mining Engi-
heer Rice lowered thermometer through
bore In the lid OF the shaft to test the
degree OF heat another stepped forward
and announced through megaphone. .'Ona
hundred and fourteen degrees near the
top"
Mr Rice rapidly lowered the thermome-
ter the full 800 feet depth Of the shaft and
rev moments later the voice rang out
!, through the megophone, 'lo7 degrees at the
bottom"
Why" cried chorus Of voices. that's
good. they can do down in that. We can
stand ia degrees In the sun surely they'll
go down in that"
Men and women gazed on intenuv with
hopeful looks, some Of them oherishinR faint
hopes that II a descent was made AT once
their buried comrades might stili by some
chance OF fortune be found alive But this
ourst of confidence was soon destroyed.
HoDe Again Deferred.
a.ynIot,,.a u
In the mine, oxygen helmets would have TO
be worn by the reseuers and that a much
lower degree OF temperature than that I'm
ordinary conditions was necessary for those
who wore helmets, Moreover. IL was said
II the seal was opened the fresh air rush
Ing in would fan the fire and before the
reseuers would be albe TO get down the
flames might be leaping high.
disappointment was evident In every
face
II the fires continue, VIII the bodies
ever be recoveredg' was asked on all sides.
when Il became known that a plan TO seal
up the mine for weeks or months had been
talked Of ~
VI I'VE have some over every detail OF the
situation said Commissioner Traer OF the
investigating board. I'VE have pondered
over the maps OF the mine-we have heard
the opinion and advice OF every one who
Is familiar with the mine our only Thought
Is 20 get out Tie bodies II Il is within hu-
man power, That's ali we can look for
ward TO-"
Troops Guard Sleeping Cars.
The order for the troops TO guard the
string OF sleepers and the private car or
President Earling was given by sheriff
skogiung after repeated rumors that plot
ters would blow up the train had served
20 frighten many Of the occupants Of the
train.
Later In the cay It became known that
another company Of militia is being held
IN reserve AZ Monmouth for any emery
Cncy.
4 want 10 assure all who have any fear
for their safety that they will be pro-
~tcOntinusd on second Psge9