The Cairo bulletin., 1909-11-18
EXPERTS GO DOWN SHAFT
BUT ACCOMPLISH NOTHING
Militia Put on Guard--Watching Train in Which
Experts and Officials are Staying--No vio-
Ience--Miners Make Speeches Denounc- ~
ing OffciaIs--Diry Work Detected

"One hundred and fourteen degrees
near the top
The thermometer was lowered 800
feet and the megaphone announced:
Hundred and seven degrees at the
bottom"
why" cried a cnorus of voices,
that's good, they cGn go down in
that. We can stand III degrees in
the sun, surely they will 60 down in
that"
Men and women gazed intently with
family hopeful looks.
Fut it was explained that owing to
the gas much lower degree of tenn
perature than that in ordinary condi-
tions would be necessary for those
who wore the oxygen helmets. 1t was
added that if the seal was opened the
air rushing in would fan the fire and
before the rescuers could get down
the flames might be ieaping high.
All Disappointed.
Disappointment was evident on
every face II the fire continues will
the bodies ever be recovered? was
asked on all sides.
1--WE have gone over every detail
of the situation said Commissioner
Traer. I'VE have pondered over
maps of the mine, heard the opinions
and advice from everybody familiar
with the mine. Our only thought is
to get out the bodies # it is within
human power. That is all we can
look forward to-
The order for the troops to guard
a string of sleepers and the private
car of president Eearling was given
by the sheriff after rumors that plot
was on foot to blow ZIP the train had
frightened many of the occupants of
the cars. The Monmouth company of
militia is held in reserve at Monmouth
ready for any emergency. The prepa-
ration Of this company for service was
made because of the demonstration Of
feeling by the surviving relatives of
the entombed miners created consid-
cradle uneasiness among the mine
officials, experts, charity workers md
Iothers.
Move Troop Train.
Sheriff Skoglund a: dusk asked the
railroad officials to move the troop
cars up beside the special cars, which
are serving as temporary hotel. 81
want to assure them that they will
be protected" said the sheriff. Il in
tend to have the protection which has
been provided where it might DO the
most good.
Regarding the rumors of threats
and society meetings and such things
of alarming nature, they have moth
ing to say. You have watched mat
ters here and can judge for yourselves
that would be foolish to leave the
mine and the people here unprotect-
ed"
SO as the soldiers were eating their
train and the days idleness ceased.
When the troop train arrived at the
mine Captain Hall ordered one com.
pany to guard the cars and another
the mine.
Troops Take Possession.
The troopers at night took posses
sion of the ground beneath which the
bodies Of three hundred are buried
and over which the survivors were
hitherto permitted TO tread unmolest
ed. The soldiers remained quietly
in the cars. Their presence excited
no comment, Grief and anger were
unchecked by the officers of the law
as they increased all day. Not even
when an orator mounted the sand
sealed shaft did the deputies inter
fere or the soldiers appear. The sher
if alone ealmed the situation
The climax came when James
Witherel a veteran from Ladd
leaped to the shaft aEd harangued
! the crowd of weeping women and
sullen men.
Witherell condemned the actions ol
the authorities since the disaster. He
made no threats, but the fierce inter
jections OF the members in the audi
ence revealed the feeling against the
Imine ownrs and stat officials.