The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-11-26
COAL MINE DISASTER HEROES
Bravery Of Rsscusrs Who Saved En-
tor,bed Miners at Cherry, H.

Bravery of Rescuers Who Saved En-
tomhed Miners st Cherry. ILL.,
Real heroes were ahong the hum
dreds Of miners who fought for life At
the bottom OF the ST. Paul Coal COM
pany's mine nj Cherry. Iii. recently the
scene OF an explosion. followed by ire-
About 400 miners were entombed-
Some OF the rescuers died ia the sery-
ice of their fellows. and others lived
10 tell OF their experiences.
One of the bravest was Ralph Eddy
an eighteen year-old youth. employed
as a freman on the surface. When
1t was found that the mine was on
fire young Eddy and. several others
volunteered to 60 down the smoke
filled main shaft. Some made one trip
down to the bottom OF the shaft and
quit. bur Eddy made six descents in
the cage in spite Of bad burn across
his face. received on the first trip. At
the end of each descent Eddy leie the
cage and fought his way out along the
level. at one time penetrating as far
as It's yards from the main cage. He
stumbled over men who had fallen
and heard others far beyond his reach
crying out for aid. On each return
trip be dragged with him one or more
helpless miners and lifted them into
the cage.
"On the last trip found two help
less men NOT more than eight feet from
| the main shaft" said Eddy. The air
/ fans had been reversed. and that
caused hot back fire around the foot
OF the main shaft. helped these two
men-they were Poles-into the cage.
/ but that was all | could do. There
We're no other men near, and | no
longer heard the calls for help. My
Uncle. George Eddy. was standing a
the foot Of the shaft all the time help
ing to put the men into the cage. There
was no fight for place in the cage.
The men who did not enter were not
4 near it. | had to go out into Ehe
smoke and look for them, and they
were falling about me"
tobacco pouch was the means OF
saving the lives of John Phillips and
Edward Surrock. miners in the second
vein. Phillips on his way to the shaft
found Surrock lying on the track in
the main entryway He dragged his
A comrade until he himself was almost
4 overcome by the smoke that filed his
lungs with every breath. lie searched
for something to cover bis nose and
mouth. The only thing available was
the small sack in which he carried
tobacco Taking it from his pocket.
be emptied the contents. and then. piac-
Ing one end in his mouth. he pulled
the rest of it over his nose and fas-
tened it about his head with a string.
BY crawling with bis head close to the
rail- he reached the shaft. dragging his
almost lIfeless comrade with him.
One of the pathetic incidents Of the
rescue work was the saving Of Iohn
, McGIlI and his young son. They left
! the place where they were working
when the aiarm was given. Before
half the journey was completed the
boy grew dizzy. Clasping his father i
hand. be sank to his knees, exclaiming
: weakly:
t Papa. am dying. Leave me and
save yourself If you can"
Although greatly weakened himself,
the father raised the now unconscious
son and. taking OF his belt. strapped
the boy on his back and struggled on.
Within sight Of the shaft he staggered
and fell Before losing consciousness
3 he yelled for help. and his cries were
, heard The rescuers bore the two tc
! the cage. and they were hoisted to the
surface.
/, DIR. T. B. Howe seven times before
the other rescuers began TO go into the
burning shaft descended alone in .
> lift and each time brought TO the sur
j face bis quota Of saved. twenty-five
miners owe their lives to him.