The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-11-15


w. w TavlCr, general superinten'
dent OF the mines OF the st. Paul COM
pany WAS a patheti. figure toda". lie
ST od watching and suggesting move
nients to open the n;ine and at times
- Trough he struggled 10 concea, his
eu?"ticn, tears dimmei his eyes and
his voice charged with sobs.
Il wish'' he said. that the men Of
the press would interview these min
ing inspectors after they are relieved
from their duties about this mine. ]
bat / believe they will tell you that
this was the safest coal mine in the
country. | have operated many mines
and | now it was safe.
"A catastrophe cOulC have happen
ed here in no other way than just as
it did. The fire need not have been
disastrous. The men at work in the
stables We're excited. The burning
hay could have been SMUT off from
the rest Of the mine without the least
difficulty. and the fire extinguishel
with little trouble.
This is an awful thing. Some o.
the best men who ever lived los,
their lives. all through carelessness.
Randy and Norberg died like heroes.
They We're on the surface. They
went down to save their fellows"
AS Superintendent Taylor SPOKE
tears rolled down his cheeks He
had not slept since he reached here
Saturday night. President Earring,
too. deeply feels the TRACED. He and
his son are constantly on lha ground.
Arrangements are being contemplated
to bring relief to families of tie VIC
Tins. 1t is believed that supplies for
their needs Will be arranged by the
St. Paul company
Hardships For Bereaved Families.
Citizens of neighbOring towns al
ready appreciate. with the near ap-
nrOach Of winter. what rha catastrO.
phe means to the inhabitants If Cher
W. Every home here has been af-
fected. Bread winners in hunGr reds
Of homes are dead
Coroner Malm tomorrow win re-
sumo the inquest begun today.
Excitement ceased with the tiscon-
tinuance of efforts to explore the mine
and the disappearance of the great
crowd. Preparations are beiu ma lie
for handling the dead when they are
found
Survivor Has Thrilling Escape.
William Vickers, who was at work
t the face of the mine, was one of
the few who came out alive. For
more than 200 yards he crawled in
the dark on hands and knees. using
the rail as a guide to the bottom of
the shaft. AT one point he says he
met 81 miners sitting in a row along
the road. They had given up the
struggle and were waiting resignedly
for death.
Il and my buddy (partner were at
work on the second vein level when
the alarm of fire was sounded" said
Vickers. 1--WE started from the bot
tom. but had gone only few feet
When our lights went out. The entry
was fast filling with smoke, which
lied our eyes and made us gasp for
breath.
Several times we attempted to
light our lamps, but without success
All about us we could hear shouts
| Of our comrades in adjoining rooms
who. like ourselves, had been left in
The dark. Calling to my buddy ]
| warned him to get close to the road
| hed. and l dropped to my hands an6
/ >neeS and began to crawl along the
| rails. shouting at intervals to my
i buddy to let him know where
/ was.
II AT one point We passed about 6!
miners sitting by the roadside almos
n stupor. 1 tried to rouse then
nd encourage them to go on. bu
tney seemed to have given up al hop,
md did not stir. 1 had no time t,
II ose and continued on, expecting t
send relief from the shaft
II Escapes Death by Three Minutes.
When within 100 feet of the min
mouth l began to grow faint from
he effects of smoke and exhaustion
The smoke was growing more dens
Very foot l went and my courag
i was fast ebbing. I pulled my Goa
loosely about my face and. bending
closely to the rail, struggled on.