The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-15
FOUR HUNDRED DEAD OR
PERISHlNG IN MINE SHAFTS
Continued from Page Ono

Continued from Page One
rolled down his checks. lie has not
slept since he reached here Saturday
night President Earling, too, deeply
feels the tragedy. He and his son
arc constantly on the ground. Arrange
ments are being contemplated TO bring
relief TO families OF the victims. t
is probable that supplies for their
needs viii be arranged by the 81. Paul
company.
Citizens of ncighboriug towns al
ready appreciate, with the near APP
proach OF winter. what the catastrophe
means 10 the inhabitants of Cherry, Not
a home here has not been affected,
Bread Winners ia hundreds of homes arc
dead,
Coroner Malm tomorrow Will resume
he inquest begun today.
Excitement ceased with the discou-
tinuancc of efforts 10 explore the mine
and the disappearance Of the great
crowd. Preparations are being made
for handling the dead when they are
found.
Story of Survivor.
William Nic6crs, who was AT work
mt the face of the mine. was one of
The few who came out alive. For moro
than 200 yards he crawlcd in the dark
on hands and knees, using the rail as
guide 10 The bottom of the shaft, At
one point hc says he met sIXty-hye min
ers sitting in q row along the road.
They had given up the struggle and
were waiting rcsignedly for death.
- / and my buddic' (partnerl were
at work ou the second vein level when
tho alarm of fire was sounded, said
Z Vickcrs. ''Wc started from the bottom
out had gone only a few feet when
our lights went out. The entry was
flst filing with smoke, which filled
our eyes aud made us gasp for breath.
"ScvcTal times we attempted TO light
our lnmps, but without success All
about us We could hear shouts of ouI
comrades in adjoining rooms, who, like
ourselves, had been left in the dark
Calling TO my 'buddic | warned him
to get close TO the roadbcd, and
dropped To my hands and knees and
began to crawl along the rails. shout
ing at intervals to NV 'buddic to LET
him know where ] was.
Waiting for the End
At one point VIC passed about sixty
five miners sitting by the roadside al
most in a stupor ! tried to rouse them
and encourage them TO 90 on, but thcy
seemed to have given up all hope and
did not stir. ] had no time to lose
and continued on, expecting 10 send re
lief from the shaft
'.Whcu within 100 feet of The mine
mouth. ] began TO grow faint from
the effects of smoke and exhaustion
The smoke was growing more dense cy
cry foot | went, and my courage was
fast ebbing. L pulled my coat CLOSELY
about my face and, bending closely Il
the rail, struggled on.
- escaped death by just three min
utcS. When ! arrived at the bottom
of the shaft the last cage had reached
the top and was about to descend.
shouted as the signal bell was ringinl
and two men broke the way to ~,
and dragged me to the cage. / theI
LOST consciousness When ] came I,
] was safely on top.
My 'buddic' had followed closeI,
all the way and and. encouraged b,
the light held by the cage man, man
AGED TO reach tire shaft and was car
rcd with me 10 safety
Saved by Tobacco Pouch.
\ tobacco pouch WINS the means o
saving the lives OF John Phillips an,
Edward SurTock, miners IN the secon
vein. Phillips on the way TO the shaft
found Surrock lying in the track i
the main entry-way. lie dragged hi
comrade, and he. himself, was almos
overcome with the smoke.
With miner S intuition he Searcbe
for something to cover his nose an
mouth. The oulY thing available wa
the small sack in which he carried &c
bacco. Placing one end in his moutl
he pulled the rest over his nose an
fastened il about his head with th
string. By crawlins with his head clos
10 the rail he struggled toward th
Shaft, dragging his almost lifeless con
radc with him.
One of the heroic incidents of til
rescue work was the saving of John NJ
Gill and his young son. They left th
place where they we're working whe
the alarm was given, Before half th
Journey was completed, the boy bega
TO grow dizzy. Clasping his father
hand he sank TO his knees, exclaimin;
Pa. ! am dying, Leave me and say
yourself if you can"
Although greatly weakened himsel
the father raised the now unconscio,
son and, taking off his belt, strapps
the boy on his back and struggled o
Within sight of the shaft nc staggerc
and fell. Before losing c0psciousne
he yelled for help, and his cries we,
heard. Rescuers bore them TO ii
cage.
Eleven of Twelve Lost.
Eleven of the twelve boardcrs
the house of Mrs. George White we
lost. The only survivor was an i
valid. who, on Monday, returned fro
the hospital and was unable to repo
for work on Saturday.
One pitifml case is that of the Lo'
family. Mrs. John Love is not on
lcIt WIDOW. Dut tonr sons are DelleV'
TO have persisted.
A canvass of what is known
Long Row." a street which has
one side u row of thirty-thrce cottag
identical in appearance, has rcveal
that only two men in all the hous
arc numbered among the living. Ea
Of tho tbirty-three families has fro
one to four dead
The story of the thirteen heroes "