The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-11-18

ing apparatus when he arrived here
Its too late to save the men," he
said. "The women and children are
the ones to be cared for. I've done
what ! could, but it's no use. No one
can go down that red hot shaft now.
It's awful"
There was three-hour conference
of the experts to discuss action. There
was division of sentiment. Some
said all the men were dead and want:
ed to wait until the fire was out.
Others demanded that the fire be
fought day and night until the men
dead or alive were all taken out.
1t was decided to make the fight for
the mems lives. Only the warning OF
Marshal Koran that 1t would be death
for whoever entered the shaft last
night postponed the descent for day
Determination of the rescuers to
give their own lives in the relief work
has not, however, kept up the hopes
for the imprisoned men.
President A. r. Newsom of the state
mining board fears all the men will be
dead when found. His own nephew
George Davis, is in the mine.
Funeral of Victims Held.
Grief was given an added keenness
by interments The first funeral OF
the victims here were held from the
Congregational church.
Pay checks made out to imprisoned
men were paid to their families. And
hunger proved as compelling as sor
row to the children. Not since Satur
day dinner has there been hot food
in any of the stricken homes. Mothers
have been at the mine day and night
leaving the smaller children at home
Everyone of the 400 probable orphans
were given their dinner at the Congre
gational church. Their ravenous hun
gers showed how want has added to
the horrors of the time. Unsparing
criticism of the men in charge of the
mine during the fire Saturday and OF
the different attempts of the experts
since to relieve the miners has re-
ceived official recognition. Prof. Ora
ham Taylor, representing the commits
sion of the investigation OF mining
conditions, is gathering evidence,
some of which shows criminal care
;essaess. He listened to the theory
of Andrew MayZwield, who says Gag
ers and bosses refused to help the
men escape during the fire. He is col
i= information that may deter.
mine who was responsible for the dis.
aster and which may lead to changes
in the mining laws.
Militia Ordered Ready.
Militia is said to have been ordered
ready to put Cherry under martial law
when the removal of the dead from
the mine begins.
Relief work reached scores of lesser
tragedies interviewer with the big one
of the mine. For three days and four
nights Mrs. A. Hines has haunted the
main shaft kneeling in prayer on the
hot sand that shuts out the air and
calling for Willie, my baby boy" She
became frantic from exposure and
worry and deputies had to force her
to go home, where Red Cross nurses
took charge of her.
Mrs. James Shears, i'll with grief
over her missing husband, was found
half-staryed in her home with her six
children cuddled about her on the bed,
blue from cold, wan from weeping and
too weak from hunger to go for help.
There was no money in the house as
the mother had not thought to claim
her husbands pay.
The general gloom was lightened
only by the cheerful aid of farmers,
mine-owners and other citizens. Plen-
tiful supplies and funds are on hand
but the distribution has just begun.
Mine Was Death Trap.
Discovery that a systematic secret in
vestigation Of the awful mine disaster
here and especially of the mine itself,
in which more than 300 men are en-
tombed, has been successfully car
ried on under the noses of the officials
of the st. Paul Coal Company and the
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul rail
road and without regard to the activi-
ties of the state mining commission or
the attitude Of the authorities of Blu
reau county caused a sensation.
The investigation has been carried
on by 40 miners, among whom are
some of the employees of the coal com.
pany, who themselves worked in the
pit of death, which they say was re-
ported as the safest mine in the
state of Illinois"
In statement, giving some of the
discoveries about the mine made by
the secret inquiry, President Melon.
aid openly challenges the assertion
that the mine was safe. The secret
inquiry may be the basis of legal ac-
ton, both civil and criminal
Kewanee, ILL.,, Nov. l7.-Capt. c. w.
Hall of Company X, Sixth Illinois regi-
ment, received orders last night to
proceed to Cherry at once. The com
pany left on special train.
Sunday Schools Of Michigan.
Co Mich Nnr,