Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-11-23
Falls of Earth and Coal Delay
Progress of Rescuers.
NO BODIES DISCOVERED THERE
Evidence that Men Had Fled to other
Parts of Mine.
MORE BODIES ARE TAKEN OUT
Those Located sunday Are Taken
from Main LeVel-RepOrt that
One Was Alive Temporarily
RcVivcH Hope,

CHERRY, H.. Nov. 22-Efforts to reach
men possibly stnl alive In the St Paul
mine were made in two directions today,
cas-, and west. In the latter section the
attempt was made at the third or bottom
gallery, at the earnest request Of Donald
Mcdonald, president Of the United Mine
Workers OF Illinois and nine other Off
GERS of the organization.
The melancholy of the situation here
was accentuated today by the weather
Rain fell all night and during the forenoon
turned TO snow.
Scarcely a knsman Of the missing was
at the scene at any time, but efforts to
explore underground continued with un-
abated vgor. Dozens of volunteers worked
against the most eXasperaung odds TO
extend the limit of their explorations.
Earth and coal were removed only to be
followed by other deluges from the crumb-
ling passages. But each check was met
with a desperate return to the attack.
They're still alive down there" was
the watchword of every worker, although
evidence in support Of It was pathetlcally
meagre.
The first tangible ray of hope came when
men at work in the east workings broke
through a fail of earth where, 1t had been
expected by experts that a laTge number
OF bodies would be found Not one was
discovered. Instead, in tool closet, hewed
out Of the earth, great many mining
implements were found as laid down, ap-
parenty when the men came there to eat.
a fact regarded as significant was that
not a dinner pail remained. From this It
was argued that the men, unable to es-
cape when the fire was discovered, re-
treated to some extremity of the mine, car
rying their food with them.
Another Flame of Hope.
The next flame Of hope came with tho
discovery that the bottommost gallery.
west. was not sufficiently flooded TO Inn
pede progress.
1t was this section of the mine which
formed the subject of the conference be-
tween the union and Manager Taylor. The
delegation, headed by President Mcdonald,
irristed that an attempt be made TO ex-
plore the third gallery, generally believed
to be of little importance. AT the time OF
the castrophe little II any work was being
done in this section, the men being engag "a
in the other coal beds of the second gal
lery
Mr.. Taylor, however, was impressed with
the theory that the men cut off in the
second gallery might have found their way
into the gallery below that which is on fire
The tension of the nerves Of the rescuers is
shown by a remarkable incident this after-
noon. man who proved to have been
dead many days, was believed to be alive
when brought to the surface and was
rushed to the hospital car. The mistake
however, soon became apparent
Manager Taylor of the mine. worn out
by days and nights of work and anxiety.
left Cherry for brief rest today.
II am worn out with 1t, that's ALL" ex-
planned Mr.. Taylor
Live Rats Give Hope.
Rescuers coming to the surface at noon
reported that live rats had been discov-
cred in a newly explored portion OF the
mine This Increased the hope that the
rats came from remote sections OF the
cavern where comparatively pure air re-
mained and that If the rats could live
there men also could.
one of the gang said:
THE significance Of this Is that dreaded
black damp does not lie along the floor OF
a great part of the mine. The men whom
we are trying to reach on the supposition
that they are still alive are practical min
ers, and if they heard rats they quickly
got to that part Of the mine"
An official Of the mine declared that II
any more men are brought out alive, the
work would have to be done within twenty
four hours, the men must necessarily
be almost starved. Rats, he said, would
be able to live longer because Of their
ability to find crumbs and scraps Of food
scattered about from the mems lunches
Reports that the work Of attempting 20
reach miners who stll may be alive was
being retarded by a conflict between
leaders and the state miners resulted la
serious conference last night
Captain f. w. LattimeT Of company c.
Sixth regiment Iowa National Guard, and
Lieutenant G. F. Garrison brought ther
pointed interrOgatiOns TO W. w. Taylor
manager OF the mine. They stated that II
reports that work was being hampered by
conflict Of authority were true, Governor
Deneen would be asked TO appoint a su-
preme authority at the mine
Manager Taylor assured the militia Of
ficers that the only conflicts that had oc-
CURED were OF technical nature and
that the course adopted was now gem
orally believed to be most promising Of
rescue TO any who sim may be alive in the
mine
Man Thought 20 he Alive.
At 5l3 p. m, another man was taken
from the st. Paul mine. lie was lu an un-
condition and was Immediately
rushed 70 the hospital train. The man was
unidentified. II ic believed more live men
will be found In the same place. The man
after being taken TO the hospital car was
pronounced dead by the physicians in
charge and the body was removed 10 the
morgue. The body was still warm and this
had led 70 the belief OF the rescuers that
he was alive. One OF the rcscuers sAcitedly
told Of hearing the man moan after he
had been placed on the stretcher, but this
was pronounced mistake by the physl-
clans.
While uncertain as 20 the time OF death
they believe Il had occurred many hourz