Arizona republican., 1909-11-20
CAUGHT GHAsTlY GLIMPSE
When Rescuers Were Driv- en Back By Falling Rocks and Bending Timbers - Revival Among Survivors of An Insane Hope

Cherry. Ill., Nov. 19-Science and desperation greatly checked the fire that snuffed out 800 lives last Satur- day in the St. Paul coal mine. Men braved today the fire-swept tunnels to bring the dead to the surface. Charity poured its aid into the homes of the suffering survivors. But all of this could not subdue the grief of Cherry's inhabitants when the sight of the dead, lifted from the tomb. blasted their hopes that the men might be rescued alive
 It has been just six days since the fire started in bale of hay and swept the bread-winners of this com munity 10 their doom. and in all that time of anxiety only five bodies have been recovered. four today and one last night.
 It is expected that many bodies will be recovered tomorrow More were found today. and :he explorers. work ing deep into the second gallery. were forced to flee as they were about to bring them out. when falling earth and rock endangered the rescuers.
 Miners were put to work tonight in the galleries replacing the burned timberS and clearing obstructions which impede access into the coal veins for more than 25g feet from the main shaft. Beyond this point the fires still burn. and it will be some time before they can be extin- guished. The Illinois inspectors who have charge of the attempt to subdue the fire and to effect an entrance into the mine. were satisfied tonight with the progress of the work. It vas more successful than they ex- pected All except three of the in- spectOrs left for their homes tonight.
 The clearing away of the debris de- layed the exploration work almost all afternoon. and obstacles threatened the lives Of the ire fighters attempt ing the work of recovering the bodies. At one time the men working in the second level were almost cut off from escape by a sudden cave-in of rock and earth. They had placed two bodies on stretcher and were ready to carry them to the cage. when shower of debris came down To the danger Of the heavy rock falling was added that of cracking timbers. which fell in from all sides. The men were
 
 Farther in they could see 9 great heap of bodies of men. boys and mules indiscriminately mixed. Leav- ing behind them the two bodies which they had struggled hard to reach. the fire fighters rushed to the hoisting shaft. where they were revived. They were brought to the top quickly.
 Three bodies. two men and boy. were brought to the surface. Four others were dragged from tbe debris in the second gallery and taken within reach of the cage. but were not brought up.
 Bremen spread a canvas on the prairie near the mouth of the shaft, and on this the bodies were laid.
 Grief stricken men. women and chil- dren gathered in great circle around the bodies. and many turned away. unable to endure the sobs and cries of mourners seeking their dead. Two were quickly identified. A miner identified the boy as poor little Dick Buckles" a stable boy. Louis Gibbs was next idcntifis q. His widow is ill at home
 '1s it possible that, after being buried for six days. some of the miners may still oe found alive?" was 4 question revived today when the officials reached the remote parts of the galleries One old miner who had lost a son declared that he was still hopeful.
 George :. Rice of the United States geological survey-had no such hope. -"ft is true" he said. that long pe- riods of Imprisonment in mines have been endured. but the conditions in those cases were more favorable than here [ believe there is no chance of recovering anyone alive
 Tonight men with huge baskets tramped through the unlighted streets making final deliveries of supplies to the widows and orphans
 -H- ,aoAAecE CnMMlSSIONERS