The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-11-20


n the dead. Hearses aud cofins were
brought into the town for the handling
Of the bodies. Two buildings were
cleared OF everything else to make way
Tor temporary hospitals. Doctors were
rushed into Cherry from every town In
the vicinity. Miners from other COM
munities came I'm voluntarily 10 aid In
the work OF rescue.
Mine Superintendent James Steele
declared Ave hours after the explosion
that II was almost impossible that any
OF the miners could escape.
Fifty Out OF Mine at Noon.
The mine had day shift OF 4S4 men.
or these Atty left the mine at noon.
The IRE that caused the explosion
which resulted In one OF the greatest
tragedies In the list Of mine horrors
had an origin almost trivial. A pile
OF hay allowed 10 smolder too long
finally ignited the timbers OF the mine
and before the workers realized their
danger. the mine was filled with
smoke. gases and flame. and all es-
cape was impossible.
Alexander Nerberg, n pit man, gave
his life unhesitatingly in futile effort
to save those OF his comrades who
risked their lives with him. Standing
at the bottom OF shaft he carried
the bodies Of four men into a cage, the
only way OF escape. AS the last was
carried In he fell unconscious across
the body. lie was dead. as were all
his companions when the cage was
lifted 10 the top.
These who had gone into the pit
with him were John Rundy, the mine
superintendent: John Flood and Isaac
Lewis, merchants OF Cherry. and DON'T
mic Fonepei Or. W. Howe. who had
sought 10 90 with the men when they
descended in the cage had been thrust
out by Bundy. who exclaimed:
They will need you at the top II
We get any co out No use risking
your life down here"
Mouth Of Pit Sealed.
When the extent Of the Gre was rea
lied the officials saw ordinary measures
would be Intellectual. The fire
had hurned away the timbers OF The
shaft and the flames soon reached the
escape shaft. A few minutes later the
fan whica supplied al to the shaft col
lapsed and tumbled through the open
ing The flames then swept on 10 the
mouth OF the pit. where they were car
ried 60 the surface. forcing back all
those who ventured near.
The officials knew the fire must beat
its way back into the shaft. and then
the heroic measure OF sealing the
mouth OF the pit was adopted, Before
this. water had been poured down the
escape shaft. but without avail.
The only men to escape were those
near the main shaft when the Gre
started. They declared that a careless
miner had thrown a torch on a bundle
OF hay used TO feed the mules stationed
in the mine. No attention was given
the smouldering hay for few minutes.
Then two miners threw the burning
mass on cart and started toward the
main shaft about $50 feet away. Re
fore II was reached. a small explosion
occurred and in but a few moments
the entrance TO the vein from the shaft
was filled with smoke and flames
Those nearest the cages hurried to
them and were hoisted 10 the surface.
After about four trips the cages
ceased moving and no more miners
came up.
Haggard and almost worn into ex-
haustion by the terror OF three sleep
less nights the women approached the
officials imploring for some glimmer or
hope.
There is still chance, amt there.
mister7" pleaded dozens OF women.
Don't say that they are dead for
certain"
All hope OF further exploration In
the mine was abandoned temporarily
land experts believe Il will be several
days before any further effort TO reach
the entombed miners can be made.
Where we were unfortunate" said
Taylor. was in that we did not have a
barrel OF water with us when we were
lowered TO the bottom the last time.
II believe that a barrel OF water
could have extinguished the blaze. The
FIRE is now burning fiercely. but ] think
still confined 10 the part known as the
stable"
Charges Made by Miners.
THAT the electric lighting system In
the mine had been broken down and
out of commission for several weeks
before the disaster occurred and that
efforts were not made TO repair IL.
THAT 400 tons OF coal were raised
out OF the main shaft after the nrs
broke out at ! o'clock In the afternoon
and that not until after o'clock dc
the superintendent show any concern
about the men IN the pits or allow an,
Of them TO come mp to the surface.
That the mine has been known evel
since Il was built as dangerous mine
That It's equipment was ideal from
producing standpoint. but dangerou'
an concerned the safety Of men at wori
.. In H.
THAT the distance between the mair
shaft and the air shaft Is less thai
-. ooo feat euoctflqd In the state min