The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-11-30

Catastrophe Men Trained at Export
ment Station In Pittsburs In Use of
Oxygen Helmets Were Sent to ST.
Paul Coal Mine.
1t is believed by United States gov
eminent officers in Washington that
the miners who were recently saved
from death In the 81. Paul coal mine
at Cherry. ILL.,. owe their lives 10 the
work of the governments rescue corps
connected with the geological survey.
These men, who are stationed at Pitts
burg. where the survey has an expert
ment station for Investigating the
causes of mine disasters, were rushed
to Cherry as soon as word OF the catas-
trophe was received.
Each member of the corps had been
trained in the use of what is known as
the oxygen helmet. an apparatus that
permits artificial breathing in The pres
ence of deadly gases Equipped with
such helmets the governments life saw
ers were able to enter The shaft Of the
burning mine and fight the fire at close
range.
Officials said that had the methods
that have been in use in The past been
employed the mine shaft would have
been sealed until the fire bad been
smothered for want of oxygen. This.
of course. would have meant delay
sufficient to have caused the death of
every man under ground.
Much Time Saved In Reaching Miners.
Geological survey officers said that
the ability of the governments rescue
corps TO enter the mine, filled as 1t was
with smoke aud gas, saved at least
several days time in reaching the en-
tombed men. To these officers the res
cue at Cherry is the most practical
demonstration ever given anywhere In
the world Of the efficiency of the oxy-
gen helmets.
They asserted that this experience
would go long way toward showing
mine owners aud miners the necessity
for having complete equipment OF
oxygen helmets al each mine. together
with d corps Of men trained in their
use 1t Is their belief that hundreds OF
lives can be saved In this manner and
the terrible death rate i'll American
mines thereby reduced 10 figure
somewhat approaching the conIpara-
lively low rate of casualties in Euro
pean coal mines.
With the governments method this
agonizing wait at the shaft for the
gas to dissimte is done away with
and ii Is not necessary TO pour fresh
air into the mite, for The members OF
the rescue corps in their oxygen he'll
NETS can enter any atmosphere, how
ever deadly. and remain for period
OF two hours. Ii there has been an
explosion Of gas the members of tue
corps enter the mine ut once and look
for small fires that usually follow ex-
plosions. These fires are extingtIiShed
at once. and hen the yentilating cur
rent Is turned on without any danger.
In other words. The mines normal con-
dition Is restored al the earliest possi-
bic moment, and the men who are In
the farthernmst recesses of the mine.
where The black damp has moi yet pen
etrated, are able 10 walk out
The station erected at I'ittsburg con-
sists of an explosive gallery. where
the powders used In blasting the coal
are tested and standardized. and also a
large room for The training OF miners
In rescue work.
Equipment Of the Rescuer.
The oxygen helmet and auxiliary APP
paratus weigh between thirty-five and
forty pounds. The helmet is metal
lie case Enclosing The head with an
isinglass front. The helmet proper Is
connected with tubes leading TO two
tanks of oxygen. which are carried on
the back IN a mnnner similar to sol
dier's knapsack. the straps supporting
II going over the shoulders
Each tank contains oxygen sufficient
to last one hour An indicator attached
to the oxygen tanks shows the wearer
Of the helmet just how much time he
may remain 10 the mine. This is abso-
lutely necessary, for If The rescuer has
walked half mile into Il mine and Ii
has taken him thirty minutes to tray-
erse the distance he must figure on
thirty or forty minutes time TO return
Ii addition TO the tanks OF oxygen.
there is Il cartridge of potassium by
drogen which takes up tie poisonous
matter from the breath and absorbs
II. thus keeping The oxygen In its pu-
rity to do the two hours work. These
helmets are IN general use In Euro
pean coal producing countries and are
credited With saving many lives.
Crime Page Fer Each Newspaper.