The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-11-15

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his volunteer explorers the scene at
the mine was dramatic. Along the
railroad tracks and in fields on the
east and west of the shaft was Il wall
of humanity. stott ropes and police
men kept back the throng 1t WAS Il
silent but not undemonstrative assem-
blage. Occasionally a woman's wall
broke the stiffness. -Four mon ap-
peared. oxygen bags on their shoulders
and steel and glass covered hoods over
their heads. They were. besides Mr..
Williams of Urbana. his assistant.
James II. Webb of the University Of
Illinois: James Hand of Spring Valley
and Henry Smith of Peru. Later Mine
Inspector James Taylor of Peoria
donned the regalia
score OF men were ready to assist
them. 4 system of signals had been
prepared. Two men were stationed at
the top or the shaft. Williams and
Smith prepared to descend. Inspector
Taylor drilled them in their signals.
The men who were to undertake the
exploration rodded assent. Engineer
Cowley at the hoist that controlled the
iron bucket in which Williams and
Smith We're standing announced his
readiness. ard the first men to enter
the st. Paul nine since the explosion
were slowly lowered. When Go feet
down the signal to raise came aud was
at once obeyed. The helmet covered
explorers soon reappeared.
THE bucket is not hung right" said
Williams. .'It strikes and bounds in
the shaft. 1t must be rebalanced."
This work required some time. Mean
while. Williams and Smith explained to
the mining officials and the company
men that the shaft was filled with
smoke and that their powerful electric
lanterns would not penetrate the
gloom. When repairs had been made
an hour later. and with Hand. Webb
and Taylor at the wheel. the explorers
descended again. For 300 feet the
brcket went down. Then came the
signal for ascent. When the men re-
appeared Williams said
We found an obstruction at 600 feet
We might have got by 1t. but If we
signaled to come up we would un-
doubtedly strike it coming up. We
wanted to notify the men above of
stand
Williams and Smith. this time ac-
companied hy Inspector Tavlor de-
scended for the third time. They were
gone 10 minutes.
Not Too Hot.
We got to the base of the second
vein" said Insnector Taylor, "and.
; I rs,.l
TO excessive temneratures 1t was ap
parent that the fire had not penetrated
deeply into the mine. and We could not
see signs of flares. II TIL t"n.nera-
ture thrar ehont the second vein l. -
more excessive than there. in the
deeper and farther recesscs of the mine.
il is probable that there may be oNv-
gen to keen the men alive. We saw
no trace of men. either dead or alive.
Tomorrow I think We can go farther
with safety
Late tonight, after a conference of
mining inspectors. company officials
and EXPERTS, il was decided to open
the main shaft in the morning and to
send explorers into the mine in the
regular cage. This plan WAS adopted
because the bucket scheme was found
impracticabie insofar as movements of
the men below Were concerned. They
could not get out of the bucket. So
it was determined tn seal up the air
shaft tonight. The seals of the main
shaft will be opened and experts be- !
lieve conditions will be safe for them
to walk in the veins before many hours. !
A Pathetic Figure.
W. W. TAYLOR. general superintend- ]
ent of the mines of the st. Paul COM !
pany. was a pathetic figure today. He
stood watching and suggesting move /
ments to open the mine. and at times, |
though he struggled to control his |
emotions. tears dimmed his eyes and I
his voice ehoked with sohs.
I wish" he said. that the men of !
the press would interview these mining /
inspectors after they are relieved from .
their d. ties of this ordeal about this /
mine. I do not want To ea on record /
alone. but believe that they will tell t
you that this was the safest coal mine /
in this country. I haze operated many !
mines and know that il was safe.
"A catastrophe could have happened |
here i'm no other way than just as it |
did. The fire need not have been dis !
astrous. The men at work in the |
stah'es We're excited. The burning hav |
could have been shut off from the rest +
of the mine without the least difficulty /
and the fire sxtingulshed with little |
trouble. This is an awful thing Some /
of the best men who ever lived lost |
their lives. all through careiessness I
Bandy and Nosberg died like heroes I
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