Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-11-21

Seventy or more were believed TO be alive
In the dark ramiflcations Of the mtae-
Experts protected by Oxygen helmets con-
tinue the search.
CHERRY, ILL.,, Nov. 2O.-At ? o'clock this
afternoon it was reported that forty men
were imprisoned alive. The men were
reached after a wall OF debris had been
broken down.
The survivors were Immediately rushed
to the hoistng shaft and stimulants Were
administered. One Of the men after being
brought to the sunlight after seven days
entombment was only cble to mutter in.
coherently. His face was black from the
smoke and slightly scorched. 1t appears
that the men after discovering their pre-
dicament walled themselves in.
The fight against death was led by
Joseph Crescni. Crescini was one of the
two men brought up in the cage. He re"
ported between thirty and forty men alive
in the south wing. In the darkness where
they waited for seven days in an agony Of
hunger and suspense they lost track Of
time and thought that today was sunday
Before reporters were allowed to inter.
view the two men brought to the surface,
doctors ordered that they should be given
nourishment
The next trip Of the cage brought seven
other survivors, They were smiling and
healthy save for weakness due to lack Of
food.
women Fight 90 Reach Pit.
Women fought with the national guards"
men to reach the mouth Of the pit Tho
latter restrained them, explaining that to
overrun tho pit would only delay the RS
A,. 81. ho..
came visible to the multitude outside the
rope barriers the women crowded round
them. When one would recognize a k,ns
man the Joyful meeting moved many TO
tears. But saddest OF all was the change
10 despair of those who recognized no one
whom they sought.
BY O'Clock this afternoon forty bodies
of the dead miners had been brought to
the surface and the majority Of them
identified.
Stephen Tinker, whose body was among
the first brought to the surface today, was
a local celebrity. He was small Of stature.
but big Of nerve, and served for two years
as town marshal.
Several months ago he was set upon by
a gang Of brawlers and maintained his
title as an intrepid officer. Two months
ago he resigned his official position an5
went into the mine.
Men Cheer When Rescue.
Under the leadership of Crezcinl such
food as remained in dinner pals
sembled and the men put on short ra"
tIons In this and subsequent measureE
taken to safeguard the prisoners an Eng
lishman who had had previous experience
of the kind shared leadership with tho
italian. When the explorers broke into
the tomb-like prison the men were all
seated, but with the ray Of light which
shot into their prison from the lights Of
the searching party thcy jumped to tn ir
feet and gave a feeble cheer.
The excitement which prevailed among
the rescuers far exceeded that in evidence
among those snatched from death. When
Spogatta led to the dining car he
ran fairly into the arms OF his wife and
two children. There was hystercal tor
rent of endearing words poured from her
lips and then the mother turned and
kissed the feet Of the man who had
brought him out, Another woman tainted
in her husbands arms.
When the last man was up, women who
had found none they recognized, walked
about distracted, again and again return.
ing TO attack the military guard who
guarded the pit.
The survivors were first discovered by
II.
When the men were reached some OF them
were talking and Joking
Among others rescued were John ana
Joseph Pigett George and John semrich,
and William Waite, a mine boss and VIII
liam Cleland.
Cleland was rescued by Robert. his own
brother, who carried the man to the sur
face without recognizing his kinsman,
At 2:3O rescuers came to the surface ana
reported that fire had temporarily cut Oft
the rescue work. A call for fresh vouu-
teers was issued and Immediately a score
Of men entered the shaft. It Is believed
the fire win be extinguished shortly.
Crowd UncOntroIIabIe.
As each one OF the rescued men. with
blaekened face, thrust his head out OF this
cage the crowd became almost uncontroll-
able.
Among the rescued was George Eddy,
mine examiner for the company. Great
credit is given him for his work in saving
the entombod miners.
In one shaft blocked off from nox Gus
gases, one OF the entombed men became
lost last Monday and in attacking the
barricade inflicted injuries from which he
died.
The scene around the shaft and tha
I company's offices was one Of the widest
publications.
''Monahan is out.
"Monahan Is out
Billy Heinz Is alive"
These and other names were shouted
from man to man, from group TO group
Not a shopkeeper in the city remained at
his post They Joined the throng OF
women and children in the rush to the
scene.