The San Francisco call., 1909-11-23

GERRY. H.. Nov &S-Elre broke out
with renewed violence in the second
gallery OF the IT. Paul mine early today
and now threatens, 10 spread TO the
main shaft. All work of rescue has
ceased while the entire working force
is aghting rhe fire. should the main
SHAFT be damaged materially by the FIRE
an hope OF aiding those in the mine for
many days VIII be ended
Rescuers Penetrate Tunnel
CHERRY. ILL.,. Nov. 22-An opening
the rhird vein or Lowest level Of the
ST. PAU mine was forced just before
midnight tonight The removal of
bodies or the rescue of scores believed
ID be Imprisoned in the vein viii
begin before daybreak
Tests made late tonight showed the
existence Of air in the bower vein.
Candles lowered into il on strings had
The dsme sucked away from. the shaft,
showing tle current Thousands OF
gallons OF water have been poured into
rhe gallery in the effort-to eXtinguish
lres in the level above 1t.
With air and water in abundance in
the mine hope for the rescue. Of those
within is strong.
CAGE MAY SOLVE MYSTERY
The opening that has been cleared
IS a continuation of the main shaft.
The shaft proper ends al the second
vein. but 10 the gallery 16T feet below
q smaller opening extends. 10 which
a small cage runs This cage was at
Cacned 70 the larger cage with, rope.
ard shortly before midnight the effort
% bring II 10 the second level was
begun.
That the cage would contain bodies
II the dead on its first trip sor be
crowded with living was the expecta-
zion of those working 10 lift IL
II is asserted that the miners, hear
Ing rLe moving OF the machinery.
would hasten 10 the cage. and that its
rsI trip would add as many 70 the
list ~ rescued as the car would hold
The recovery Of A. bodies today was
attended by some OF the saddest scenes
~ The disaster. Across the fields, as
tae 6rst signal Of bodies coming up"
was given stun hled almost 7 90 women
ana children who had beer driven from
re sLaftside by the fierce wind and
The Identification of the bodies was
\. Dparatively easy There were no
smoke stains nor burns, and physicians
declared Chat all except z few had died
of asphv1 v1iation- Some had torn every
resrige OF clothing from their bodies in
their death agony Among the first
bodies carried out were those Of two
"trapper boys, neither more than Il
years old.
GRUESOME SIGNS OF STRUGGLE
Gruesome tokens OF the futile fight
Tor life made BY the men taken out
dead today were found beside the bod
les on the walls Of the shaft had been
fashioned rude wooden pin wheels
shaped IN the fashion OF venttlating
fans and Intended 10 bring at least
some current OF air
Boards 1orn from the timbeTing Of
The mine had been crudely nailed or
tied about the handles OF the miners
picks These the men had turned by
hand. standing close 70 them 10 get
any oxygen stirred by the movement
OF The improrised fans. Close beside
the fans the largest groups OF the dead
We're found
That the men had lived and retained
their faculties for many deays before
the black damp crept upon them was
obvious. ouL physicians declared every
man had been dead for al least 4S
hours
EXPLORE UNUSED GALLERY
CHERRY. Ill., Nov 22-Enorts 10
reach the men possibly still alive in
the St Paul mine were made in two
directions today east and west In
the latter section the attempt was
made at an unused bottom gallery at
-he earnest request of Duncan Nc
Donald president of The united mine
workers OF Illinois.
The brightest ray Of hope came with
The discovery that the bottommost
gallery west. was not sufficiently
flooded TO impede progress. It was
this section OF the mine that formed
the subject Of the conference between
the union and Manager Taylor
An exploring expedition reached the
- ird vein late tonight.
" one Of the exploring party peue-
rrated 90 feet into the lower gallery.
which ne found about knee deep in
water. No sign OF life was seen. but
no miners bodies lay near the shaft.
This is accepted BY the rescuers As
proof that the men retreated toward
the end Of the shaft and that they viii
be found prepared 10 Withstand q long