Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-22
1873 MEN STILL
ARE ENTOMBfD
TEN MORE BODIES ARE TAKEN
FROM COAL MINE
HOPE ALMOST ABANDONED FOR
OTHERS LIVING
Pathetic Letters Written by Impris-
oned ToiIers Reveal Utter De.
spair Prevailing Among Them.
Suspense Is Described
(contlnned from Paro onn,

|
staggered from the pit mouth were
| surrounded instantly, and a babel OF
! questions hurled at them.
| I'VE can see the bodies. There are
piles of them. They are dead boys
all Dead" was the reply of the first
and those who followed gave no more
| cheering answers.
But they could be living back
there, they could be alive, Tom,
couldn't they?" came a voice from
the group about one.
mo chance" began the miner, then
paused as he saw the trembling hands
OF the old man who had passed to his
side. why, sure, didn't the others
come out?' was the quick reply.
Don't. you worry He will be up
SOON"
Reason of Delays
The pressure of the crowd was not
the only reason which led the res
cuers to delay bringing bodies to the
surface. Black damp was present
where the dead lay in a group.
"Klondike," who had worked among
the dead in many mine diasters: Bob
Murray, who also holds black damp in
much contempt. and others are said
to have volunteered to remove the
search for any who may remain alive
in the further reaches of the galleries
Conservative counsel prevailed and
the hosting of the bodies was delayed
until the noXious gases had been
sucked out by the big ventilating fans.
Among those who, after yesterdays
return to the living of men long
thought dead, clung today to the be-
lief that additional rescues of living
men were probable, was Richard New
som, president of the Illinois board of
mine inspectors.
"Scotchmen are the most resource
full miners in the world said he, "and
there are % Of them down there, dead
or living. 1 can see no reason why
they should not have have found some
refuge just as did those who came up
yesterday. But eight days have
passed. and we must hurry if they are
not to perish of thirst and starvation
Everything possible to hurry on the
work of exploration is being done" |
II was reported tonight that labor
leaders who have been making a quiet
of the district have called
a meeting for tomorrow.
Letters Are Read
Letters written in their underground
prison by the twenty miners rescued |
alive yesterday came to light today. |
The two Pigati brothers. Joe and Sal |
vatore. wrote several short notes. In
one a desire was expressed their funeral |
be embellished with a brass band. One |
Of the most touching was written by
John Lorimer to his wife, Sadie.
Lorimer is a young Scotchman from
Ayrshire. which country he left ten
years ago. He is an experienced miner, |
and, like his wife, a constant attendant
at church.
HE just laughs and says he will go
back to the mine when he is well, al
though / would be willing. after what
has happened, to support myself if he
would only get safer work" said Mrs.
Lorimer. Heaven knows he's been
good man these three years we've
been married. Never stenped beyond
he door at night except on lodge
nights"
Lorimer's letter, written in the face
IF death, as were the others, follows:
Letter to Wife
Dear Wife: I am still living, al
hough it is now o'clock Sunday morn
ng. and there is little hope as the
black damp is getting the best of us
There are twenty-one of us altogether
lere. Dear wife, do not grieve. We
will meet again. God bless YOU. Be-
ieVe in him. He VIII take care of you.
guess we will meet in a better land
When you get over this let them know
It home (Scotland). That is all, dear
Tod bless you. Your loving husband"
One of the Pigati letters signed by
he two brothers concludes with this
yish
1--WE desire a band at our funeral
nd we wish to be buried side by side" :
Another portion of the letter refers /
D our miserable tomb. where five of
5 still live, although without knowing
rhether we shall ever emerge alive" |
All the farewell letters were on I
aper torn from the time book carried
y Walter Waite. Waite had the only
,ad pencil in the group 1t was used
V all.
One instance of self sacrifice of the t
lore sturdy prisoners was related by t
orimer today. I
"Walczinski-I think that was his I
ame-was so years old and the weak a
st among US, said Lorimer. "Our e
reatest suffering came from thirst, for j.
My thimblefuls of water could be got v
ON the seepage. Walczinski grew so v