The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-11-16
THE P|T|ABLE
SCENES ABOUT
CHERRY TODAY
All Attention Is Now Directed
Toward Caring for the
Living
A THOUSAND ORPHANS AND TWO
HUNDRED WIDOWS N MOURNING

Vain Efforts Are Still Being Made to
Reach the Victims Though All Hope
Of Rescuing Them Alive Has Been
Abandoned.
Cherry, Ill.,. Nov. 1G.-Geological
Director George F. Rice of Pittsbure
took the temperature at the top of the
burning st. Paul mine main shaft to-
day and 10S degrees, fahrenheit was
recorded, indicating that it probably
would be impossible to break the
sealed shaft today. The disappoint-
ment was keen to the mine officials
and the investigators who had made
all preparations for fighting the fire.
Ihe preparations included special
train from Chicago bringing the fire
lighting apparatus under the direction
of James Horan. chief of Chicago fire
department. Twenty thousand GAL
Ions OF water are waiting at the mine
and more is on the way. Patent ex-
tlngufshers have been procured and
as soon as the shaft can be opened
the fight to extinguish the flames will
be undertaken. Until this is accom-
plished. all rescue and exploration
work must be abandoned.
Judging from the heat on the sur
face of the shaft. Mine Inspector
James Taylor declared that the heat
at the bottom of the shaft must be in
tense. AS there is nothing to burn in
the shaft itself, the heat comes from
within the mine. 300 feet below the
surface.
The smell of gas is apparent near
the shaft. and seems certain indica-
tion that the flames have spread from
the stable to the coal veins.
Dawn today brought increased anx-
iety to the families of the 300 miners
who wer still entombed in the st. Paul
mine as the result of last Saturdays
disaster.
Despite the belief expressed by the
state and government officials that
there is little or no hope of any of
the men ever being brought to the
surface alive, scores of grief strick-
en- wives early today gathered about
the mouth of the hoisting shaft which
late yesterday had to be closed down
and sealed hermetically because of the
renewal Of the fire in the interior
The mine officials. assisted by the
state and government authorities, who
had remained on the premises all
night, began early to ascertain wheth-
er 1t would be practicable to again
send rescuers down the shaft.
With the smoke drifting into the
remotest galleries of the mine for
almost three days. the men must GER
tainly have been suffccated, according
to President Duncan Mcdonald of dis
trlct No. II, United Mine Workers Of
America. He declared also that the
fire had burned out many of the tim
Der supports and some of the men
undoubtedly had been buried in the
caving in of walls, roofs and pas
sageways.
Not only would the men have been
without food but without any means
OF lighting, they must have groped
three days through the interminable
passageways in total darkness to reach
water, ii water could be found at all.
The organization of all charitable
efforts into a centralized plan was
proposed at a meeting called this
morning. Among those on the
ground are E. P. Bicknell of Washing
ton. d. c.. director of the national Red
Cross. 1t was stated that unless a
substantial sum of money is collect
ed, great suffering will ensue this
winter among the 1000 orphons and
200 or more widows left almost des-
titute.
Albert L. Hopkins of Chicago an
nounced that he had been authorized
by the French consul at Chicago to
help care for the families of the en-
tcmbed miners who were natives of
France. Some OF the women land
children Of those, he said. would be
transported back to France by the
French government. A report was
circulated early this morning that
troops had been called for and order
ed to protect the st. Paul mine, but
this was denied by the officials. Presi-
dent A. J. Earling Of the Chicag, Mil
waukee & st. Paul railroad said: II
have not asked for militia and do not
expect to-"
That the main shaft in the mine
will not be opened today now seems
assured. Train loads of water tank
cars have arrived for the purpose of
fighting the fire.
Geo. F. Rice of Pittsburg. field
director of the United tSates geoloei-
cal survey, worked at the mine all
night getting ready to install the
sprinkler system in the burning mine.
Orders on the bank will be issued
during the day to the men who ap-
pear for them and those dependent
on the men buried in the mine. The
average semi-monthly wage drawn is
$35 to $40 by the miners and $25 to
$50 by the laborers. according to a
rough estimate.
Eight of the victims were prepared
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