Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-11-25
MORE EXCITEMENT

MOhE EAClIEMENT
They are still alive down there
was the watchword, although evidence
of this is pathetically meagre.
The first tangible hope came when
the men in the east workings broke
through fall of earth where it had
been expected by experts that large
numbers of bodies would be found.
Instead, in the tool closet, hewed out
in the earth, great many mining i'm
plements were found, as laid down
apparently when men came there to
eat. The fact regarded as significant
was that not dinner pail remained.
From this 1t was argued the men, I'M
able to escape when the fire was dis
covered, retreated to some extremity
of the mine, carrying food with them.
AN AVENUE OF HOPE
The next flame of hope came wit
discovery that the lowest gallery in
the west was not Sufficiently flooded to
impede progress. McDonald's delega-
ton insisted upon exploration of this
gallery, but it is generally believed to
be of little importance. At tie time
of the catastrophe little If any work
was being done in this section, the
men being engaged in the richer coal
beds of the second gallery.
Taylor, however, is impressed with
the theory that the men, cut off In
the second gallery. might have found
their way into the gallery below
where there was no fire.
The tenseness Of the nerves of the
rescuers was shown by demonstra-
ton this afternoon, when man who
was proved to have been dead for sew
eral days, but who was believed alive
when brought to the surface, was
rushed to the hospital car.
FIRST BODY FOUND
Cherry, Nov 22-Life was believed
to be existent in the body of a man
taken from the mine at :13 this after
noon. Physicians, however, said the
man was dead at least twelve hours
previously, and the warmth of the
body was due to the temperature in
the mine, which was above sixty.
Wild scenes followed carrying Of
the body to the hospital car.
'"They are alive" came cry from
all sides, and rush that almost car
ried the bearers off their feet began
Soldiers forced back the crowd. while
physicians and nurses worked ovel
the body in the hosnital car Hosting
of other victims to the surface did nc
cease AS the first load of three
stretchers. their burdens and carriers
reached the top, the crowd surge
back to the car few yards away
Scores bent over the bodies, bu
saw there was no mistake about theil
deaths.
ALL ARE BURIED
Work continued until TWENTY-FIVE
TX Cies had been carried to the 'nOrsuc
arh the body of the unknown mar
VINO was first thought to be aiy... wa
removed from the hospital ca to ;
place alongside his dead comrades.
The rescuers who carried up twenty
three bodies said evidence was III
men had walled themselves in sever
al days ago, but had emerged tc seel
food or water and met death in TN
black damp.
At point beyond where the search
ers have gone, several declared the.
could see the shattered b'ockn% o
pocket. where the men had talle'
| refuge The bodies were scatterc
along the gallery fer MANI yards
The men who found them believe,
they had collapsed from weakness o
asphyxiation, before they had gen
| fifty yards toward The entrance Som
| of the bodies were burned
NEW EXPI ORATIONS
| General Superintendent Taylor o
the ST. Paul railroad mines, this after
noon ordered exploration of the tbirl
gallery, in which men may be alive
| This order followed an interview WI
Duncan Mcdonald, head of the or
| gauization of miners of Illinois, M
nine of his official advisers
In this gallery, the lowest in tn
mine, there is an overcast" Or al
| shaft, distinct from the gallery.
eff the men who were in this par
of the mine thought of the overcast
and were able to reach it. they ar
probably alive now said Taylor. "Il
the gallery proper there is much waite
but we hope it is not so high bu
that the rescuers can make their wa,
through it.
Explorations in the east working