The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-11-16
Check Will be Kept on Cherry,
ILL.,, Miners Today to See
Who is Missing.
Big sum NEEDED FOR RELIEF
Unless Substantial Amount is Forth
coming There Will be Much Suffer
ing Among the 1000 Orphans and
200 or More Widows of Entombed
Miners-Coal in Mine is on Fire.

Cherry H., Nov. 16.-Dawn today
brought increased anxiety to the fami-
lies of the 800 miners still entombed
in the mine as the result of Saturday. s
disaster. Despite the belief expressed
by state and government officials there
is little or no possibility of any men
ever being brought to the surface alive.
Scores OF grief stricken wives gath
cred about the mouth of the hoisting
shaft and pleaded for one word Of
hope but none was forthcoming. With
smoke drifting into the remotest gal
leries of the mine for almost three
days, the men must certainly have
been suffocated, according To President
Mcdonald, of District II of the United
Mine Workers. lie declared also that
the fire had burned out many timber
supports and some men undoubtedly
had been buried in the caving-in of
the walls and roofs of the passage
ways. Not only would the men be
without food, but with no means of
lighting they would have had to grope
about for three days through intermin-
able passageways in total darkness to
reach water If water could be found at
all.
Cherry's gloom today is increased by
a deluge of rain, which began early in
the morning and still continues. That
the main shaft will not be opened to-
day seems assured.
Preparing to Fight Fire.
Train loads of water tank cars are
arriving and preparations to fight the
fire are progressing rapidly. George
+. Rice of Pittsburg, field director of
the u. S. Geological survey, worked
at the mine all night preparing to In
stall a sprinkler system in the burning
mine.
1T seems assured" said Rice this
morning, that the coal in the mine is
on FIRE. The gaseous odors arising
from the shaft strongly indicate this"
Pay Day at the Mines.
Today is the monthly payday at
the mines, and $4,000 to meet the pay
roll is on deposit at the Cherry bank.
Many miners will not be i'm line today.
Clerks will keep check on all who APP
pear and i'm this manner 1t is believed
the number of men entombed can be
definitely established. Pay for
the men who fail to appear
will eventually be given to their fam
lilies or relatives. Il. i. Bicknell, of
Washington. ID. c., director of the Ma
tional Red Cross, is here to assist in
and direct the organization of charit-
able efforts. 1t was stated that unless
a substantial sum of money is collect
ed great suffering will ensue this win
ter among the 1000 orphans and 200
or more widows left almost destitute.
French Government to Assist.
Albert l.. Hopkins of Chicago an
nounced he had been authorized by the
French consul at Chicago to help care
for the families OF the entombed min
ers who were natives of France. Some
women and children of those he said
will be transported back to France by
the French government.
There is much indignation here over
the report troops will be ordered to
Cherry State, county and railroad
officials are a unit in declaring there
is not the remotest possibility of sol
ders being called and that the behav-
ior of the people i'm the crisis Is very
The sheriff said order is
so well maintained he has reduced the
number Of deputies on duty.