The Washington times., 1909-11-15
Lamps and Oil Caps Found
When Two Searchers
Go Underground.
DESCENT is MADE
TWO HUNDRED FEET
Farmers Say Sounds of Explosions
Have Been Heard-No
Signs of Fire.

CHERRY. H.. Nov. 15.-The main
shaft IN the ST. Paul mine was opened
early today and the cage sent down
with a party OF rescuers.
II penetrated 10 the second level.
so5 feet below the surface. and In the
entryway a numter Of lamps, caps and
oil cans we're found This was taken
TO indicate that at least some Of the
miners were stin living. that they went
20 ths entryway to wait for the cage
81 draw them Up and then went away
again.
The cage went down on the second
trip at 80 a. m. and it was expected
then the bodies would be found. No
sigr Of fire was found on the first trip
today.
Believe Men Are Alive.
The opinion became prevalent that
some Of the men were stil alive IN
the east tunnel Of the second level.
The men working there were in
charge OF James Monahan, a miner
OF twenty-five years experience in IIli-
nois mines. and It was believed he
IN case of FIRE.
The belief that many y the several
hundred miners who were entombed
alive Saturday IN the IRE IN the St.
Paul mine here, by some miracle were
still living IN the lower levels Of the
mine. began growing early today IN
spite of the apparent hopelessness Of
the situation.
Early this morning the main shaft
was unsealed and volunteer rescueFs.
equipped with gas proof apparatus.
prepared 10 descend IN the regular
cage. An enormous new air fan was
Installed during the early hours OF
the day and this was to be set In
motion when the reseuers descended.
This hope that some of the miners had
survived their two days Imprisonment
was strengthened by reports that farm
ers living in the vicinity Of the mine
late yesterday heard distinct concus-
siO9s. which they believe were signals
from the entonsbed miners According
10 the farmers. the conclusions were
heard quite regularly. and were appar-
entity the result OF shots fired BY the
men.
Every Advantage Taken.
While. the mine officials had only
ahlNt nope ltlttI the men would Et1tl De
alive in the lower levels. they proposed
20 take advantage OF every opportunity
TO rescue them.
The safety with which the two vol
Unteers. wearing oxygen helmets. late
yesterday. three times went down the
air shaft 10 the very lowest level has
encouraged the officials 20 make tLe
attempt.
The volunteers we're unable TO find
any living thing. but they reported that
the lower levels Of the mine were clear
ing. and that the temperature was only
81. which is nearly normal This, the
officials state, indicated that the fire
had burned itself out
The descent OF the two volunteers into
the mine yesterday was undertaken by
Inspector Williams and a miner named
smith The crowds which stood about
the shaft were pushed back By two
score deputy sheriffs, who were sworn
n 10 prevent disorder or further deaths
should an explosion occur.
Temperature No Higher.
The men in charge first lowered a
thermometer into the shaft, and II came
Up showing no rise IN temperature
Then the bucket was lowered three times
into the shaft. and was cool when n
came up.
Finally Williams and his companion
put on their oxygen helmets. and in
CONTINUED on sixth PaRe)