The San Francisco call., 1909-11-22
BLACK DAMP KEEPS
RESCU[RS AT BAY
Workers at Cherry Mine Forced
to Abandon Tunnel and Dig
to Save Comrades
Continued from Page L

centered on the attempt to rescue the
living.
The rescuers also thought of the
scenes that would have followed. A
crowd numbering thousands frankly
seeking sensation, careless of grief
about them and apparently thorough
ly enjoying the scene about the pit
pressed against the rope barricade un-
til dusk, and it was decided to wait
until some of the curious had departed.
The bodies of the miners are said to
be pitted several feet deep along the
sides of the tunnel Four hundred
pounds of chloride of lime and 5000
tablets of bicloride of mercury. dis
solved in water, have been sent into the
mine to be used as a disinfectant.
Several narrow escapes today marked
the work of the rescuers. John Col
Inns. mining engineer. nearly lost his
life when he attempted to crawl over
a huge pile of earth and stone into a
tunnel in the mine. When he reached
the top of the cavein black damp eX-
tinguished the torch on his cap and
the poisonous air caused him TO lose
consciousness. Another rescurer, climb
ing over the rocks, seized Collins by the
feet and dragged him to safety.
All day the toIIing of church bells re-
sounded in Cherry and Spring valley
Eighteen bodies were inferred At the
mine a dozen cofined victims remained
awaiting removal. while a score of cas-
kets were piled near by for bodies
which are 10 come.
Services for the dead were held out
side the churches. into which Coroner
Malm deemed it inadvisable that the
bodies be taken.
From the still unified graves in
which the Roman Catholic dead were
placed the priest hurried to the mine
entrance, where. with a second priest,
he waited to administer the last rites
for the dying should his services be
needed.
The pressure of the crowd was not
the only reason which led the rescuers
to delay bringing bodies to the surface
Black damp was present where the
dead lay in a group. "Klondtke, VINO
had worked among the dead in many
mine disasters; Bob" Murray, who
also holds black damp in much con-
tempt, and others are said TO have vol
unteered to remove the bodies TO clear
a passage for a further search for any
who may remain alive in the farther
reaches of the galleries. Conserva-
tive counsel prevailed and the hoist
ing of the bodies was delayed until
the noxious gases had been sucked out
by the big ventilating fan
1t was reported tonight that labor
leaders who have been making quiet
investigatio of the district have called
a meeting for tomorrow.
Letters written in their under
ground prison by the 20 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 that their
funeral be embeIhshed with brass
band One of the most touching was
written by John Lorimer TO his wife,
Sadie.
He Just laughs and says he will go
hack to the mine when he is well, al
though I'd be willing. after what has
bappened. to support him 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 stepped beyond the
door at night except on lodge nights.
Lorimers letter, written in the face
of death, as were others. follows:
Dear wife: l am still living, although
it is now o'clock Sunday morning
and there is little hope, as the black
damp is getting the best of us. There
are 81 of US altogether here. Dear
wife, do not grieve; we Will meet
again. God bless you; believe in him.
He will take care of YOU i guess we
will meet in a better land. When you
get over this let them know at home
7ScotIand) That is all. dear. God
bless you. Your loving husband.