The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-11-15
ESCAPE CUT OFF.
Awful Disaster, Caused by an
Explosion, In Coal Mine
at Cherry, Ill.
RtSCUtRS ENTER The SHAFT
See No Men, However, and Report
Air is Exhausted-LittIe Hope Held
Out That Any of the Miners Will be
Found AIive-Mine is Still on Fire
and Smoke Plentiful.


Cherry. ILL.,, Nov. 15.-Before night
fall It seems probable that the fate of
three hundred men entombed in the
st. Paul mine will be known. This
morning it was the plan of the state
mining officials, who have taken
charge of the mine since the fire on
Saturday, to raise the cover Of the
hosting shaft and lower rescuers 20
the third level, where, II alive the
men now 400 feet beneath the surface,
are waiting.
Late last night the air shaft, the on
~ opening. besides the hosting shaft,
was hermetically sealed. This was
done to smother the fire and make it
possible for the rescuers to pierce the
lower levels.
David Ross, secretary of the state
labor commission, declared last night
il was extremely improbable any one
would be found living. Richard New
sam, president of the state mining
board, said IL would be n miracle IL
one man had been spared.
Rumors that shot was heard be-
meath the surface and that rappings
on pipes had been used to indicate
the entombed miners were living were
this morning declared absurd.
r. r. Reid, a miner. who lives 500
feet south of the mine entrance and
above one of the branches, is said
to have heard or felt a shock resem-
bling a revolver shot or an explosion.
j. Z. Buck. chief clerk of the ST.. Paul
Coal company. employed about the
mine for thirty years, asserted no
revolver shot could have been heard
or felt upon the surface. Other Off
cials declared the explosion of a stick
OF dynamite would he unlikely any
way and that ii would serve, If II oc-
Cured to lessen the chances of the
men surviving.
Though tests yesterday seemed 20
indicate the fire had burned out, smoke
continued last night to issue from
the air shaft until ii was sealed, and
as II found vent. smoke poured out of
the hosting shaft this morning as the
covering was removed.
The coroner's inquest will be re-
sumed today and II Is expected some
thing will be learned concerning the
cause of the explosion and who was a
blame.
The party of nurses from Chicago
who arrived last night, were today
turned into comforters OF families
probably bereft. Throughout the
hamlet were scattered cottages in
various stages OF completion 1t seems
likely many cottages never will be
finished now.
Impossible to Reach Men.
Cherry, Ill, Nov. 15.-Sev"ral of the
rcscuing party who went 'own this
morning returned from the second
level at $3.50 o'clock. They brought
the report that the mine is caving ir
in several places. They declared mons
of the ontombed miners were near tht
landing and that II was impossible as
yet TO make exploration more thar
few feet beyond the shaft entrance
The mine is still on fire and it is not
known that more than 800 miners ar,
inside.
Relief for Stricken Families.
Cherry. Ill, Nov. 15.-Officers of th'
local miners union today notified
President Lewis of the Mine Workers
Union, that $40 lives were lost in the
mine disaster. Representative mine
owners today declared the loss of lif,
TO be three hundred. Lewis has al
Vised the local union that a $500
contribution of the national body will
Immediately be placed at the dispose
of the widows and orphans of the vic
Tins.
Every One Believed Dead.
Cherry, ILL.,. Nov. 15.--That not on
man OF tho three hundred or NOR
entombed in the mine will be talkel
out alive is practically the unanimou
opinion of those on the scene. TIL
rescuers made three descents thi
morning but no sign OF life was seel
ana the rescuers declared that ever.
pit or oxygen or life giving al
Is exhausted and no life could ext,
Tor hundreds of feet beyond the shat
entrance. few miners caps an
Jumps were seen-tragic tokens of th
nrst mad rush for safety by miner
WI eoscae. dtupbcmfwypio vob1mor
VINO escaped, but no bodies wer
iouhd' This indicated that when tn
miners realized they were penne
nopelessly In the pit they rushed {
lhc furthermost end Of the vein, wher
so'ne air might be found that woul
Keep them alive till help came.
Notwithstanding the report of th
rescuers State Mine Inspector Taylo
oppressed the opinion that a sma
supply OF air stIll exists in the min
49," 'here Is fighting chance fo
muse within. But tho miners VIII