Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-16

4 HERR1, Ill, NOV. 15.-The 800 or
more miners entombed in the st.
- Paul coal mine by last Saturdays
disaster, are dead.
Some of the bodies lie buried be-
meath thousands of tons of EARTH
which caved in on them, and it is
doubtful If many ever can be re-
disaster are dead.
This was the opinion expressed to-
night when attempts at rescue work.
carried on night and day for forty
eight hours, were temporarily aban-
doned.
Renewed fires in the mine made fur
ther descents by the rescuers impos-
sible.
Fans employed in an effort to carry
fresh air to the imprisoned men
| served only to enliven some sparks
which sprang into a flame.
Soon the heat and smoke became so
dense it was necessary again to seal
up the mouth of the hosting shaft.
and tonight men down there. whatever
their condition, are locked in as effec
| lively as in a dungeon.
Whether the bodies will be taken out
tomorrow depends on the condition of
the internal fire. 1t is possible that
steam and chemicals producing a car
bonic acid gas will be forced through
row. These will have a tendency to
choke out the flames.
Three Hundred coffins Ordered
tt was learned that 800 coffins have
been ordered-half of them to arrive
tomorrow and half the following day.
1t Is believed no one within the
power of resuscitation will be broughi
out of the mine.
Hope hung frequently in the bal
ance today. Before the fire broke out
| again, rescuers descended four time
Then the rumor circulated quickly
| through the crowd that the men below
| had been reached and the reason they
were not brought up was because they
were exhausted by lack of food and
smoke.
They're alive! They're alive!" cried
hopeful mothers and wives. They'll be
brought up pretty soon."
But the truth was far different. The
rescuers did. on one occasion, go down
300 feet TO the bottom of the hoisting
shaft Then cropping their way with
electric lamps, and kept alive by oxy-
gen stored in their helmets. they PEN
etrated $50 feet into the bottom gall
lery. But none of the miners, either
dead or alive, were found.
"Hey, are you there?" cried the res
cuers cheerily. but nothing was heard
in response.
1t was conjectured that the miners
had crawled for safety into recesses
most remote from the fire. but these
parts could not be reached without re-
ascending Before they could again
descend the fire broke out again.
Gradually the crowd about the mouth
of the mine began to wane as hope
died out.
Only Skeleton Remains.
Tonight a tall skeleton of a frame.
surrounded by a few wooden build
ings, which few days ago had been
the scene of industry, suggested by
their desoIation that hope had baen
abandoned. Only half dozen guards
patrolled the premises. In the dis
tance, scattered over the field here and
there, q few women wrapped ia shawls
gazed on in silence.
AS a result of the disaster there are
in this town of only a few thousand
people at least 1000 orphans and 200
widows. Some families of eight chill
dren will be dependent on charity.
These are the figures of Duncan Nc
Donald of Springfield, ILL.,, president of
district No. 12 United Mine workers
of America. who instituted a roll call
of the families of entombed miners.
Mr.. Mcdonald early abandoned hope
that any miners would be brought up
alive.
President Earring of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & st. Paul railroad de-
clined to commit himself as to the fate
of the men.
"The men are just as safe now az
they were yesterday at this time" he
said. "The mine is too big and has
too many ramifcations to be filled
with smoke yet. Besides, the smoke
is not being carried downward by any
air currents. If the men We're alive
yesterday every man may be alive
now."
Homes Are canvased
Mr. Earling caused house toulouse
canvass of the miners to be made.
This showed 256 miners missing, but
some of the families were not at home,
and it is believed when a complete
list is obtained the number of en-
tombed miners will exceed 300.
The morning dawned hopefully. At
an early hour the main shaft, which
had been sealed since Saturday, was
to release the living miners or take
the bodies from the wreckage. Before
8 o'clock the crowd assembled around
the mine buildings and workmen
broke the seal of the shaft. There
was little smoke in evidence, and this
gave hope that the fire had been
smothered.
A. r. Newsam, president of the State
Mine board, conferred with Mine Ex-
aminer Taylor and r. Y. Williams and
others who appeared in their oxygen
outfits and helmets ready to descend.
> Just before the signal was given the
authorities swore in an extra force Of
deputy sheriffs. They believed a few
hours would see the recovery of the
dead, and they feared that the grew
some sight would arouse the feelings
of the surviving relatives and make 1t
difficult to preserve order
In addressing the deputies States At
torney Eckhart of Bureau county,