Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-18

lead or perishng in the st. Paul mine as
result of Yesterdays fire though eX-
per.s who penetrated the smoke filled
air shaft to depth of 300 feet early
tonight returned with ray of hope for
HE grief stricken relatives Of the en-
.omhed men.
That the fire is extinguished Is the
"cport of min ing experts sent by Governor
Deneen to investigate the calamity and
It's cause. FOR more than 20 hours the
prisoners have been cut OFF from fresh
air before the shaft was entered Tonight
and undoubtedly have been subjected 70
smoke and gases.
That life could exist under the terrible
conditions is doubted by many but be-
cause no trace of high temperature --+
found in the depths of the mine to- liz
friends of the miners and even officers
of the company renewed some OF their
failing hope.
A. j. EarlnE. president of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & st. Paul Railroad company,
which owns the mine. received an
encouraging report after heroic efforts
had been made to-day to open the mine
for the recovery of the entomhed miners.
SIGNALS FROM THOSE ENTOMBED.
From John Reid son OF one Of the
missing miners. Mr.. Earring heard shat
conclusions of the earth had been felt
by farmers half a mile south Of the main
shaft The farmers are convinced they
were the result of shots fired by the
Imprisoned miners. This report was sent
first to Henry Burke, an officer of the
mining COMPANY
The men reported. stated Burke -
President Earring. that the signals
heard this afternoon were distinc. an,
sore meant for ar assurance that at
lolst some Of them live"
>ftor the third attempt to explore the
s'aft to-day. r. Y. Williams of the Uni
ted States Geological survey, who super
Intended the work of volunteer explorers.
tclegraphed for more oxygen caps and
other apparatus
Three times MI Williams and Henry
Smith. volunteer. We're lowered into tho
mine in bucket. Each time they pene-
trated deeper. The temperature was
oearabe but the atmosphere was intol-
.rahle
When explorations We're abandoned to-
night It was announced that men fitted
With oxygen arnlor probably penetrate to
he bottom of the mine tomorrow.
KNOWN MISSING NUMBER 3s5.
The list of the missing miners, compiled
'o-day. cached the total Of 2S5 Including
he dead whose charred bodies were taken
from the burning cages Saturday.
It was declared to he probable that this
list might he increased
one hundred and seventy men who en-
tered the mine Saturday morning have
been accounted for.
Among the missing are many Americans
who have lived for years in the mining
fields of Illinois. but most Of them en-
tombed are foreign born. Most Of the
men had families.
Thousands of persons came focking tc
cherry to-day Officers early In the da!
swore in deputies to handle the crowd
w. w. Taylor, general supcrinten-
dent of mines of the ST. Paul company
who to-day watched the movements
to opJ the mine, said:
Il believe that the state inspectors
will say that this was the safest Goa
mine ever built in this country. The
fire need not have been disastrous
Tho hay in the underground sta bl'
caught fire The men a; work in the
stables We're excited The burning
hay could have been shut Oft from
the rest OF the mine without difficult!
and the fire eXtnguished with littl'
trouble"
EVERY HOME SUFFERS.
Arrangements are under way to re
iieve the families of the victims. !
is probable that supplies for thei
needs will be arranged for by tn
railroad company.
With winter approaching, the catas
trophe has dealt every home l.
Cherry a terrific blow The brea
winners in hundreds Of homes. eithe
are dead or incapacitated for work.
VIM. Vickers, who was at work a
the face of the coal mine, was one q
the few who came out alive. 70
more than 200 yards he crawled /
the dark on hands and knees. usin
the rail as guide to the bottom G
the shaft At one point he says h
met about G5 miners sitting in ROY
along tho road. They had given u
the struggle and were waiting resign
eddy for death
Il and my buddy (partner) were q
work on the second vein level whe
the fire alarm was sounded" sal
Vickers. I'VE started for the bottoi
but had gone but few feet whe
our lights went out. The entry wa
fast filing with smoke.
SHOUTS ALL ABOUT THEN,
"Al about us we could hear shou
of our comrades in adjoining rooms.
dropped to my hands and knees and 1T
gan to crawl along the rails shoutr
at intervals 20 my buddy.
AT one point We passed about GO mil
ers sitting by the roadside almost in
Etupor. | tried to rouse them but the
did not stir.
when within 100 feet OF the mil
mouth began to grow faint, pulled II
coat closely about my face and struggl,
on.
II escaped death ny Just three minute
When | arrived at the bottom of Il
shaft the last cage was about to asccn
shouted as the signal hell was rim
Ing. Two men broke their way to Il
and dragged me to the cage ! then 10
consciousness When ! came to, | W
safely on top.
my buddy was carried with me
safety"
A tobacco pouch was the means
saving the lives of John Phillips nj
Edward Surrock, miners IN the seco
vein. Phillips found Surrock lying
tho track In The main entry way.
dragged his comrade until he hims'
was almost overcome by the smoke.
DRAGGED COMRADE TO SAFETY
roI.i bat ca