The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-11-18

titution and the suspense OF the won-
en- whose sons, husbands and brothers
are buried 500 feet in the earth is
more in evidence than any physical
want. *" .
Nurses on the Ground.
A party OF nurses from Chicago, who
arrived last night, today turned into
comforters of the families probably be-
reft. Throughout the little hamlet
were scattered cottages in various
stages of completion. Families Of men
entombed are living in small houses
still needing glass for all the windows.
1t seems likely that many of the cot
tages will be finished.
Undertakers from nearby towns
have been notified to be in readiness,
merous bodies. President Earring, Of
the Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul
railroad, will share the burial expenses
Of the more needy families at least,
and offers of aid have come from the
more prosperous inhabitants Of
Cherry.
IF we had been here Saturday we
would have prevented the death Of the
men who bravely, but foolishly, and
as 1t turned out, futilely, went down
the shaft in an effort to save the min
ers," declared President Newsam to-
day. Il n the other members Of the
state mining commission would have
known a rescue under the circum-
stances vas impossible and that 1t
would have been a most needless risk
Of life to attempt It.
Our object in sealing the entrance
of the mine last night was to end the
fire, thus making it possible for a party
to enter the mine and pierce the lower
levels practically assured Of safety"
The party selected to make the first
descent today included James Taylor,
state mine inspector; r. Y. Williams.
Of the United States rescue station at
Urbana, and James Hand and Henry
Smith, both of whom were among the
men who escaped Saturday.
Neither the miners nor officials think
there Is a chance the men below are
alive. Rumors h a a shot was heard
beneath the surface and that rapping
on pipes had been used to indicate
the entombed miners were living were
declared absurd.
J. P. Buck, chief clerk Of the st. Paul
Coay company. employed about the
mine for 80 years, asserted no revolver
shot could have been heard or felt at
the surface. Other officials declared
that the explosion of a stick of dyna-
mite would be unlikely anyway and
that 1t would serve, If it occurred, to
lCSSCll IliO ~ lIlS IlLCI . 5uINlN
ing.
Inquest to Resume.
The resumption of the c%oroner's III
quest Is an important event scheduled
for today. Brought out by States At
torney Eckert. Of Bureau county, and
: David Ross, secretary of the state labor
commissioner, further evidence regard
ing the alleged fatal obedience to orders
of Shaft Engineer Cowley is expected
to come out.
The state officials here are taking a
deep interest in the inquest, but their
guarded statements make it apparent
they do not expect a decision which will
blame any particular person for the
fire in the mine.
The inquest so far concerns only the
men of the rescuing party who died
Saturday-the only persons, in fact
known to be dead. Therefore the primal
cause Of the disaster has not been en-
tered into and the state officers so fal
nave been more Interested in getting
into the mine, rescuing the miners OIL
bringing out their bodies and saving as
much as possible of the property.
Governor Deneen at Springfield, has
kept in constant touch with the situa-
ton. Last night after receiving re,
ports from his representatives here he
communicated by telephone early today
with President, Earling, Of the st. Pau
road. The nature of the messages be,
tween the governor and Mr.. Earlins
were not given out, but it is said 1t cor
cerned the possibility Of saving the lives
of the entombed miners. Mr.. Earring
is said to have assured the governor
he, as we'll as the other mine officials
and the state officers, would do every
thing possible to save the men.
AS proof Of the lack of hope held BY
Mr.. Earring, eve special funeral car
were brought to Cherry at $3.50 thiI
morning. These cars were backed VI
neal the mine. Early today relatives o
the buried men, miners and villagers
gathered around the hosting shaft.
In the soreness Of their hearts man.
of the supposedly bereaved have con
demned the action Of the officials IL
closing the only openings of the mine
but it seems that the officials took thu
only course open to them.
Though tests yesterday seemed to in
dictate that the fire had burned out
smoke continued last night to issu
from the air shaft until it was sealeC
and as it found vent, smoke poured on
Of the hosting shaft this morning a
the covering was removed.