The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-11-15
Experts Who Descend Into ST. Paul Mine at
Cherry, Illinois, Return With Ray of Hope
DEADLY FIRE IS THOUGHT TO Be txTIACUSHtO
While 1t Is Doubtful That Life Can Exist Under Condi-
tions Prevailing in Deep,Lyng Galleries. There Is Still
aChance That Miners May Be Saved---Obedience
to Orders Costs Lives Of Rescung Party.

SHeiIs, ILL.,, NOV i-NeariS 400 hu-
man beings. men and boys. it is now
believed, are dead or perishing in the
st. Paul mine here though the experts
who succeeded in penetrating the
smoke filled shaft to the depth of 500
feet late today returned with a ray
of hope for the grief-stricken relatives
of the entombed men. That the fire
has been extinguished was the conclu-
sion of mining experts and inspectors
sent by Governor Dencen to investigate
the calamity.
For more than 30 hours the prison.
crs have been cut off from fresh air.
That life could exist under such con-
Elitions is doubted. but because no trace
Df high temperature was found in the
depths of the mine tonight officials
pf the company hope the victims may
have found safety in the remote re
cesses Of the mine.
Earring Hears Report.
A. J. Earling, president of the Chi
cago, Milwaukee Il st. Paul Railroad
company. who has not slept since ar
irving. received an encoura sing report
hfter heroic efforts bad been made to-
day to open the nine for the release
Df the entombed men or for the dis
covery of the dead. From the son of
pne of the missing miners. n young
man named John Reid. the railroad
president heard that Il concussion of
he earth had been felt by farmers
half a mile south OF the main shaft.
The report was sent to- Henry Burke.
pm official of the mining company.
Burke rushed to President Earling in
he office of the company.
I've heard signals from the men,"
be said. excitedly.
"What do you moan?' asked the
railroad president. What signais"'
John Reid's boy says that he and
farmers whose land Is over the south
ern end of the mine felt several con-
russions of the earth this afternoon.
There We're several shocks and the
men who felt them are convinced they
yerc shots fired by the imprisoned
miners and that they We're meant for
I'm assurance that at least some We're
,live."
"Oh. l hope So" said Earling. This
$. at least. encouraging"
This glimmering of light in the dark
med homes of Cherry tonight followed
.ther encouraging. though doubtful.
hcories of experts that the entombed
hundreds may not have been suffo-
Eated and that oxygen enough remains
n the mine to keep them alive until
he shafts may be reopened.
Three Attempts.
After the third attempt to explore
conditions. r. Y. Williams of Trbana.
H.. of the United States geological
urvey. who superintendcd the work Of
.olrnteer explorers. telcgraphed tn rr-
hana for mere rescue apparatus. This
expected to arriy" early tomorrow
md score nf men have volunteered
o accompany the experts and mining
Inspectors into the air shaft today.
,hree times Mr.. Williams and Henry
smith. one of the volunteers. We're low
red into the mine in q bucket. Each
ime they succeeded i'm penetrating
lecper into the shaft. Each time they
aid the temperature was bearable.
To open the sealed main shaft and
kit of the mine was impossible today,
Eet state inspectors haze told Mine Su-
,crintendent Steele that they felt GER
ain definite results could he obtained
amorrow. When explorations We're
bandoned tonight II Was announced
hat men fitted with oxygen caps
kould resume operations as early as
sossible.
List Of Missing.
The list of the missing was compiled
oday in the office of the mining COM
any. 1t reached ass. including the
cad whose charred bodies We're taken
rom burning cages Saturday after
oon. II was declared probable that
his list might be increased. One hun
red and seventy men who entered the
hine Saturday morning have been ac-
ornted for. The company had scores
/ tracers at work rounding up en-
,oyes. Tonight company officials said
he number of men in the mine was
raater than they first believed pos
ible.
Among the missing are many Amer
,ans who have lived in the mining
ection of Illinois for years Though
he majority Of those who may never
e found alive are foreign horn. yet
IN had their homes here or in the sur
punGing towns and villages. Grief
yer their probable fate has cast a
Ian over the community. Cherry to-
as held thousands of persons and be-
pre- noon the ST. Paul mine was sur
bundled by an almost uncomfortable
pob. Officials early. in the dav swore
force of deputies TO handle the
eowd. Scores of trains from Streator
endota. Ladd Spring Valley. L.aSalle.
|tfawa and other towns We're run.
When experts had drilled hole
trough the concrete At the top of the
>eand vein airshaft and all prepara-