Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-25
LAST HOPE OF TAKING OUT ANY
MORE BODIES ALIVE sHATrER.
ED BY eREWsoME DISCOVERY
OF SEARCHING PARTY.
REVERSAL OF FAN
BLAMED BY MEN
EXPLORING PARTY DECLARED
THAT ESCAPE OF MEN FOUND.
TODAY WAS MADE IMPOSSIBLE
BY GASES TANNED INTO MINE 4

Cnerry, Ill, Nov. 24.-PracticaIIv ALI
the bodies of the victims of the mine
| ulsaster were found this morning on
tne staircase at the mouth OF the third
| or lower level. One hundred and sirtv-
elght bodies were found, leaving about
| score to be accounted for. The
miners evidently had died in the firei
| run for safety in the explosion and
hre OF November 49, The bodies vera
IN great tangled mass, completely
blocking the staircase leading from
the third to the second vein and were
scattered along the vein where thew
had dropped before reaching the stair
way, black damp causing death. all
means OF escape having been blocked
ny the debris falling and covering the
top OF the staircase
Left Messages on Slate.
Bodies We're found 500 feet from
the main shaft On an elevated surface
Where the men had retreated before
.ne advancing water and the fatal
plack damp. They had not been able
10 escape the latter and died after a
struggle that may have continued spr
tWo. days. messages scrawled on wood
ana natural slate cropping from the
walls placed the number of dead at
LOU or l6s. Mine officials believe that
less than a dozen bodies will be found
in other sections of the mine
Need skiff to Rescue Bodies.
me exploring party were in the
gallery more than an hour before the
bodies We're found. They had waded in
water waist deep through circular
tunnel making their way toward the
elevation shaft or ridge" where the
bodies We're found. To take ont tba
bodies today skiff will be lowered to
the vein in which the bodies were
found 1t will be rowed across four
feet of water in the vein to the snot
where the bodies lie and there win he
transported to the main shaft to he re-
moved to the surface.
Fan Reversal Held Cause. e
With the reversal of the fan under
orders OF those directing the work on
Top, the explorers assert deadly gaa
forming In the second gallery and
creeping out OF the escape shaft was
hurled back into the lower level where
tne men had gathered and they stran.
gled before they had an opportunity
10 seek pockets or erect projections
against it.
Machinists Won't Enter Mine.
The announced intention of the
mine officials to pump out the water
from the mine was baked by the re-
fusai of the machinists to aid them.
The connections of the pump have
been disconnected near the. second,
level. The machinists who were called
upon, declined to risk their lives in res
pairing the machinery.
Diary Tells of Death.
A diary was found yesterday In tha
clothing taken from one of the thirtv-
eight bodies found in a pocket of the
mine. The diary was begun on Nov. 49,.
and was written by Samuel d. How.
ard, Il years old. 1t describes the slow
death Of the men by the encroaching
black damp, and refers tenderly to
Samuel's efforts to save his brother
Alfred, 16 years old, who died by his
side. The diary follows:
ALIVE at 1920 o'clock vet 10:45.
II sharp. BY Sam D. Howard. Brother
Alfred is with me yet. A good many
dead mules and men. tried to save
some, but came almost losing myself.
II am dead give my diamond ring to
Mamie Robinson. The ring Is coming
at the postofflce. Henry can have the
ring have in my good clothes. Tho
onl ything / regret Is that my brother
could not help my mother after I am
dead and gone
Il tried my best to get out, but could
not. | saw Jim Jameson and Steve
Timke lying along the road, and could
not stand 1t any longer It is 1t.05
o'clock, and the air is fine, but some
times 1t is SO bad 1t almost puts fel-
lows light out. 1t is something fierce
to see men and mules lying down all
over like that.
Fans Away Black Damp.
ITO keep me from thinking thought
would write these few lines. There is
rock falling all over. We have our
buckets full of water, sump water, and
we drink it and bathe our heads with
1t. 10 to IL o'clock, Z after 1 O'clock
o'clock, o'clock and poor air and
black damp. Ais change OF place. No
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