Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-15

tons to lover Mr.. Williams and his
volunteer explorers into the mine.
These actions took place within a cir
cular wall of humanity. Sheriffs and
policemen kept the excited and almost
nyStcricdl throng away from the men
at work.
With oxygen bags on their shouleds
and steel and glass hoods over their
faces and heads, Mr.. Williams, James
l.. Webb of the University of Illinois,
James Hand of Springvalley, H., Hen
ry Smith of Peru and Mine Inspector
James Taylor of Peori stood ready to
undertake the perilous adventure. A
score of men acted as surface assist
ants. Inspector Taylor drilled Tho ox,
plorers in a system of signals.
Engineer COwlcy ran the hoist that
controlled the iron bucket in which
Williams and Smith first dosce nded
alone. They were the first men to en-
ter the st Paul mine since the tragedy
of Yesterday.
The ;hrong stood almost mutionless.
aXpeCtant yet fearful. After the buck.
ct had descended 60 feet the men sig
nailed L. be raised and The helmetcd
explorers soon re-appeared at the sur
face.
THE bucket is not hung right" said
Williams. 1T strikes and bounds in
the shaft. 1t must be re-ba!anced."
This work required some tine.
Williams and Smith explained that
the shaft was filled with smoke and
Mat their powerful electric lanterns
would not penetrate the gloom. When
repairs had been made, the explorers
descended again. Slowly they went
down 500 feet. 1t seemed many min
utes to the anxious crowd before the
signal for ascent came. When the men
raappeared, Williams said
1--WE struck an obstruction at 300
feet. We found we might get by it,
bat it was probematical whether we
could pass it in coming up
After a rest. Williams and Smith,
this time accompanied by Inspector
Taylor descended at dusk for the third
time. They were gone for 10 minutes.
eve got TO the base of the second
vein,'' said Inspector Taylor on reach
ing the surface, land though we could
see little, we found no excessive tenn
perature. 1t was apparent that the
fire had not penetrated deeply into the
mine. We coud see no sign of flames.
If the temperature throughout the
second vein is no more excessive than
there. then in the deeper and farther
recesscs of the mine it is probable that
there may be oxygen enough &c keep
the men alive. We saw no trace Of lien
either dead or alive Tomorrow l
tnlnk we can proceed further into the
mine with safety
Late tonight. after a conference of
the mine inspectors, company officers
and experts, it was decided to open
the main shaft in the morning and to
send ,the explorers into the mine in the
regular cage.
1t was determined to seal up the air
shaft tonight The experts believe that
conditions will be safe for them to
walk around in the veins before many
hours.
w. w Taylor, general superintend-
cnt of mines of the st. Paul Co, today
watched the movements to open the
mine and at times he was nearly over
come with emotion. He said:
Il believe that the state inspectors
will say that this was the safest coal
mine ever built in this country. l have
built many mines and l know that it
was safe.
"A catastrophe could have happened
here in no other way than just as it
did. The fire need not have been
disastrous The hay in the under
ground stable caught fire. The men
at work in the stables were excited.
The burning hay could have been shut
off from the rest of the mine without
difficulty and the fire extinguished
with little trouble"
President Earring also feels deeply
the terrible tragedy. He, with his son
are constantly on the ground. Ar
engagements are under way to relieve
the families of the victims. 1t is prob
able that supplies for their needs will
be arranged for by the railroad COM
pany.
With winter approaching the ca
tastrophe has dealt every home in
Cherry a terrible blow. The bread
winners in hundreds of homes, either
are dead or incapacitated for work.
Visions OF hunger and cold add to the
sorrow and despair of the women and
children but these wants will be
promptly relieved.
William Wicker, who was at work
at the face of the coal mine, was one
of the few who came out alive. For
more than 200 yards he crawled in the
dark on hands and knees using the
rail as a guide to the bottom of the
shaft At one point, he says, he met
about s. miners sitting in a row along
the road. They had given up the strug-
gle and were waiting resignedly for
death. He said:
when within 100 feet of the mino