The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-11-15

KEC
wanted to notify the men above the
condition so they would understand"
Williams Schmidt, and this time ac-
companied by Inspector Taylor, de-
scended for the third time They
We're gone for perhaps ten minutes.
We got to the base of the second
vein," said Inspector Taylor. "And
though we could see little, we found
no excessive temperature 1t was ap-
parent that the fire had not pene-
trated deeply into the mine, and we
could see no sign Of the flames. II
the temperature throughout the sece-
ond vein is no more excessive than
there, then in the deeper and farther.
recesses of the mine it is probable
that there may be oxygen to keep the
men alive. We saw no trace of men,
either dead or alive.
After a conference of experts, it
was decided to open the main shaft
In the morning and let explorers into
the mine in the regular cage. This
plan was adopted because the
bucket scheme was found impractic-
able In so far as the movements of
the men below were concerned.
They could not get out of the bucket
So it was determined to seal UP the
air shaft. The seals OF the main
shaft will be opened and the experts
believe conditions will be safe for
them to walk around in the veins be-
fore many hours.
carelessness Causes Disaster.
w. w. Taylor, general superintend-
ent of mines of the st. Paul company,
is a pathetic figure at the scene of
the catastrophe. He stood watching
and suggesting the movements to open
the mine, and at times, though he
struggled to control his emotions,
tears dimmed his eyes and his voice
choked with sobs.
i wish that the men OF the press
would interview these mining inspec.
tors after they are relieved from
their duties of this ordeal about this
mine. do not want to go on record
alone, but believe that they will tell
you that this was the safest built coal
mine in the country. | have built
many mines. and | know that it was
safe.
A catastrophe could have happened
here in no other way than just as il
Il. The fire need not have been dis
astrous. The men at work in The
stables were excited. TIE burning
hay could have been shut off from the
rest of the mine without the leas
difficulty, and the fire extinquishet
with little trouble.
Official Sobs as He Talks.
This is an awful thing. Some 0
the best men who ever lived lost thei
lives all through carelessness. Bund.
and Norberg died like heroes. The.
were on the surface. They went dowl
to save their fellows
Supt. Taylor sobbed as he spoke
an dtears rolled down his cheeks
He has not slept since his arrival her
Saturday night. President Earring
too, feels deeply the tragedy. He, wit
his son, are constantly on the ground
Arrangements are being commence
to bring relief to the suffering familie
1 of the victims. 1t is believed that sur
plies for their needs will be arrange
for by the ST. Paul company.
Citizens of neiglboring towns a
ready appreciate, with the near al
proach of winter, what the catastroph
means to the inhabitants of Cherry
Not home is here but what has bee
affected. The bread winners in hur
4 dreds of homes undoubtedly are deaf
The afflicted women, though hopin
feel that the men have perished, an
visions of hunger and want add t
i their sorrow.
State Mine Inspectors Arrive.
All the state mine inspectors froI
d the ten districts comprising the coz
fields arrived Sunday. Thomas HUI
son of Galva, in whose district tn
4 ill-fated mine is situated, was the firs
inspector to arrive. He was closel
followed by Hector McAllister
I Streator, who has many friends PR
badly killed in the disaster
Hudson and McAllister joined in d.
claring the equipment of the mine
the most modern, substantial an
sufficient in the state. They also sal
: the officials and superintendents ha
instituted and operated thoroue
system of safety measures. Whe
. questioned regarding the blame for u
fire, Hudson said
From what l have learned ca
only say that carelessness-
carelessness-o the part of some
the men working in the second-vei
level is responsible.
: .trNha mina WAS eQlIiDDed with a