Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-15
EXPRESS HOPE
ENTOMBED MEN
MAY Be ALIVE
EXPERTS SAY OXYGEN MAY
NOT BE EXHAUSTED
FARMERS HEAR SUPPOSED SIG-
NAILS FROM MINERS
Belief Prevails, However, That 400
Persons Are Dead or Perish
ing in ST. Paul Mine-ln-
quest Is Begun
,continued from Page Ons'


readiness, and the first men to enter
the St. Paul mine since the explosion
were slowly lowered.
When sixty feet down the signal to
raise came and was at once obeyed.
The helmet-covered explorers soon re-
appeared. 81.
1.-THE bucket is not hung right said
williams. at strikes and bounds In
the shaft. 1t must be rebalanced.
This work required some time
Meanwhile Williams and Smith eX-
plained to the mining officials and the
company men that the shaft was filled
with smoke and that their powerful
electric lanterns would not penetrate
the gloom. When repairs had been
made an hour later and with Hand,
Webb and Taylor at the wheel, the
explorers descended again.
For 300 feet the bucket went down.
Then came the signal for ascent
Find Obstruction in Shaft
When the men reappeared Williams
said: I'VE found an obstruction at
300 feet. We might have got by it,
but if we signaled to come up we
would undoubtedly strike it coming
up. We wanted to notify the men
above of the condition so that they
would understand"
Williams and Smith, this time ac-
companied by Inspector Taylor. de-
scended for the third time. They We're
gone ten minutes.
1--WE got to the base of the second
Vein," said Taylor, land though we
could see little, we found no exces-
sive temperatures. 1t was apparent
the fire had not penetrated deeply into
the mine and we could see no signs of
flames. If the temperature through
out the second vein is no more excess
sive than that in the deeper and fur
ther recesses of the mine 1t is probable
there may be oxygen to keep the men
alive. We saw no trace of men, either
dead or alive. Tomorrow / think we
can go farther with safety.
Late tonight after a conference Of
mining inspectors, company officials
and experts, it was decided to open the
main shaft in the morning and to send
explorers into the mine in the regular
cage. This plan was adopted because
the bucket scheme was found imprac-
ticable in so far as movements of the
men below We're concerned. They
could not get out of the bucket.
To Seal Airshafts
So it was determined to seal up the
airshaft tonight. The seals of The
main shaft will be opened, and ex-
perts believe conditions will be safe
for them to walk in the veins before
many hours.
w. w. Taylor, general superinten-
dent of the mines of the st. Paul com
pany, was a pathetic figure today. lie
stood watching and suggesting move
ments to open the mine, and at times,
though he struggled to control mis-
emotions, tears dimmed his eyes ana
his voice choked with sobs.
II wish" he said, that the men or
the press would interview these min
ing inspectors after they are relieved
from their duties about this mine. l
do not want to go on record alone, but
[ believe they will tell you that this
was the safest coal mine in this couh-
try. / have operated many mines and
l know It was safe.
"A catastrophe could have happened
here in no other way than Just as II
did. The fire need not have been DIS
astrous. The men at work in the
stables were excited. The burning hay
could have been shut off from the rest
Of the mine without the least difficulty
and the fire eXtinguished with little
trouble.
This is an awful thing. Some of the
hest men who ever lived lost their
lives, all through carelessness. Bandy
and Nosberg died like heroes. They
were on the surface. Ihey went uo"n
to save their fellows
Mine Superintendent WeePs
AS Superintendent Taylor spoke tears
rolled down his cheeks. He has not
SILENT since he reached here Saturday
night. President Earling, too, deeply
feels the tragedy. He and his son are
constantly on the ground. Arrange
ments are being contemplated TO bring
f.
probable supplies for their needs Will
be arranged by the st. Paul company.
Citizens of neighboring towns al
ready appreciate, with the near ap-
proach of winter, what the catastrophe
means to the inhabitants OF Cherry
Every home here has been affected
Bread winners in hundreds OF homes
are dead.
Implicit obedience by Engineer John
cowiey to orders of his superior may
have caused the death of the reseulng
marty which went down in the ST, Paul
mine yesterday afternoon.
At the coroners inquest which be-
gan today, CoWley, who is engineer OF
the main shaft, testified he declined TO
accede to the demand of persons stand
ing at the top of his shaft that he at
once lift the cage containing the res
cued. The reason he declined, he said,
was because he had been told by the
third vein boss, Alexander Nosberg, to
move the cage only in answer to the
regular bell code.
Demand Cage Be Raised
When the rescue party had been at
the bottom of the shaft some time
without getting in communication with
the engineer by the usual means, Mar
tin Powers, Dr.. Howe and Herbert
I ,ewis, the latter a brother of one of
the rescue party, rushed to CoWley,
SO the engineer testified and de-
manded the cage be raised immediate
lv. Cowley refused. For perhaps ten
minutes, Cowley said, he would not
listen to their frantic appeals, but
finally referred the matter to John
Ouinby, of the top cage.
Quinby hesitated and as Machinist
John Chadester entered Cowley asked
Chadester what should be done.
go ahead and raise it," answered
Chadester, according TO Cowley's tes-
timony, nobody is alive down there"
Cowley then brought the cage to the
ton. but every one of the men in the
rescue party was either dead or dying
when they reached the top.
Cowley defended himself on the stand
bv saying he had received Nosberg' s
order to await the bell signal before