Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-11-14

SPRING VALLEY, Ill, Nov. 13-At $40
D. m. City Attorney Hallorin, who has just
arrived from the scene Of the mine explo-
sion at Cherry, says that It is estimated
that 4eO men have been killed in the explo-
sion. Efforts at rescue have been aban-
doned II is declared. and the mine closed.
CHERRY. ILL.,. Nov. lS-Eight bodies have
Ateen taken from the mine Of the st. Paul
Coal company where more than $50 men
are imprisoned and probably scores dead
The bodies we're taken from the shaft white
a fire was burning fiercely in the interior
and smoke pouring in dense volumes from
the mouth Of the plant They Yere put
on cages and lifted to the surface by un'
known heroes who may have sacrificed
their lives in a vain effort to save them.
The known dead are:
JOHN BUMBY mine superintendent.
ALEXANDER NORBERG, foreman third
ISAAC LEWIS, a visitor nthe mine
JOHN PUBINSKI, miner.
FOUR UNIDENTIFIED MEN.
The entrance to the mine has been
boarded over in an effort to check the
flames raging in the interior. This has
checked all hope of escape to the surface
veins of the mine, ono 800 feet below the
surface. the miners are Imprisoned and
their only chance for life is to retreat bacl,
to the ends of the veins, where enough air
may exist to preserve their ives until help
GENES.
All Escape Cut Off.
The fans of the mine are stopped, the
wires all burned out and the mouth sealed
N fba Ia he ipef oil
occurred shortly after 3 o'clock. In some
unknown manner Il communicated to other
sections OF the mine and less than ten
minutes all hope OF escape seemed shut
off from the miners.
While smoke and even Jets OF flames
swept up through the entrance OF the mine,
the cage which carried the miners to their
work continued to ascend and descend.
The first loads were about a score of min
ers who escaped with no worse injuries
than burns or bruises received in the rush
for safety
The last trip Of the cage was made when
the bodies Of the mine superintendent and
his assistants arose. The men were dead
when the car reached the surface. Those
about the pit mouth expressed the belief
that they were dead or dying when placed
in the cage. None survived to tell the
story of the trip.
A half hour after the explosion occurred
the mouth of the shaft was surrounded by
hundreds Of frantic women, children and
men. Many tried to enter the mine, but
gave UP after the first effort, or were car
ried away unconscious from the smoke and
escaping fumes by their companions. Fol
almost two hours officials of the mine and
4 residents of Cherry tried to devise rneani
to help the imprisoned miners.
Mouth of Mine Sealed.
At last It was decided. that the only way
to check the flames was TO board over tn,
- entrance to the mine. The opening wai
almost hermetrically sealed and the cover
ing viii not be removed until tomorrow
morning. Until that time nothing but sur
= mise can be made Of the number OF vic
Tins. The most optimistic OF the watchers
( do not believe that less than 100 are dead
The mine is the only one in Cherry ant
more than half the male population ar
employed in It. Thee veins extend from
4 the main shaft. the lowest being more thar
200 feet below the surface. 1t is know
that men were at work on all three veins
Cherry is located fifteen miles north
west OF la Sale and is almost inaccessible
by wire. The news OF the explosion did no
reach Spring Valley until four hours afte
its occurrence.