The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-11-14

The only men to escape were those
near the main shaft when the tire
started. They declared a careless miner
had thrown torch on bundle OF nay
used to feed the mine mules. In a
few minutes the smouldering mass was
placed on a cart and started toward
the main shaft. about $50 feet away.
Before it was reached small ex-
plosion occurred and in but few
moments the entrance was filled with
smoke and flames. Those nearest the
cages hurried TO them and were hoisted
TO the surface.
After four trips the cages ceased
moving and no more miners came up.
Attempt at Rescue.
After waiting a few minutes, Bundy
leaped into the cage, calling NorDerB
and two miners.
! The latter were afraid and then came
volunteers eager to assist Bundy in
the work of rescue. Flood, Lewis
Fonenti land Rubinski descended into
the mine. The next trip of the cage,
operated from below, carried the bodies
of six miners.
Then after a few minutes the age
unconscious bodies of three of the res
cuing party. Again it was lowered and
the last Of the six were brought up.
All were dead.
By this time the fan mad collapsed
and the fire was pouring Up. the SHAFT.
1t was then thar Supe rintendent Steele
saw the escape OF the miners through
the shaft was blocked and ordered the
sealing of the shaft entrance.
Heavy timbers were soaked I'm water,
placed across the shaft entrance and
piled over with sand. The building
above the escape shaft was wrecked
and the shaft also sealed.
All Certainly Dead.
City Attorney HaIloricl1 Of Spring
Valley, who was at the scene, expressed
the belief that not one of the miners
would be take nOut alive. He is famil-
lar with the construction Of the ST
Paul mine and declared 1t certain the
fire caused the death of all the men
before the opening had been sealed.
About the little town of Cherry the
widest scenes followed. Stores and
residences were vacated and almost
every person of the 5000 population
gathered about the mine. From all
directions people hurried into the city
The shrieks of women could be heard
throughout the town.
Every physician and many from near
by towns were caring for hysterical
relatives of those imprisoned in the
mine, The town officials hastily i'm
provised hospitals and provided nurses
and physicians for those who might be
taken from the mine, but the prepare
lions were needless.
The St. Paul mine is the only one
in the town and provided employment
for almost 1000 men.
1t is owned by the Chicago. Milwau-
kee & St. Paul railroad, and is on a
spur of that railroad, about fifteen
miles from Spring Valley.
Chief superintendent w. W. Taylor
Of the mine was not in the city when
the accident occurred.
Later versions of the disaster given by
miners who escaped placed the list OF
those imprisoned in the mine at about
$50
1t was declared that the fire had been
burning more than an hour before IL ap-
peared dangerous. Before that time
about $50 Of the sos men had quietly left
the NINE il was said
Practical miners who watched the work
Of rescue tonight asserted that it was
almost impossible that any man could
escape alive from the mine. The seal
ing of the shaft mouth, they said. while
the only method of checking the fire, eff
fectually shut off all air from the mine
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