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

7 IiAetI eiiS III e IA tuC ot. Fdul luluc udu
burned itself out. seems blasted. Two
volunteer. early today twice descend
ed 200 feet and failed to find any per-
son living or dead. They reported the
fire still raging in the second level.
They found nothing but caps, lamps
and other things which show that
several men are still in the mine.
The men We're equipped with oxygen
helmets. They ascended the second
time and lett the cage, trying to pene-
trate one of the caves on the second
level they encountered intense heat,
indicating that the fire is still raging.
The men were pulled up.
Hose was arranged for and men will
be sent doyn the main shaft to fight
the fire. 1t is believed by many to
be hopeless to attempt to penetrate
further until the fire is quenched.
Main Shaft opened.
CHERRY, ILL.,, Nov. 15.-The main
shaft Of the mine was opened today
and an investigation was started
Lamps, caps and oil cans were
found in the second shaft, giving rise
to the opinion that some lives might
have been saved.
The cage went down on the second
trip at $3.50 a. m. and it was expected
then that bodies would be found No
sign Of fire was found on the first
trip. It is believed now that some o.
the men are still alive id the last
tunnel of the second level. The mer
who were working there were II
charge of James Monahan, an exper
fenced miner.
The officials are trying to get &C
curate estimates of the men entonlb
ed. The first figures of ass men who
descended into the mine Saturda.
we're too sma. as nearly 575 were al
work when the explosion occurred. O
these something more than 100 go
out, leaving between 900 and 400 i'm
prisoned.
The coroners' inquest continued to
day and the mine officials and th'
members of the state board Of labo
and mining commissioners are trying
to find the cause of the disaster.
Richard Newson. chairman of th
state mining commission, took charg
OF the situation today. He declares
the board would first attempt to saw
any living men and would continu
their Investigations meanwhile.
Hope Aroused.
Hope arose in the breasts of min
and railroad officials that some of tn
entombed men were alive, and futur
explorations by mine experts al
awaited with the greatest anxiety.
The mine was entered three time
Sunday through the air shaft Toda
the main shaft will be opened an
men with oxygen helmets will a
tempt to enter the workings.
A. J. Earring, president of the CT
cago, Milwaukee and st. Louis,
among the sanguine. r. Y. William
expert at the government experimel
station, connected with the State Ct
lege at Urbana, created this hope
a late report that there was got
supply of cold air in tue second vel
located $40 feet beneath the surfac
Hope for Entombed Men.
This was taken as an indication tn
the interior of the mine is not
badly afiame as was first suppose
It led certain people to think that
least some of the men In. the thi
vein, 4S4 feet deep. were still breat
Ing and that their lives could be sa
ed If they are brought to the surfa
within a short time.
Williams made several descents
to the mine, but his last was the mo
successful. He walked some distan
along the second level, but a rope /
tachment to his outfit limited his G
Dloration.
Signals From Mine Reported.
This report gave considerah
weight to a report of Ira Reed that
heard somewhat suppressed expl6
lon In the mine Sunday afternoo
Reed was formerly employed as cf
penter by the coal company and liv
over the mine. half mile from &
mouth Of the shaft. He reported tn
the explosion shook his residence al
he tried to convince the mine /
ficials that it was signal from i
entombed men
Subsequently Edward Fellows. 4