Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-26
It May Be Several Weeks Before
Shaft Can Be Reopened.
WATER FAILS TO REACH FIRE.
Officials Find that Its Only Effect is
to Fill Lower Level.
NO MORE BODIES ARE FOUN1
Generally Conceded that No Chance
of Living Men Being I'm the
st. Paul Mine Now
Exists.

CHERRY. H., Nov. 25.-Details of a
meeting held here early today between the
entire state mining board, Battalion Chief
Mcdonald of the Chicago fire department
and w w. Taylor, general superintendent
Of the Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul
oompany's mines, were made known this
afternoon.
Battalion Chief Mcdonald, after an in
spection Of the work being accomplished
by his men who had been throwing water
in the east bottom of the mine for more
than a week, advised tho state mine in
spectors and the representatives of the
coal company that the water being thrown
into the mine was not reaching the fire
and that he saw no use Of throwing in
any more water, as 1t was merely filing
up the third vein. Bodies Of the known
dead in that vein are already inaccessible
owing to the quantity Of water already
thrown into the mine and to increase this
amount of water, Mcdonald said, would
delay recovery of bodies indefinitely.
Mr.. williams of the Urbana rescue sta
ton, who had been keeping careful note
Of the gases formed in the mine, reported
that the fire had extended to the coal
pillars and was forming dangerous gases
and making 1t perilous for rescuers to
continue at work.
After considerable discussion and a care
full going over Of all phases Of the situa-
ton It was unanimously agreed by the
meeting that the only thing that would
make possible ultimate recovery Of the
bodies in the mine was to seal up both
the main shaft and the air shaft and
keep them sealed until the cutting off
Of the air smothred the fire. The shafts
were thereupon sealed.
BattR with Fire.
After more than $50 bodies had been
discovered in the mine, early yesterday eff
forts to carry them to the surface were
abandoned while a battle was begun to
cheok a fire which again threatened the
main shaft
Yesterday flames from fire In the second
vein, $40 feet below the surface, h swept
fifty feet up the main shaft. Then the fire
was forced back. Mine Manager Taylor
declared that the destruction OF the main
shaft is at all times imminent, and with Il
will go the only possibility OF removing
bodies. That no men survive In the mine
now is generally conceded, even by the most
optimistic.
The only part Of the mine as yet unex-
plored and in which living men possibly
could be found is the east working Of the
! sGGOAAA will at NAo NAANA eAASp ~ ~ NAAN
fire is burning fiercely. Twice rescuing
parties that have ventured past the fire
area have been temporarily cut off by these
flames and rescued with difficulty. No
further attempt to venture into it will be
made until the fire is -extinguished, which
may be a work Of days.
May Amend Mining Laws.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Nov. A-As a result
Of the mine fire at Cherry. Governor De-
neen may incorporate in his call for a spe-
cial session of the legislature, to be held
in December. a request that the state min
ing laws be amanded to provide that fire
proof mine shafts be built in all mines.
The tentative plan would call for shafts
built Of concrete and steel instead of tim
ber, and the removal of all mine stables
from underground to the surface.
Governor Deneen today told a delegation
of officers Of the State Federation of La
Dor and Of the United Mine Workers OF
America that he would submit their de-
mands for greater safety in mines to the
newly appointed State Mining commission
He added that II the commission could
formulate specific amendments to the min.
ing laws that would be desirable. he would
incorporate the recommendations in his
call for the special session Of the legisla.
ture,