The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-11-18
MUST SEAL NINE
TO QUENCH FIRE

AneTfEs ILL., -NONs lfs-TNI lut uI1k
time since Sunday two miDeers to-
night descended the ycntilatinG shaft
OF the ST. Paul mine, the blocked air
channels OF which contain more than
800 men either dead or alive.
The experiment was successfully
carried out by Thomas Norris and
r. Y. Williams OF the United States
geological survey. They were nearly
exhausted when hauled to the top.
but quickly revived under the admin
istration of stimulaDts.
From what they discovered it Is
thought the flre has moved back from
the main shaft and that it may be
possible TO enter it soon.
Williams, much the lighter OF the
| two. descended to the second gallery
where the fire started. The shaft was
comparatively cool There was much
steam. but much less smoke than on
Sunday.
Buckets in which the descent was
made were so small that the men had
TO stand. The effort of holding to tho
rope and carrying their oxygen APP
paratus on their backs at the same
time wore both men out.
I'VE arc all In" were the first
words OF Morris as his head. encased
| In metal cap like that OF a diver,
appeared above the pit The two
men were lowered after several hours
| Of preparation, First. a test was
made for black damp. A safety lamp
was extinguished at 100 feet Some
| argued against the risk of any more
lives, but the opportunities of surviv-
| ing miners that a last desperate
chance be taken to seek some way OF
| reaching the imprisoned bodies pre-.
| vailed.
A numerous faction contended all
| day that the mine should be sealed
for months II necessary. for weeks
in any event. until further exploration
| could be made with safety. This fac.
tlon included a majority of experts
here from all over the country.
But the cry of men who have lost
| their comrades. and OF women. was
too strong. and Morris and Williams
determined upon the attempt.
Morris declared that probably no
| other attempt would be made tonight
TO descend
Before we can do anything cf-
fectively." he said, we must have a
bucket so big that we can sit on Its
rim, or We must have float. With
the present arrangements we have all
we can do TO take care Of ourselves"
There was little smoke and much
| less heat than In the descent | made
| last Sunday said Williams. For
| the first ninety feet noticed that the
| timber supports were considerably
| scorched Lower down this was less
| noticeable AS | slowly descended
4 gave the signal frequently to stop.
| hoping to look into the galleries. But
the steam was too dense. | did not
see any bodies. When | reached the
lower level at $40 feet my hands and
feet began TO be so numb | lost sense
OF feeling. ] quickly gave the signal
TO ascend
II hardly expected to see any bod
| les. II Is probable that this air shaft
has been cut of from the hosting
shaft by the caying in of the walls"
Cherry, H.. Nov 17,-After claim
Ing them for four days. the mine ip
which are entombed the bodies OF
800 or more miners as a result oil
| saturday QlS3StST ltuuS lSluotu "
yield up its dead.
Utter failure to devise any satlsfac
terry method OF recovering the bodies
attended the work of rescue.
Tonight the interior OF the mine was
burning almost as fiercely as ever
lifting of the seal over the mouth oi
the hosting shaft indicating by fire.
Qucnt pufIs of smoke the fury OF
smothered flames.
While the two companies OF state
troops sent here TO prevent possible
disorders remained idle in their carr
except for guard duty about the mine
and sleeping cars at night and an i'm
portant conference lasting Ave hour;
was held Federal state and loca
I mining experts were present
The meeting was called In respone
to a feeling that efforts should be
made TO penetrate the mine and bring
up the bodies at all hazards. But a
its conclusion it was found that no i'm
mediate access could be gained to tht
interior without risking lives Of th'
rescucrs.
| The conference was attended b'
President Earling OF the Chicago. Mil
| Waukee ana 81 Paul TallTOdu, beoTs'
S Rice of Pittsburg, OF the Unite'
States geological survey; j w. Paul
in charge OF the government mine res
cue work, and many mine inspectors
Various schemes were proposed
Among them was one TO open UP al
air shaft distant from the hoistin
shaft. which hitherto as bee
worked. and by means of giant fal
produce a false air current that woul