Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-16
COAL VEINS ARE AF|RE
impossible to Open Sealed
Shaft at Cherry, III.
MEN MUST HAVE PERlSHED
But Weeping Widows Linger On,
Hoping Against Hope.
READY TO FIGHT THE BLAZE
Charitable Organizations Prepare to
Care for the Destitute-Militia
Will Not Be Summoned.

CHERRY. Ill.,. November 16-A tenn
perature of los degrees Fahrenheit was
recorded at the top Of the burning st.
Paul mine shaft today. 1t probably will
be impossible to break the sealed shaft
Of the mine for the present. The test was
made by the geological director. George
F. Rice of Pittsburg. Mine officials and
investigators had made all preparations
for opening the mine and hghtlng the
fire. A special train from Chicago bring
ing fire fighting apparatus is on the way
here under the direction of James HOran,
chief OF the fire department. Twenty
thousand gallons of water are waiting
at the mine and more is on the way.
Chemical fire extinguishers are also on
hand.
Great Heat in Mine.
Judging from the heat at the surface.
Mine Inspector James Taylor declared
that the heat at the bottom of the shaft
must be intense. AS there is nothing In
the shaft to burn. the heat comes from
within the mine proper. 300 feet below
the surface. The smell of gas is appar-
ent near the shaft. and this seems a GER
tain Indication that fire has spread to the
coal veins.
I'VE hope to open the mine. If possible
today" said President Earring, who is in
tently watching every move OF the eX-
perts. IF we can open the shaft. a
desperate effort will be made to fight the
fire. I want to contradict statements that
there has been a shortage of water at
any time since the disaster"
Funerals Of Heroes Today.
The attention of the populace here was
taken from the operations at the mine
today to the funerals of the men whose
bodies were recovered last Saturday. The
funeral Of Isaac Lewis. the liveryman
who lost his life Saturday in an attempt
to rescue the miners. was attended In a
body by all the miners who had escaped
death in the mine. They also attended
the funeral OF their former boss. Alex
ander Norberg. who also lost his life In
q heroic attempt at rescue. The bodies
Of Lewis and Norberg were taken to
Peru, Ind, for burial. Others buried to-
day were James Spears, Robert Clark,
Arthur McClunkey. John H. Bundy and
Harry Stewart. The body of Bundy. an
other mine boss. was inferred at Streator.
DIR. Gustavus NJ. Blach and James RO-
sinia OF the Illinois branch, American Ma
tional Red Cross. arrived from Chicago
today and reported to Ernest p. Bicknell,
In charge Of the work being done here 10y
the national body. Maj. Coggeshall and
Capt. Ness Of Chicago. representatives of
the Salvation Army, reported to Mayor
Connolly, chairman of the local relief
committee. At 4 O'Clock this afternoon
meeting Of the miners and charitable
agents will be held in an effort to learn
just where help is most needed.
Men Cannot Be Alive.
Despite the belief expressed by the state
and government officials that there Is lit
tie or no possibility Of any of the men
ever being brought to the surface alive,
scores of grief-stricken wives gathered to-
day around the mouth of the hoisting
shaft which late yesterday had to be
sealed because of the renewal of fire in
the interior.
Haggard and almost worn into ex-
haustion by the terror Of three sleepless
nights, the women approached the off,
cials. imploring for some glimmer Of
hope.
There is still a chance, amt there,
mister?" pleaded dozens OF women.
Don't say they are dead for certain
With the smoke drifting into the re-
three days, the men must certainly have
been suffocated, according to President
Duncan Mcdonald of district IL, United
Mine Workers of America. He declared
also that the fire had burned away the
timber supports, and some of the men
undoubtedly had been buried in the cav
ing in of walls and roofs of the passage
ways.
Not only would the men have been
without food and without means of light
ing, but they must have CROPPED three
DAYS through interminabe passageways
in total darkness to reach water, II water
could be found at all.
Central Body for Charity.
Organization of all charitable efforts
into a centralized plan was proposed for
a meeting called for Am; Among those
on the ground are E. p. Bicknell of
Washington. director of the National Red
Cross. 1t was stated that unless sub
stantial sum of money Is collected there
will be great suffering this winter among
the 1000 orphans and 2OO or more widows.
President A. ]. Earling Of the Chicago,
Milwaukee and st. Paul railroad today
denied the report that troops had been
called for and ordered here to protect the
St. Paul mine. The denial was supple
mented by a statement from Sheriff Skog-
lund and States Attorney Eckhart OF
Bureau county.
Haven't Asked for Militia.
Under such trying circumstances as
these" said President Earling, lit is to
be expected that feeling should be
aroused. but the order here has been
remarkable.
I'VE all recognize that individuals who
have suffered great loss In the disaster
may get excited. but the sheriff and his
deputies have the situation well In hand.
THE thought OF asking for militia GER
tainly would be the last to be entertained
by me in this emergency"
II have not asked for militia and do
not expect to-" said Sheriff Skoglund ''On
the contrary. the crowd has been so or
derly that l reduced the force OF deputy
sheriffs@ast night. l had only nine depu-
ties at the mine last night
Charrv,s zlonnn today is increa sed hv a