The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-16
Fire in st. Paul Mine Blazing
FuriOusly Again.
Entrance to Shaft Will Be De-
layed Another Day.
THEY CAN'T GIVE UP.
Bereaved Families of EntOmbed
Miners Cling to Hope
That by Some Miracle Their
Dear Ones May Be Alive.

Cherry ILL.,, Nov. 16.-Blazing more
furiously than ever the fire in the
st. Paul mine today was not checked
as expected. George F. Rice, of the
United States geological survey, as
certained the temperature at the top
of the shaft to be los degrees
Fahrenheit. This indicated that the
heat below was intense and that it
would be impossible to break the
sealed shaft for many hours.
The families of the nearly 400 en-
tombed miners must therefore walt at
least another day before their
agonizing suspense will be over. 1t is
of course practically certain that none
of those in the mine are alive. but
scores of wives and mothers hope on.
The failure to open the mine. was
disappointing to the mine officials and
Investigators. who had made all pre-
parations for extinguiShing the fire. A
special train from Chicago bringing
fire fighting apparatus was on the
way here early today under direction
of James Koran, chief of the Chicago
fire department. Patent extinguishers
have been procured and as soon as the
shaft can be opened the fight against
the flames will be undertaken.
Despite the belief expressed by the
state and government officials that
there is little" or no possibility of any
of the men ever being brought to the
surface alive, scores of grief stricken
wives gathered about the mouth of
the hosting shaft which late yester-
day had to be closed down and sealed
Theoretically because of the renewal
of the fire in the interior.
Haggard and almost worn into tx
haustion by the terror of three sleep
less nights. the women approached
the officials, imploring for some glim-
mer of hope.
There is still chance, amt there,
mister?' pleaded dozens of women.
Don't say they are dead for GER
tain
The mine officials. assisted by the
state and government authorities
who had remained on the premises
all night, began early the attempt to
ascertain whether it would be practi-
able again to send rescuers down the
shaft.
1t was decided that if the fire had
been sufficiently smothered by the
closing of the mine during the night,
descent would be possible and no time
would be lost. A supply of water was
brought here from La Sale before
daylight to be poured into the pit. At
the same time a supply of fire extin-
gushing chemicals was on hand. If
the fire is still raging in the timber
holes through the lid, or seal, at the
mouth of the shaft and by means of
iron pipes force the gas to the bottom
Must Have Suffocated.
With the smoke drifting into the re-
hottest galleries of the mine for almost
three days, the men must certainly
have been suffocated according to
President Duncan Mcdonald, of district
II. United Mine Workers of America.
He declared also that the fire had
burned out many of the timber sup
ports and some of the men undoubtedly
loI 1oo~ h,,r-i tod u, t6n ~, 4Io
walls and roofs of the paSsageways.
Not only would the men have been
without food, but with no means OF
lighting, they must have CROPPED their
way through interminable passageways
in total darkness to reach water, if
water could be found at all.
Organization of charitable efforts into
q centralized plan was proposed for a
meeting called this morning. Among
those on the ground is E. P. BickneIl of
Washington, D. c., director of the Ma
tional Red Cross. 1t was stated that
unless a substantial sum of money is
contributed, great suffering will ensue
this winter among the 1000 orphans
and 200 or more widows left almost
destitute by the accident.
Albert L. Hopkins of Chicago an
nounced he had been authorized by the
French consul at Chicago, to help cara
for the families of the entombed miners
who were natives of France. Same of
the women and children of those. he
said, would be transported back .
France by the French government.
No Troops Needed.
President A. ]. Earling of the Chi
cago, Milwaukee & st. Paul railroad,
was aroused early today by a report
that troops had been called for and Or
dered here 70 protect the st. Paul mine.
President Earring denied the report
II am greatly surprised to hear of