Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-11-24
TWENTY BODIES
FOUND IN MINE
SUCCESSFUL DESCENT INTO
HATEFUL DEPTH REVEALS
SCORE OF VICTIMS.
ONLY ONE BROUGHT TO SUR
FACE. THAT OF OLE FRI
BORG, UNMARRIED.

Cherry, H., Nov 19.-Yesterday's
efforts resulted in the recovery Of one
body, believed to be that of Ole Erie
borg. and the location OF 19 others near
the ventilating shaft. determined
attack was made last night on the
fire. The air shaft was closed and
s+ream of water directed into it, then
| down the main shaft. Men IN helmets
descended down the latter's mann gal
lery and reported the mouth orllt
blocked by timbers and mud, but the
fact that their lamps were not extin-
guished indicated the absence of black
damp. The next squad descended
without helmets and reported condi-
lions perfect for attacking the Hames.
Difficulty was experienced in lower
ing the 80 feet of hose and it was
nearly midnight before this was &C
! complished.
The Earlier Report.
Cherry, ILL.,, Nov. 19.-FOr the first
time since the mine horror OF Satur-
day, bodies of some Of the victims
were located yesterday by daring ex-
plorers, into the poisonous depths OF
the second gallery.
Twenty bodies were found within 70
, feet of the ventilating shaft. One, I'M
recognizable, was brought to the sur
I face and after considerable delay
taken to the town hall and later iden-
! titled The temper of the people was
9 feared, and it was attempted to keep
the news of the finding of the bodies
!, secret Those in authority bound
themselves to maintain silence. That
more than one victim was discovered,
was not generally known at nightfall,
: and it was planned to attempt the re-
q moval of other bodies during the night
The body brought out was concealed
u for an hour at the top of the pit before
h being given to the undertaken, then
r. it was delivered only because discovery
+ had become known.
, The first descent into the ventilat-
:, ing shaft was made by J. w. Paul,
: George H. Rice and R. Y Williams on
q a temporary cage. All wore oxygen
helmets. The second descent was
>. lor and Thomas Moses, who brought
q up the body. Taylor's plan of attack
O. ing the main shaft, where the temper
! allure is still around 100 was merely
delayed by the expedition into the
air pit.
1--WE will do all We can at the air
shaft, then at any cost descend into
the main pit" said Taylor last even
ing. Of the horrors encountered in
, the CHASTITY gallery, none of the ex-
I plorers would speak, but their faces
blanched and hands trembled when
they emerged The bodies were
scorched and swollen. Death might
E have been due either to gas or flames.
After the removal of the bodies it
. was determined to break the seal of
the main shaft. Laborers Immediately
set to work and by o'clock last even.
7n ing the cauldron was pouring forth
ur gas and smoke. To reduce the TEN
to perature in the shaft substitute fan
planted beside the old one near the
az air shaft, was started, it's direction be
'd' ing reversed so as to draw smoke
IL toward the ventilator. AS soon as
,rs possible helmet armored firemen de
bo scended into the shafts with hose pre-
pared to fight the burning coal in the
III second gallery. If their efforts are
re successful, firemen without helmet,
ur- will do down to extinguish the fir,
ur, when they can do it safely
ds. News of the recovery of the frs
liz body spread rapidly, and as the am
bulance, fanked by soldiers passed
,utI through the streets, women rushed on
ras of houses, pushed frantically through
ar, the crowds in vain attempt to lool
ngl into the wagon. 1t was rumored tina
he it was boys body. Mothers wh'
ew had lost sons, pushed forward
ire rs it my boy?' they cried.
mo, it is the body of man. sait
OF States Attorney Eckhart.
ion Immediately score OF womel
led cried
len oh, it is my man; it is john"
re- After Mr.. Eckhart stated in kind
ur. ly manner, that Identification wouI,
ers require some time, the crowd thinned
OF but the little brick morgue was SUI
ed rounded by anxious ipquirers unit
on later in the evening, the body ha
re- been identified as that of Ole Fribors
led unmarried
Men Who Made Descent.
Pittsburg. Nov. 19.-Messrs Paul
Rice and Williams, of the government
80 geological survey, who descended int
&c. the mine at Cherry, H., are prominen
- in their profession
~ Paul. who lives here, was chief o
the department of mines OF Yves
,,. ~ Virginia, before coming to the Unit
ed States mine testing and expert
mental station here. Rice lives il
Evansville. Ind He is gradual
of the mining school Of Columbia col
lege. Williams lives al Urbana. Il
uoi He is a graduate of Prince on and tn
81 Columbia college school of mines.