The San Francisco call., 1909-11-16
CHARGE MINERS
WERFDOOMFDTO
SAVEPROPFRTY
Popular Feeling Runs High at
Scene of Awful Disaster
in Illinois
1000 Orphans and zoo Widows
Left Destitute, With ALI
Hope Abandoned
Continued from Page L

Donald Of Springfield. Ill. president of
district No. u. united mine workers
OF America. who instituted a rollcall of
the families of entombed miners. Nc
Donald early abandoned hope that any
miners would be brought up alive.
FAMILIES ARE DESTITUTE
Roughly estimated, Mcdonald said
there would be 1000 orphans and 200
widows Practically all are destitute
For each death the state miners union
win pay $3.50. This organization also
viii contribute $4,000 for distribution
and the national uinon will give like
amount Whatever other help there is
probably viii come from public funds it
is said.
Almost thirds OF the men leave
widows said Mcdonald Each widow
has from three to FIVE children. 1 saw
one woman here who has nine children.
all less than y years of age. She has
not enough ahead to pay for weeks
provisions.
In a month from now the distress
Of these families viii he pitiable.
Whatever the public has TO give should
be offered now. so we can plan ahead
TO take care Of these poor people for
the winter"
ALL HOPE ABANDONED
Governor Harmon Of Ohio offered the
services Of the Ohio mine inspectors in
telegram tonight TO Chairman RiGh-
ard Newsom Of the Illinois state mine
commission. Newsom informed the
governor that their services were not
needed.
II was learned that the fire in the
mine today was more serious than at
first thought. It reached timbers at
the bottom Of the hosting shat The
FIRE had jumped along the sides and
roof of a passage connecting the air
shaft with the hosting shaft. The
burning and possible destruction of the
timber may be a serious obstacle to the
resumption Of work.
In the morning an attempt to enter
the hosting shaft may be made by
means OF a bucket, or, if the fire will
permit in a cage.
Hope hung frequently in the balance
today. Before the fire broke oNt again
rescuers descended four times Then
the rUmor circulated quickly through
the crowds that the men below ground
lad been reached and that the reason
they were not brought up Immediately
was that they were exhausted by lack
Of food and smoke.
RESCUERS DRIVEN BACK
But the truth was far different. The
rescuers did on one occa sion go down
500 feet TO the bottom Of the hosting
shaft Then, cropping their way with
electric lamps and kept alive by oxygen
stored in their helmets, they penetrated
$50 feet into the bottom gallery. But
none OF the miners. either dead or alive
was found
II was conjectured that the miners
had crawled for sawety into recesses
most remote from the fire. but TO these
parts the rescuers were unable TO go
without reascending. Before they could
again descend the fire had broken out
Gradually the crowd about the mouth
Of the shaft began TO thin as hope
seemed to wane.
At dusk tonight a tall skeleton frame
work OF iron surrounded by a group OF
low wooden buildings, which 2 few
days az had been the scene OF Industry.
suggested by their desolation that hone
had been abandoned. Only half dozen
guards patrOlled the premises In the
distance, scattered over the field here
and there, a few women wrapped in
shawls gazed on in silence
telegram Of coincidence was today
received from Secretary Morrison of the
American federation Of labor. in session
at Toronto, Can.
EAGLES SEND $1,000
SOUTH BEND, IND, Nov. 15.-Grand
Worthy President Frank Earle Herring
Of the Order Of Eagles today forwarded
$1,000 TO Cherry H.. for the ail OF
families rendered destitute by the mine
disaster.