The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-17
An Explosion Is Threatened in
the st. Paul Mine
AS Result of Mingling Fire
and Water.
TO OPEN THE SHAFT.
The Water Pumping Engine Has
Been Stopped
Owing to a Failure to Reach
the Flames.

Cherry. Ill. Nov. 1.-THE heat in
the ST. Paul coal mine was found to
be too intense today to permit an en-
trance. This means that the bodies
of the 800 men entombed by Satur-
days diaster will remain there for at
least another "a hours. Many bodies,
1t is believed, have been consumed by
the flames. G. W. Traer, a mining
inspector, said they were trying to
agree upon plan for lowering the
temperature in the main shaft
Cherry, Ill, Nov. 17.-An explosion
Today threatens the st. Paul mine The
Turning of the coal is one cause and
The action of the fire and water is an
ether. Should gas form in large guam
titles and explode the lives of the men
IL the top OF the shafts would be in
fanger. In an effort to rid the mine
this gas the air shaft will be opened
today, according to A. r. Newsam, and
the big fan started. Upon the success
CT this action will depend the immedi-
ate plans of the men trying to bring
the interior fire under control and eff
lect an entrance.
water into the hosting shaft was
stopped. The water evidently was
talIlng to reach the flames, since the
fire is fiercest in the galleries and the
tom of the shaft
The water has been forced to the
bottom in quantities sufficient to fill
the stump" or drainage basin and
overflow the lower galleries. If pos
slble the fire pumps will resume later
ic I,o toy
than 1t has been at any time. The in
quest over the rescuers who persisted
Saturday was not resumed today.
Threats have been made against
RosenJack, the eager who is said to
have deserted his post the day of the
disaster and his testimony may bring
upon him violence at the hands of
those who have held him responsible
for the failure to bring at least some
of the miners to the surface
Captain Hail., in command of the
militia now here, found no evidence of
trouble early today. II can't see any
need for troops here he said
The soldiers were scattered about
the mine and their appearance caused
no demonstration from the miners
Beg to Have Shaft Opened.
The temperature in the main shaft
of the mine was taken this morning by
George F. Rice. of the United States
geological survey. A few feet from
the top the thermometer recorded us
degrees Fahrenheit. This was an ipdi-
cation less favorable than las. night
when the state authorities decided to
open the mine if it possibly could be
done with safety.
After making the test President Earl
ing, Sheriff Skoglund. States Attorney
Eckhart and A. R. Newsam went into
conference to consider what should be
done. During the taking of .he test
pathetic appeals of the women of Cher
~ for the shaft to be opened forced the
officials to turn their heads With SOL
dIers standing by one woman rushed
upon the sand covered top of the shaft
and threw herself on the earth, sob
bing: open the shaft; open the shaft -
Her cries and hysterical efforts to re-
sist the attempts of the men to take
her away attracted attention all over
the mine enclosure.
''Open the shaft; open the shaft she
repeated. My father was down in a
mine Il week and he came out alive,
and I know my husband and my broth
er are not dead
This is typical of the feeling at