Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-14
SHAFT MOUTH SEALED
TRYING TO STOP FIRE
Explosion Follows Flames 0riginat-
ing in Hay Used to Feed Mules.
BRAVE REsCUERs MEET DEATH
Drawn Up Dead in Cage With
Bodies Of Those They Had Gone
Down to Save-Pitiful Scenes
at Mouth Of Shaft.

CHERRY. ILL.,, November 13.-Mine Of
fcials of the st. Paul Coal Company
mine, where an explosion occurred this
afternoon. say that four hundred men are
dead in the mine Twelve bodies have
been taken out. Six OF these were heroes
not employed in the mine. who gave
their lives in a futile effort to save the
imprisoned workers.
Mine Superintendent James Steele de-
clared five hours after the explosion
that it was almost impossible that any
of the miners still imprisoned could es-
cape death.
The mine had a day shift Of 4S4 men.
OF these fifty left the mine at noon
fire broke out. The others are believed
to be dead.
The known dead are John Bundy. mine
superintendent; Alexander Nerberg, pit
manager; Thomas Flood, mine foreman;
Isaac Lewis, liveryman; John Fermento.
Joseph Yearley Joseph Jamison. James
Speer, Henry Stewart, Robert Clark and
two unidentified men.
The entrance to the mine has been
sealed up in the hope of checking the
flames. The building above the pit en-
trance was blown up to permit this. Des-
pite the frantic efforts OF the ofiicIals
and the scores OF volunteer assistants
In the little town of Cherry, 1t seemed
assared-tonight that only bodies of the
dead would be taken from the mine. Tn
til tomorrow morning, when the cover
ing will be removed and rescuers en-
deavor to penetrate the smoke and gas
choked shaft and veins. the exact fate
of the inmates cannot be learned.
Caused by Burning Hay.
The fire causing the explosion had
an origin almost trivial. A pile of hay
allowed to smolder too long finally
ignited the timbers of the mine. and be-
fore the workers realized their danger
the mine was filled with smoke. gases and
flames. and all exit was impossible
Heroism, such as is rarely exhibited,
was shown by officials of the mine and
residents OF the town of Cherry. These
men. VINO were outside the mine when the
fire originated, contributed five to the list
OF twelve known dead.
Alexander Nerberg. a pit man. gave his
life unhesitatingly in a futile effort TO
save those of his comrades who risked
bottom Of the shaft he carried the bodies
of four men into the cage. the only way
Of escape. AS the last was carried In
he fell across the body. He was dead,
as were all his companions. wnen the
cage was lifted to the top.
Those who had gone into the pit with
him were John Bundy, the mine superin-
tendent; John Floor and Isaac Lewis,
merchant of Cherry. and Dominic Fon-
enti. DIR. w. Howe, a physician, VINO
had sought to go with the men when
they descended IN the cage, had been
thrust out by Bundy. who exclaimed:
They will need you at the top. il we
get any one out No risking your life
down here.
The physician vainly sought to resusc-
tate the men when they were carried to
him a few minutes later He said they
had died of suffocation.
Pitiful Scenes at Shaft.
At the entrance of the shaft a scene
was enacted such as is seen only at a
disaster of this kind. Hundreds of
screaming women. weeping children and
frantic but helpless men crowded about
the place.
\ few survivors were surrounded by
groups of the women, and the answers Of
these men to the loudly shrieked inquiries
only added to the terror of the women.
Almost to man the survivors declared
that there was no hope for those still
in the mine. Almost 200 Of the men
imprisoned, they declared, were in the
third vein, the only entrance to which
was from the second vein. almost sou
feet from the main shaft Of the pit.
When the extent Of the fire was realiz-
ed the officials saw that ordinary meas
ures were Intellectual. There fire had
burned away the timbers Of the shaft
and the flames soon reached the escape
which supplied air to the shaft col
lapsed and tumbled through the OPEN
ing The flames swept on to the mouth
of tie pit. where they were carried
to the surface. forcing back all those
who ventured near. The officials knew
that the fire must be eating its way
back into the shaft and the measure
of sealing that mouth OF the pit was
adopted.
Before this water had been poured down
the escape shaft, but with no better
effect than to flood the floor and further
impede any effort of those inside to es-
cape.
That those of the men who were able
had retreated TO the furthermost ends Of
the veins was the statement OF the min
ers on the surface. There they might be
huddled together. gasping what little
oxygen remained in the sealed and burn
ing mine, and praying that the rescuers
might reach them before il was exhaust
ed. The most hopeful of those seeking TO
aid the prisoners doubt that more than
few score will be found alive when that
aid comes.
Story Told by Survivors
The only men to escape were those
near the main shaft when the fire start
ed. They declared that a careless miner
had thrown torch on a bundle OF hay
used to feed the mules stationed in the
mine. No attention was given the smol-
dering hay for a few minutes. Then two
miners threw the burning mass on a cart
and started toward the main shaft, about
1J0 feet away.
Before IL was reached a small explosion
occurred and In q few minutes the -