The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-12-03
THE SHAFTS ARE SEMR
Cutting OF Of Air Will Smother
Mine Fire.

III ssH ~
Cherry, Ill. Especial "Details
of meeting held here between the
entire state mining board, Battalion
Chief Mcdonald, of the Chicago fire
department, and w. w. Taylor, gen
| eral superintendent of the Chicago,
Milwaukee and st. Paul Company's
mines, were made known.
Battalion Chief Mcdonald, after
an inspection of the work being ac-
complished by his men, who had
been throwing water in the east bot
tom of the mine for more than a
week, advised the state mine inspec-
tors and representatives of the coal
company that the water being
thrown into the mine was not reach
ing the fire and that he saw no use
OF throwing in any more water, as
1t was merely filling up the third
vein. Bodies of the known dead in
that vein are already inaccessible
owing to the quantity of water al
ready thrown into the mine and to
increase this amount of water, Nc
Donald said, would delay recovery OF
the bodies indefinitely
Mr.. Williams, of the Urbana res
cue station, who had been keeping
careful note of the gases formed in
the mine, reported that the fire had
extended to the coal pillar and was
forming dangerous gases and max
Ing 1t perilous for rescuers to con-
tinue at work. After considerable
discussion and careful going over
of all phases of the situation it was
unanimously agreed by the meeting
that the only thing that would make
possible ultimate recovery of the bod
les in the mine was to seal up both
the main shaft and the air shaft and
keep them sealed until the cutting
off of the air smothered tho fire. The
shafts were thereupon sealed,
Not since the recovery of the first
bodies from the depth of the fire. \
wrecked mine have such. scenes been
witnessed as the heart rending pic
ture at the sealed mouth of the mine
Thursday. Hundreds of grief-stFick-
en- women, with worn faces and IA
therless children clinging In fear to-
their dresses, gathered in groups
about the shaft of the mine, sobbing
and moaning. Their sacred dead
are lost forever The realization Of
the horrible end of the great disaster
has aroused q frantic grief.
Many men in Cherry still cling to
the belief that with the sealing of
the mine living men among the near
ly 200 still missing have been DOOM
ed to death. Mine experts scout the
idea and state that such Is an i'm
possibility. y
Nothing can be done until the
fire has died out and the extreme
danger of entering the shaft is elimi-
mated" declared w. w. Taylor, su-
perintendent of the mine.
The dissatisfaction of the miners
at the step taken by the mine Of
fcials was openly voiced
They are thinking only OF saw
ing property and don't care about
the dead!" exclaimed one gray-hair-
ed Scotch miner 1--WE want our
dead. The women want the bodies.
The company will never get any
service from these miners"
The shaft, sealed by steel cross
beams and concrete layer and COW
cred by sand, was closely guarded
by the state militia. Richard News
am, chief mine inspector for the
State of Illinois, sent the following
telegrom to Governor Dineen:
Governor Dineen, Springfield, Ill:
1.-The st. Paul Mine here has been
sealed. We were forced TO do IT, :
Everything is quiet.
(Signed) Richard Newsam."