Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-11-19
Gas THREATENS
ILL-FATED MINE
BURNING OF COAL AND ACTION OF
FIRE AND WATER NEW SOURCE
Or DANGER.
TROOPS STATIONED ON GROUND.
Hints of Demonstration Against State
and ST. Paul Officials Bring Call
for Soldiers.
SURVIVORS STARTLING STORY

L, liz, NOV. 1f-Au eA plOSlOu
today threatened the st. Paul coal mine.
The burning of the coal was one cause
and the action of the fire and water an
other. In an effort to rid the mine OF
this gas, it was planned to open the air
shaft today, according to A. X. New
sam.
Early today the pumping of water into
the hosting shaft was stopped. The
water evidently was failing to reach the
flames, since the fire is hercest in the
galleries and the water descends beyond
it to the bottom of the shaft.
The fire was hotter today than it has
been at any time. The chances are, 1t
was said today, that no one could enter
the mine for week.
The inquest over the death of the mem
bers of the rescue party which was be-
gun Sunday was not continued today.
Threats have been made against Ro-
senjack, the eager, who is SAID to have
deserted his post the first day of the dis
aSter.
Fire Marshal James Koran of Chicago
will return to Chicago today. He will
leave one company OF fire fighters with
an engine at the mine to render whatever
assistance is possible.
With the state troops stationed on the
ground, Cherry began today with eX-
pectancy.
Before dawn women began the daily
pilgrimage to the mine. The faithful
vigil of the women has been relaxed only
a few hours each day, though little hope
is entertained there will be found llv-
ing man or boy when the mine is opened.
Women Nearly Desperate.
The delay in recovering the bodies has
driven scores of women almost to des-
peration. Hints of a possible demon
stration against the state officers or mine
officials reached the ears of States At
torney Eckart Yesterday and troops were
sent for. Ali night they did sentinel
duty about the mine and st. Paul cars
containing mine inspectors and nurses
and the private coach of President Earl
ing of the st. Paul.
During the night tons of water were
forced down in the burning mine through
the hoist shaft. Fire Chief Koran and
Capt. Kenney, with engine 40 and a
squad of Chicago firemen, are in charge
of this attack against the fire.
Andriano Muzzareli, the sufferer who
told how he climbed over the dead bodies
Of human beings and the carcasses of
mules, after scaling the walle of the
shaft from the third to the second vein,
was visited today by company officials
and the company's physician, and by
Coroner Malm, who subpoenaed him to
come and testify as soon as he was able
Muzzarelli. like his cousin, John Muz-
zarelli. disputes the company's claim of
256 dead and insists that lover 300 are
entombed." These are two of the men
who learned of the fire accidentally after
it had two hours Roadway. They and
their friends show a feeling of resent
ment.
They repeat, that the mine employees
continued to haul coal to the surface
after the fire was discovered and point
out that two hours between the discov-
cry Of the blaze and the efforts of the
mine officials to extinguish it would have
been sufficient to have rescued the men if
the proper efforts had been made.
The MuZzarelliS and other men round
ed up by Attorney Bernard p. Barasa
will be important witnesses in the inyes-
tigation by the Italian government vffi-
Gals
Coroner Malm now makes the unuuali-
fed remark that there was criminal neg
hgence, and promises to put somebody
behind the bars and States Attorney
Eckart talks in similar strain
The temperature in the main shaft of
the mine was taken today by George f.
Rice of the United States geological sur
vey. few feet from the top the Their
mometer recorded 115 degrees. This was
an indication less favorable than last
night, when the state authorities ex-
pected to open the mine if it possibly
could be done with safety.
Hear Pathetic Appeals.
During the taking of the test pathetic
appeals from the unfortunate women of
Cherry for the shaft to be opened forced
the officials to turn their heads. With
soldiers standing by. one woman rushed
upon the sand covered top of the shaft
and threw herself upon the earth. sob
bling in strained tones:
Open the shaft, open the shaft
Her cries and hysterical efforts TO re-
slst the gentle attempts of the men TO
take her away attracted attention all
over the mine enclosure.
open the shaft, open the shaft" she
repeated, as she was urged from the
heated pile which sealed down her bus
band and brother
My father was down in a mine q
week and he came out alive, and know
my husband and my brother are not
dead" she cried.
AS the woman was finally led away
her pitiful appeal, "Open the shaft; open
the shaft" continued to echo among the
buildings az the mine.
The Mine Workers Death Payment.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Nov. 17.-Of-
fcials of the Illinois organization of the
United Mine Workers of America are