The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-11-18

shaft down which II was intended TO
send the rescuors.
Some OF those who opposed this de-
clared the entire project for rescue
would have to be indefinitely post
poned. They asserted that the In |
ternal fires were intense; that *
would be useless TO risk more lives |
and that. I'm fact. the mine would have
20 be sealed up for weeks and pos.
sibly for months before the mine |
could be cooled OF
Scores Of women continue to lingo. |
about the ground. SO great has been |
the mental strain the last four days |
Il Is feared many women are on ina
verge OF insanity. One woman, VINO
declared she had had dreams ana
Visions of her husband and brother
still living in the mine. piteously Inn.
plored officials TO open the shaft and
then fell in a senseless heap.
Determined to show the people that
everything possible WAS being done
authorities threw open the mine COM
pany's grounds and allowed crowds 10
gather near the shaft
Details Of what was being done
were announced AS Mining Engineer
Rice lowered a thermometer through |
bore into the lid of the shaft to
test the degree OF heat, another man
announced through megaphone:
"One hundred and fourteen degrees
near the top
Mr.. Rice lowered the thermometer
the 800 feet depth Of the shaft and
a moment later the voice rang out
through the megaphone;
zone hundred and seven degrees at
the bottom"
,, why" cried a chorus OF voices,
that's good; they can go down In
that We can stand ia degrees in
the sun; surely they'll go down In
that"
But this burst of confidence was
soon dcstryed.
1t was explained that, owing to gas
in the mine. oxygen helmets would
have to be worn by the rescuers and
that a much lower degree of temper
ature than that in ordinary condition
was necessary. Moreover. 1t was said
that If the seal were opened fresh air
rushing in would fan the fire and be
fore the rescuers could get down,
flames might be leaping high.
IF the fire continues. will the bod
| les ever be recovered" was asked
on all sides, when it became known
that a plan to seal up the mine had
been talked Of.
I'VE have gone over every detail OF
| the situation" said Commissioner
| Traer OF the investigating board. I'VE
have pondered over the maps of the
mine, we heard the opinion and ad-
| vice of every one who is familiar with
81, hru uh IN
| ont the bodies If 1t is within human
power. That's all we can look for
ward to-
The order for troops 10 guard the
string Of sleeping cars and the private
car of President Earling was given by
Sheriff Skoglund. after repeated ru'
mors that plotters would blow up the
train.
Late In the day it became known
that another company OF militia is be-
ing held in reserve at Monmouth,
| ready for any emergency,
Sheriff Skoglund ordered the sold
iers TO remain quietly in their cars.
4 Their presence excited no comment
from the sorrowful men and women,
| about the mine.
Pent up grief and anger were un-
checked by officers today. and even
when an orator mounted the sand
sealed shaft of the mine. the sheriff,
single-handed, calmed the situation.
The climax came when James With
erell, veteran miner, leapcd to the
shaft and harangued the crowd Of
weeping women and Sullen men.
Witherell condemned acts of the au-
thorities since the disaster and de-
! clared the men entombed in the mines
were buried alive, He made no
threats. but the fierce interjections of
members of his audience revealed
their feeling against the mine owners
and state officials.
THE men were buried alive shout
ed Witherell "They were alive Mon
day night, but they died when these
mine experts shut off their air. Can
man breathe through four feet of
sand?
II tell YOU they were crucifed-
Charging mine experts with ignor-
ance OF the way to save mems lives
and saying their deaths were due to
carelessness and blunders. Witherell
asked his hearers;
What does a man from COLLEGE
know about a mine? These men who
own this hole know nothing about II
except the figures they get from the
men under them What can a man
know of mine from figures and
bOoks?"
"And what arc these experts doing, =
asked a young man in Witherell's au-
dience.
They are eating and sleeping in
the cars" replied another
"Yes. they're eating while they
smother these men To death and re-
!, fuse these poor women food" said an
other.
Witherell's talk was evidently ex-
citing his hearers and the crowd sur