The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-02
MEN IN HELMETS
 GO DOWN IN MINE
Preparations Are Made to Res
 cue Bodies of Miners.
MINE IS FULL OF CASES
No One Without the Oxygen Helmets Could Live fn the Cherry Mine. Women Are Waiting for
 Bodies of Loved Ones.

Cherry, H., February 1.-Work was re- sumed In the St. Paul mine tonight by scores of men, following the removal late today of the hermetic seal that had kept the subterranean passages closed for two months. Strong efforts will be made to clear the mine of noxious vapors, wal in any smouldering fires and recover the 16o odd bodies of miners who have lain entombed in the Ignite labyrinths since the fire broke out on November 14 It was a tedious task to remove the tons of cement and steel rails from the mouth of the shafts, but many women stood rlveted staring blankly at the workmen as they uncovered the shambles.
 The spectators were mostly young wid- ows some only 16 years old. The women were all quiet during the removal of the lid, standing in the slush and mud about the tipple.
 But when James Webb, mine Inspector and expert of the University of Illinois Thomas Moses and Hector McAllister, state mine inspectors, protected by oxy- gen helmets. descended $50 feet to the bottom of the pit and procured sam pie of the deadly gases that oozed from the mouth of the great well, nerves be- came tense. Dr. L. D. Howe was in wait ing, as were several trained nurses, to be ready in case of an accident.
 An unprotected man could not live long enough down there to take off his cap" said Inspector Moses, on reaching the surface.
 Following this report, Richard New sam, president of the state mining board, ordered the cap removed from the air shaft so that the poisonous fluids could be sucked from the mine While this work proceeded the helmet men descend ed in the north cage to tack oil cloth ovGY ho!ss cut through the shaft wall last fall by Chicago firemen for hose leads.
 During this trip the explorers talked much to each other after halting the elevator at the first break in the casing, about 300 feet below the surface Their voices from under the metal helmets came reverberating up the shaft.
 One woman near the shaft exclaimed: "Oh, it is John, it is my man calling for help or his spirit condemning us for leaving him in that internal hole so long"
 The expression was passed along to other MOllen anu dS tt Sildl ldPPAii6 DOuiit made by the tackng on of the oil cloth, cut the air for some distance, two young sisters fell sobbing loudly into each oth- ers' arms. These girls have father and two brothers dead.
 A nurse put her aroused sympathies into play and consoled the girls. As the cage came up women leaned over the shaft No attention was paid to the helmet men on top of the cage, but watched for the elevator floor.
 They're not there,'' one said doleful- ly to herself as though she had ex- pected to see the bodies of her husband and two sons brought back.
 Then the disappointed women, scream ing incoherently, were lead home by a nurse These nurses are always on hand to aid the suffering and during the late afternoon today probably a dozen wom- en with striped gownsh were led home as many shaw1-clad women and girls who were on the verge of hysteria.
 But when they do bring up bodies said a Cherry merchant today, they will need the militia to prevent riot. These women will be so frenzied that they might destroy the town"