The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-10-10
work Of Rescue at Starkville
Goes on Ali Day Sunday,
but Gas and Black Damp
Hamper Rescuers' Progress
ORIGIN OF EXPLOSION
IS STILL A MYSTERY
Mine Superintendent Leaves
Bed to Conduct Investiga-
ton for Missing Men, All of
Whom Are Thought Dead.
WORK ON INTO NIGHT

O TARH1VTxLE, Colo, Oct. 9.-Ea-
- tombed by an explosion in the
Starkvtue mine OF the Colorado
Fuel a Iron company af least fifty
two mes are the objects OF heroic eff
forts or rescuers who worked through
Out today trying 10 penetrate the black
depths of the mine In the hope that
some, oe probably all the Imprisoned
miners Eaight be rescued.
Tbs presence OF black damp. which
almost invariably follows in the wake
OF the rescuers extremely hazardous
and time and again members OF parties
were overcome.
Late today those experimenting the
work OF rescue decided that none
should enter the mine until a portable
ian was installed and rescue work was
called off for the time being. The
fan reached the portal or the mine at
o'clock and under the supervision OF
the chief electrician OF the fuel and
iron company was mounted upon an
electric motor car and gradually
pushed forward into the new slope.
working as II went, driving the gas
ahead. and. as was hoped, 10 an air
shaft thousands OF feet Inside the mine.
where IL ESCAPED into the open air.
The greatest caution was exercised
that the motor carrying the fan should
not be advanced too rapidly and a
sudden rush Of gas or liek,back over
and snuff out their lives.
Sacrifice In Rescue.
touching feature OF the rescue
work was the self-sacrifice and devo-
ton 70 duty OF James Wilson. super
intendent OF the Starkville mine, who
left a sick bed to lead the men who
volunteered TO face the deadly black
damp.
AR. Wilson was finally overcome by
exertion and insidious gases and was
pHt 10 bed.
As he left the portal of tie mine.
ar. Wilson said TO those who followed
him out that he would be ready 20
resume charge OF the rescue parties
tonight.
According 10 a statement given out
officially BY the coroner, there are
known TO be in the mine twenty eight
Poles, three Russians, ten Americans,
four Mexicans and one Servian.
These nationalities represented in
the list OF the entOmbed were CLASH
canvass OF the camp. made by a mine
clerk and the town marshal.
While this list only totals forty-six
the coroner says that he is positive
that there are fifty-one men inside the
mine and explains the difference in
figures BY saying that the natiOnalities
or some OF the men believed TO be
among the missing are not known and
no attempt was made 10 class them.
Residents Watch Reseuers.
Hardened by previous experiences
and sights surrounding explosions in
mines, the residents OF Starkville. in
most instances silently watched res
cuers as they entered the mine and
as they were later dra eyed to the open
air for resuscitatiOn.
Tragic scenes usual ar the mouths of
mines where lives are lost by gas ex-
plosiOns were not In evidence. Crowds
Of men and women and children
watched patiently the coming and go
ing OF the helmeted men and com
mented upon the seeming impossible
lty OF any OF the men cut off in the
mine having survived the suffocating
gases.
In addition 10 efforts made TO enter
the mine by the east, or new slope,
experienced miners were sent into the
EngleVille mine, which adjoins the
Starkville property, 10 dig through
the masonry wall built TO separate the
mines when the workings ran together
several months ago. IL was necessary
10 use the greatest care to make only
& small opening at first so that foul
air from the Starkville mine could be
checked and the lives OF the men in the
Engieville mine be not endangered.
At 6 p. m. word reached the camp
proper that two-inch hole had been
tContinued on Page Two.)