Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-24
LIST OF DEAD MAY
REACH As HIGH AS 2s4
Loss Of Volunteer Workers Unnerves
Others AID Difficulty 10 Experienced
in Securing Hslmst Msn-chisf Rob.
erts, Of Federal Mine Rescue Bureau,
in Charge Of Work.

A00 xOUT IQS0 were on a crew Oh LeIl
who entered the mine at 4 o'clock this
morning. At the sixteenth room the
crew divided and four OF them pushed
on into the eighteenth room at -tha face
Of the mine. Two Of these, James
LurH and William Poisa, were walk
ing ahead when rocks began to fall
They were buried In the debris and
their fellows struggled to rescue them.
Upon being pulled out Of the mass Of
rocks and dirt, LHdi and Poisa are
said to have become frightened and re-
moved their helmets. This action con-
fused their rescuers, who, frightened
by the continued fan Of debris, and
hampered by their heavy equipments,
also removed their helmets, and ran
into the entrance out Of the eighteenth
room. They were overcome there by
poisonous gases but members Of the
other division Of the crew finally
brought them out alive.
Walter Kerr, one Of the rescued men,
had not recovered consciousness sew
eral hours later, but Roy Simplston.
his companion, told Of the narrowing
expsriences which It is believed caused
the death Of their companions
Rssouers Are Unnsrvsd.
This probable fatality and the terrcrs
of the face OF the mine, which u %
thickly Affected with poisonous gases
so affected the helmet men that James
c. Roberts, directing the government
rescue work, experienced difhculty IN
securing men TO re-enter tho mine.
voluntsegv were called for and when
tho first entered the mine whore LMd
and Poisa had been. tho workers un-
h4lmeted for an hour and 2 half
Il This crow consisted OF i've men with
four sapsrSency men following closely
carving helmets and oxygen tanks.
Director Roberts. who has been un-
osasingly active. was greatly affected
by this loss Of helmet men and, unhes-
itatinxly referred to It as "the greatest
traxedy Of the mine disaster" which
has already claimed at least ESQ lives.
Rescue Work Awaits Search
Roberts has been In continuous
charge Of the work without . moments
relief since yesterday noon and It was
only by physical force that he was
kept from donning q helmet ana lead
tne the search for Lurdi and Pofsa.
All other rescue activities were practi-
cally abandoned pending the finding Of
the lost helmet men.
Between and o'clock this morning
three addition bodies were recovered
and brought to the surface. No trace
has been found Of Superintendent Mo
Dermott nor Henry p. Mcshane. the
wealthy young New Yorker. It was
believed McDermott's body Is with
group Of men caught at the face OF the
mine beyond the eighteenth room. 1t
was for these men that the search was
being made by the helmet crew.
Early today the arrival Of two gov
ernment rescue cars was being awaited
impatiently as they would bring to the
scene fresh and experienced helmet
men.
Government Rsscusrs Arrive.
The first government rescue car
reached here at this morning. The
crews were hurriedly equipped and
sent into Stag Canyon mine No. IN
search Of Helmetmen James Lurdi and
William Poisa, believed to have been
killed by gases after an accident that
caused them to remove their helmets.
The car started for the eighteenth
chamber east and two and one-half
miles underground from the portal AT
this point the men with two compan-
fons were searching for the body OF
Superintendent McDermott and per-
haps at least 100 other miners believed
to be in that part Of the mine.
The accident caused feeling OF
terror among others to q point to
where only volunteers were sent into
the mine. Confidence was partially re-
stored by the arrival Of the govern
ment crew, which Immediately entered
the workings. After q considerable
time under the ground the crew had
been able to reach the eighteenth
chamber.
Believe Entombsd Men Dead.
Because Of tho increasing presence Of
carbon dioxide gas in the mlne which
has permeated chambers where the air
was comparatively pure last night, tho
government rescuers, confident that no
more men are alive, have changed their
method of attack and devoted their en-
tire energies to directing the air cur-
rent to drive out gases.
The probable DEATH list was In
creased to 26s today and at noon the
number OF men rescued alive remained
at twenty-three.
Scenes at Mine Pathetic.
A total Of forty three bodies has
most Of them identified. At nooli today
the bodies Of General Superintendent
william McDermott and Henry p. Nc.
Shane. q New York stockholder In the
mine. had not been brought to the SUR
face, altho helmet men reported havine
passed these bodies In the mine.
Scenes at the mine today were pa.
thetic. Added to the women who have
pressed the lines since Wednesday
were the wives Of the volunteer hel-
netmn. = orc