Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-11-17
TWO LIVING MEN
FOUND BY RESCUE PARTY
AT Early Hour This Morning EntOmbed Men We're Reached
By Rescuers-J.S s. Davis and John ArkO We're Only
Men Alive Out Of Twenty-Five EntOmbed -RavensdaIe
Loses Several Of Its Most Prominent Citizens By AW
full Disaster In Coal Mine

Seattle, Wash, Nov. 17.-At an early
hour this morning, rescuers working in
the Northwestern Improvement com
pany's mine, partially wrecked by a
dust explosion yesterday afternoon,
succeeded in clearing away the debris
on the third level, 1900 feet below the
surface, and reached the miners en-
tombed there.
OF the 25 believed to have been
trapped on the third level only two
We're found alive. They are j. S. Davis,
timborman and John ArkO, miner.
Although the rescuers have reached
the bodies Of the dead men, it will be
impossible to bring them to the sur.
face until the cables and cars dis
abled by the explosion are repaired. 1t
was expected this work would be fin
iShed before noon.
Throughout the morning the rescuers
and laborers toiled in the lower level
where the bodies of the imprisoned
men were expected to b found. Great
masses of debris blocked the way and
though the gangs worked feverisnly
there was little hope that the shafts
could be cleared before late today.
Relatives and friends were grouped
about the mine silently awaiting word
from the workers. There was little CON
fusion.
The six bodies now lying in tenn
porary morgue near the dreary mouth
of the mine slope, were brought up last
night and early today. Two of them
were found on the second level. II. j.
Kane, mine foreman; j. S. Davis, pump
man and Florence Martini Ga mani
eager, were found lying near the slope
on the third level, early this morning
Martini IS body was torn in two by
the force Of the explosion, and parts Of
il nave not yet been recovered.
Several of the bodies found on the
second slope yesterday afternoon were
torn and mutilated One man was with
out an arm, another minus a leg.
Pieces Of coal and rock had been
driven into other bodies.
Women, weeping, wives of the en-
tombed miners who have stood vigil all
night were gathered in little group
short distance from the mines en-
trance at noon today, talking in low
tones, as the rain fell on their drenched
clothing. Every time the cage comes
up they start, shudder, then shrink
back fearing q loved one will be
brought to the surface mangled and
dead.
As the bodies are brought up they
are hastily wrapped in gunny sacking
to conceal them from the curious crowd
and removed to temporary morgue
nearby, whore they are laid out on the
floor.
None Of the rescuers was willing to
predict today now long it would be be-
fore the wreck6ge in the third level,
1900 feet below the surface, could be
cleared away sufficiently to remove
the bodies scattered here and there at
the various chutes, where the men were
working when the explosion occurrd.
A report that the way was clear and
that the bodies would be removed this
forenoon was later denied. The third
level is still choked and several days
may be required before the bodies are
reported II is considered certain that
no more Of the victims will be found
alive.
An inquest will be held this after.
noon on the bodies Of the six dead men
recovered.
Martin j. Fly2ik, president Of District
No. 10, United Mine Workers; Ernest
Newham, vi vicepresidcnt, and William
Short, secretary arrived here today and
will hold conference this afternoon
with the local union, in an attempt to
determine the cause Of the accident.
Clarence Parker, state industrial in.
surance commissioner was due TO arrive
here this afternoon from Olympia. j.
j, Corey, head Of the United States
Bureau OF mine rescue at the Univer-
sity Of Washington; Dave Botting, COM
missioner Of mines for the operators
and James Bagley state commissioner
of mines, spent the night in the mine
with the rescuers in an attempt to de-
termine the cause Of the explosion.