Arizona republican., 1920-11-17
GOAL MINE FIRE. ENTRAPS IS MEN,. FEAR SMOKE WILL.
 PREVENT RESCUE.
Little Hope Held for Men Entombed Three Miles From Entrance; Trained
 Rescue Corps Sent to Mine
TRepubIIcan A. p. Leased wlre1


 DARLINGTON. Ky. Nov. 16-Fire near the opening of tho Arnold mine one-half mile east of here, has en- trapped 16 men and with the conflag- ration growing there is little hope held of rescuing them.
 The fire. discovered late today, was started from defective electric wiring in room near the opening and quick y spread. The mine is a drift mine with no shafts, making rescue pos- sible only through ono opening. The firc can Do heard blazing under the ground and smoke is pouring forth tniargo vilumes- The men entrapped arc three white men and thirteen ne- Groes. who are three miles back from tho entrance, and it is feared that they will suffocate from the smoke. Any attempt at rescue thus far had been without result and an effort is now being made to reverse the air through tho air shaft to keep tho smoke from the miners.
 The mine is owned by the St. Der nard Coal company of Evansville, Ind. Late tonight when the fire had been raging almost seven hours, mine of- ficials held little hope of rescuing the entomoed miners alive. The rescue workers. however, expressed the belif that the men might still be alive if they were able to barricade themselves against the smoke. Trained rescurers from the West Kentucky coal company at Sturgis. Ky, arrived tonight and are working with the St. Bernard company rescue corps.
 Work was begun at o'clock to tun- nel around the fire affected part of the mine and in this way reach the en- tombed miners. The opening of the mine caved in, thus shutting off air opening and allowing less smoke to escape from the fire.
 ff the tunnel can be dug around the fro mine authorities hoped that the smoke will be diverted from the far end of the mine. making survival of those inside more likely.
 The fire was discovered by a negro. He ran tho gauntlet of tho flames ana. though nearly suffocated by the gas and smoke. reached the outside and spread tho alarm. As the other miners were three miles back. word of their plight could not be taken to them in time to allow them to escape Of the seventeen miners in the mine when the fire started, this negro was the only one to escape.
 Rescuers are considering sealing up the mine to smother the flames.
 ff the entombed men can be attracted to an air shaft, where the men can be furnished air, this course will be pur- sued Officials of the mining company express little hope of finding the men alive, even should their rescue be ef- fected immediately.
 Most of the entombed are married Their wives and children. together with many others, are braving the cold and anxiously awaiting rescue, fearful of the outcome, yet hopeful
 Sorrowfully watching the smoke pour from the mine. many of them weeping. these women and children oi both races present a sad spectacle ano at the same time form an incentive urging the rescuers to greater efforts
 At 12:30 o'clock a tunnel around the fire-eaten entry had been completed and rescuers, equipped with oxyger tanks and masks, braved the smoke and gas and started for the rear of tho mine to seek the 16 men.