Evening star., 1926-11-25
ENTOMBED 9 DAYS,
FIVE MINERS SAVED
Flood Traps Workers in
Shaft-0ne Man Still
Missing Believed Drowned.
By the Associated Press.

|
By the Associated Press.
HAZLETON, Pa, November 25.-
With five Of its residents restored to
their families after nine days impris-
onment In the flooded workings of an
anthracite mine 1900 feet below the
surface. the little mining town of Tom
hicken today celebrated it's most i'm.
pressive Thanksgiving day.
The rescued men were the center of
the observances, for, with one eXcep-
ton, none Of them appeared any the
worse physically by his narrowing ex-
per1ence. John Gondera was a bit
weak from the long stretch without
food, but physicians said he would be
all right after a good rest.
The mon were lifted from the flooded
depths after nearly every one except
their families had abandoned hope Of
finding them alive. They were
trapped when Black Creek broke
through it's banks and flooded the
Tomhicken mine on the afternoon of
November 16.
Charles Smith presumably was
drowned in the first rush of the
waters. Officials of the Lehigh Valley
&OeIA SOAilPcbAiy1 O"hCL VI IAlC SOllACA
said, however, that they would not
lessen their efforts to find him.
Stayed Above Water Line.
Rescue crews, which had been
working in relays day and night,
reached the intombed men shortly be-
fore s o'clock last night. They were
found in an old breast above the
water level off a tunnel.
Henry Kirchdoerfer, assistant fore.
man, upon whom every one had
counted to lead his fellow victims to
places Of safety, did everything that
was expected of him, and more.
AT the first rush of water. he called
to his men to run for their lives.
Fastening up an old rravelWay to a
gangWay, he noted that the others
had not followed him. Battling his
way through the rising waters he re-
traced his steps and led his comrades
into the haven. Here they sat and
watched the water rise as the flood
reached it's crest and then saw it grad
ually recede as the pumping opera
tiOnS of the reScuerS proceeded.
None Of the imprisoned men had
any food, for they were about ready
to leave the mine when the flood came
and all lunch boxes had been emptied
All, however, felt confident that they
would be rescued. Kirchdoerfer kept
up the spirits of his fellow workers
and all had words of praise for him
when they were brought to the sur.
face and reunited with their families
Suffered From Cold.
The men had only sulphur water to
drink during their imprisonment, but
they said this answered quite well
They suffered somewhat from the
cold. especially at night, but huddled
together in efforts to keep warm.
Physicians, nurses and ambulances
were waiting at the mouth of the
mine when the men were brought out
but their services were not necessary
All the men insisted on going directly
to their homes and doctors agreed
that this was the best for them
Examination showed all to be in good
physical condition, although some
what exhausted
The trapped men lived in utter
darkness. In fear of black damp,
which had begun to hiss, all lamps
were extinguished. The water came
to within two feet of the men while
they were cropping their way to safety.
Unusual efforts were made to rescue
the miners. Steam and electric
pumps were started Immediately after
the flood to clear water from the
workings. Large forces of men re-
moved vast quantities of debris
washed into the shaft by the food.
Diamond drills penetrated the noun
tainside with four.inch holes in an ef-
fort to get food and water to the
men. Electric bulbs. so equipped as
to bring to the surface a signal should
the men be alive, were dropped
through these holes. Watchers at
the surface end of the wires, however,
saw nothing but encouragement, for
no sign of life ever came from the
depths.
Dumping Cars Gave Warning.
kirchdoerfer, when the flood oc-
Cured, was going down the No.
slope when he heard the humping of
cars and surmiSed that something was
wrong. He called to the men who
had been damming up water in the
No. 16 slope, turned and ran up an
old traVelWay to No. east old gang
way.
When Kirchdoerfer got there he
found that the men had not followed
him. He ran through the rising
waters and raced after his comrades
who were running in the opposite
direction in No. 16, Turning them
about he led them back to the man
way to No. east tunnel. There they
found their way blocked by fall. and
climbed into an old breast which was
above the water level.
AS they sat there they watched the
water rise at first as the flood reached
It's crest, and then 1t gradually receded
as the pumping operations proceeded
How long they sat there they could
not tell. Frequently they threw
stones into the water and were able
to tell this way that the flood was
going down.
Finally they got down to the gang.
way after the water had lowered and
decided to work their way over to the
tunnel on the west, reaching a point
where a heavy fall of timber and
other debris stopped them.
They kept their watches going, but
had difficulty in keeping track of the
time. When they were brought to
the surface some of them had argu
ments as to what day it was, some
claiming that it was Thanksgiving
day, but others insisted that it was
last Monday.
officials of the Lehigh Valley Coal
Co. estimated that the cost Of the res.
cue work would exceed $4,000.
REBELS IN ALBANIA