BURNT TO DEATH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 120, 17 November 1909, Page 7

BURNT TO DEATH.

RESCUERS AT THE CHERRY PIT NO HOPE FOR ENTOMBED MINERS. A SURVIVOR'S STORY. MEN RESIGNEDLY AWAITING DEATH. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copjright. NEW YORK, 16th November. Further reports of the terrible mining tragedy at Springvalley, Illinois, where a fire and explosion in the Cherry pit resulted in 400 men being entombed, state that a search party, consisting of fourteen men, went down the shaft to explore the workings, and only one returned to the surface. The other thirteen perished owing to the engineer, Cawley, in charge of the winding engines, implicitly obeying orders only to hoist the cage in response to the regulation code signal?. While the rescue party was below the signal bell in the engine-house rang wildly, and Cawley's comrades implored him to raise the cage, but he remained firm in his adherence to instructions.' Meanwhile the cage, which had reached one of the burning levels, was enveloped by the flames, and all but one solitary man of the party were incinerated. The survivor told a fearful story when he reached the surface of his experiences below. He stated that at one point as the cage descended the shaft he passed sixty-five men, sitting in a row along a gallery, resignedly awaiting death. He tried to arouse them to make an attempt to escape, but they would not stir. A. fresh outbreak of fire with increased violence occurred on Sunday, and the shaft was again sealed up. It cannot be reopened until Tuesday at the earliest, and all hope of effecting any rescues are now abandoned. A thousand children have been made orphans by the disaster.