ILLINOIS DISASTER.

Hastings Standard, Volume XIII, Issue 4312, 16 November 1909, Page 8

ILLINOIS DISASTER.

JO OUT OF 434 MEN ESCAPE. 300 MEN IN THE GALLERIES THEIR RESCUE POSSIBLE. London, November 15. A fire in a bundle of hay which smouldered until it broke into flames caused a mine explosion in the St Paul Company's mine at Cherry, ■Spring Valley, Illinois. Of 434 men who were below, mostly Austrians and Italians, 30 were near the main shaft, and escaped, while 300 retreated to the furthermost ends of the galleries. It was feared early in the day that they had perished with the rest. The flooding of the pit was impossible, and, with the hope of checking the flames, the manager closed •he mouth of the shaft. Six would-be rescuers were suffocated, and later two volunteers wearing oxygen helmets tested the temfterafure at a depth of 380 ft, and found it nearly normal, indicating that the fire was then extinguished. There is now some hope, though slight of effecting the rescue cfthe men. SIGNALS FROM THE ENTOMBED MEN. (Received 16, 8.25 a.m.) New York, Nov. 15 Watchers at the Cherry mine pit mouth heard muffled reports and bdieved the entombed men were firing signals. It is impossible to «ipen the mine before Tuesday.