MINE ON FIRE

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14058, 16 November 1909, Page 5

MINE ON FIRE

TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. RESCUE WORK ABANDONED. Press Association-By Telegraph-Copvright NEW YORK, Nov. 14: . Advices from Spring Valley, Illinois, stato that it is estimated that 4GO persons have perished in a fire in a mine belonging to the St. Paul Company, of Charry. All attempts at rescue have been abandoned. "■ DANGER FROM HAY. LIST Ob' ENTOMBED. HOPE FOR THE MEN. Received i'.lO p.m., Nov. 15th. NEW YORK, Nov. 15. A fire in a bundle of hay, which smouldered until it broke into flames, caused tho mino explosion. Of the 434 men below, mostly Austrians and Italians, 30 were near the main shaft and escaped; '2OO retreated to tho furthermost end of the galleries and it is feared that they have perished witfi the rest. The flooding of the mine is impossible, and with tho hope of cheeking tho flames, the managers have closed the mouth of the shaft. Six would-be rescuers were suffocated. Later on two volunteers wearing oxygen helmets tested the temperature ait a depth of 380 feet, and found it nearly normal, indicating that the lire had then been extinguished. There is some hope, though it is slight, of effecting the rescues of the imprisoned men.