CHERRY MINE DISASTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9656, 22 November 1909, Page 5

CHERRY MINE DISASTER.

SEVENTY-EIGHT MEN FOUND ALIVK. WILD SCENES OF EXCITEMENT. THE FIGHT AGAINST DEATH. Received November 22, 12.50 a.m. NEW YORK, November 21. Rescuers yesterday demolished the wall of debris at the St. PauJ Company's mine at Cherry, where an explosion entombed nearly two hundred miners, and found 78 men alive —67 in one section and 11 in another. | The news spread like lightning. | and crowds of women were soon fighting the militia eager to reach the pit's mouth. There were wild scenes of excitement. The rescued include William Cleland. His brother, who was one of the rescuers, brought him to the surface without recognising him. When the survivors were first reached it was thought that they were dead, but one of them raised a hand and the rest were found breathing. ' All the entombed men weii; hurried to the shaft and stimulants administered. The faces of moat of the men were black, with smoke and slightly scorched. The men's safety was due to their walling themstlves in. Joseph Crescini, leader of the fight against death, states that acting on an English comrade's advice the men's food was collected and short ration* served out They lived for part of the time on mule meat. !