259...
"After my father and I got to the second level the fire blocked us off. It singed my hair on the side of my face and my head. We circled around the burning section and made our way to the main lift. The smoke almost overtook us. "I led the way .... All the lights were out and our matches wouldn't stay lit. We met only a few others who came with us on the way. When we finally reached the lift, there was no trouble getting on it and up the shaft. It took several seconds for my eyes to get adjusted to the bright light of the surface. When I finally could see, I couldn't find my father. "I wanted to go back down into the mine and get him, but they stopped me. After a couple more cage-loads of men came up, my father stepped off with an old man he had saved."
The 1909 Cherry Mine Disaster stands as the 3rd worst loss of life in the US mining history.Started in 1905 to provide coal to the railroad,259 men and boys were killed when a fire started down in the coal mine.We saw a grave for a 13 year old boy who was killed in the disaster that shook this small Illinois community.The small cemetery in town is the final resting place for those killed,their markers stand out to all who visit.As a result of this tragedy,Illinois finally passed a liability act,which became the states Workmens' Compensation Act in 1910.Details of the disaster can be found here...
www.illinoislaborhistory.org/cherry-mine-disaster.html
Each family received $1800 for their loss....
259...
"After my father and I got to the second level the fire blocked us off. It singed my hair on the side of my face and my head. We circled around the burning section and made our way to the main lift. The smoke almost overtook us. "I led the way .... All the lights were out and our matches wouldn't stay lit. We met only a few others who came with us on the way. When we finally reached the lift, there was no trouble getting on it and up the shaft. It took several seconds for my eyes to get adjusted to the bright light of the surface. When I finally could see, I couldn't find my father. "I wanted to go back down into the mine and get him, but they stopped me. After a couple more cage-loads of men came up, my father stepped off with an old man he had saved."
The 1909 Cherry Mine Disaster stands as the 3rd worst loss of life in the US mining history.Started in 1905 to provide coal to the railroad,259 men and boys were killed when a fire started down in the coal mine.We saw a grave for a 13 year old boy who was killed in the disaster that shook this small Illinois community.The small cemetery in town is the final resting place for those killed,their markers stand out to all who visit.As a result of this tragedy,Illinois finally passed a liability act,which became the states Workmens' Compensation Act in 1910.Details of the disaster can be found here...
www.illinoislaborhistory.org/cherry-mine-disaster.html
Each family received $1800 for their loss....