The Coal mine was located in Bureau County Illinois, in a newly erected town built near the mine, called Cherry
IL., named after James Cherry who was superintendent of the St. Paul Coal mines.
The mine opened in 1904 and was owned by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad (C.M.& St. P) railroad.
Approximately 1500 tons of coal were mined daily and used for the railroad.
Miners received $1.08 per ton; a good day was about 5 tons from two miners.
The mine below had three levels or "veins". The 1st level being 165 ft. below the surface, 2nd-315
ft. and the 3rd level was about 500 feet below.
The coal at the 1st level was not mined because it had no commercial value.
The fire started at the 2nd level at the escapeshaft/airshaft.
A mine car (6x3) filled with hay (6 upright bales) was pushed in a spot where the kerosene torch dripped upon
the hay load and a spark ignited the hay which was used to feed the mules in the mine.
Due to an electrical short at the mine, kerosene torches were used to light the dark mine below.
On Saturday, November 13, 1909 the tragedy began. As a result, 259 miners lost their lives in the fire, and
about 225 miners escaped. It is believed that about three miners are unaccounted for, probably buried in cave-ins.
Black Damp is a poisonous gas that burns in an atmosphere lacking sufficient oxygen. This is what strangled
the life out of most of the miners below.
Twelve men made six successful trips into the mine to rescue men still alive. On the seventh trip those heroes
died in the fire.
Twenty-one miners survived eight days in the mine before rescued, basically without food nor water. They barricaded
themselves in by earth walls on each side.
It took approximately six months to retrieve all the bodies from the mine. Funerals where held almost daily
for the lost coal miners.
The mine reopened in 1910 and was worked until 1927 by the St. Paul Co.
The Cherry Coal Co. then bought the mine and worked it until about 1935.
As a result of the terrible disaster, workmans compensation laws were enacted and safety regulations were
brought about.
