A historic mine fire traps hundreds of men underground in a gripping work of narrative nonfiction meticulously researched and told by a master of the genre.
It is November 13, 1909, and the coal miners of Cherry, Illinois, head to work with lunch pails in hand, just like any other day. By seven a.m., 484 of these men are underground, starting jobs that range from taking care of the mules that haul coal to operating cages that raise and lower workers and coal to chiseling out rocks and coal from the tunnels of the mine. With the electrical system broken, they’re guided by kerosene torches—and come early afternoon, a slow-moving disaster begins, barely catching the men’s attention until it’s too late. In what starts as an hour-by-hour account, Sally Walker tells the riveting and horrifying story of the Cherry Mine fire, which trapped hundreds of men underground. Alternating between rescue efforts above and the heroic measures of those trying to survive the poor air and entrapment below, the tragic story unfolds over eight excruciating days in a narrative compelled by the miners’ hope and absolute will to survive. Rich with archival photographs and documents, this stirring account includes sources, bibliography, an author’s note, and follow-up information about survivors, rescuers, and families.
Map. Author’s note. Source notes. Bibliography. Index. Black-and-white photographs and diagrams.
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Gr 5 Up-When the miners and managers of the coal mine in Cherry, IL, blatantly underestimate the danger of a small underground fire, a horrific eight-day chain of events occurs that results in death of 259 men and boys. The stage is set on the morning of November 13, 1909, as the coal miners and their families begin a typical workday. First-person accounts set the scene as Walker, who lives near the disaster site, recounts the details, alternating between the belowground mismanagement and the resulting aboveground reactions. Technical descriptions of the mining process, explanations of the social construct of the time period, accounts of economic hardships faced by the workers, and references to cultural diversity add compelling historic reference points. An uncanny comparison between the farewell notes written to family members by trapped miners and contemporary "I love you" cellphone messages made by people facing life-threatening situations connects the past to the present. The book concludes with information about the disaster's survivors, historical remembrances, updates on mine safety legislation, and the reopening and subsequent closing of the Cherry Mine. The narrative is enriched with numerous photographs, maps, diagrams, and primary source documents. Back matter includes an author's note, image credits, bibliography, and a detailed index. VERDICT This examination of a man-made disaster works well as a historical recount, harrowing survival story, and social commentary. A very strong addition to nonfiction collections.-Lynne Stover?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.