Originally published in The Seattle Daily Times, Janaury 8, 1954
By Staff Correspondent
BLACK DIAMOND, Jan. 8. — Lily English, grief-stricken wife of Harry English, who was buried in a mine cave-in Wednesday, still clung to hope today that his life may be saved, though she knows that chance is very slender.
In her home, where two sons, James, 16. and Jerry, 11, sat in silence playing solitaire at a kitchen table, Mrs. English said brokenly:
“This waiting is so terrible, not knowing, just waiting—and hoping and praying. Everyone has been so kind. I know that if prayers will help, because of all of my friends and Harry’s friends who have been praying for him—then he will be saved.”
(At the Palmer Coking Coal Co. mine, near Ravensdale, miners were driving a rescue tunnel paralleling the chute in which English, 40, was trapped 400 feet underground Wednesday. From the new tunnel they were drilling access tunnels to the chute so the chute could be cleared.)
Mrs. English picked up a photograph of her husband and added:
“It was only last month that he was installed as worshipful master of the Masonic Lodge here (Black Diamond Lodge No. 83, Free and Accepted Masons.) He was proud of the honor and fond of the association, just as he loved mining.”
The wife said that although friends of her husband had tried to get him to find some other occupation, English had refused.
“Harry felt that it was something more than just a job to be a miner. He always said he believed it takes intelligence and skill to be a good miner. He felt it was as much a science as any other occupation he might have chosen.
Mrs. English broke down and wept as she told today what her son, Jerry, said last night.
“He told me he—he wished he could he down there instead of his daddy, because I need Harry so much more than I did him….” Mrs. English said.
The telephone rang frequently throughout the day yesterday as friends and relatives sought Ito console Mrs. English.
English has five brothers and six sisters. His father, Edward J. English, Tonawanda. N.Y., plans to come here by plane, Mrs. English said.
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