There were three veins of coal, two of which were being worked that day.
About 300 men worked the second vein while about 200 worked the third and deepest vein.
In order to reach the third level, miners had to use the escape shaft and take a different elevator.
On the morning of November 13, the electricity that lit the mine was not working.
This was a common problem in the mine.
When there was no electricity, miners used kerosene lamps to light the mine.
A mine car full of hay to feed the mules that worked in the mine caught fire.
The fire quickly spread and was out of control.
Many of the miners burned to death while others died of suffocation from the toxic fumes.

About forty-five minutes after the fire started, men were told to abandon the mine.
About 10 to 12 cages full of men reached the surface through the elevator shaft.
Others scrambled up the escape shaft.
About 2:00 p.m. someone decided to reverse the fans that supplied air into the mine.
This spread the fire and made matters much worse.
Rescue workers went into the mine to try to save lives.
But after a cage full of rescuers was lost at about 4:00 p.m., the company decided to seal off the mine.

The next day, rescue workers went back into the mine.
They wore diving helmets with oxygen tanks, as no special equipment yet existed for mine rescues.
They brought out the bodies of the dead workers.
Then there was a surprising development.
A small group of 21 miners had been quick thinking enough to build a barricade against the fire.
They were found alive eight days later.
There were three veins of coal, two of which were being worked that day. About 300 men worked the second vein while about 200 worked the third and deepest vein. In order to reach the third level, miners had to use the escape shaft and take a different elevator. On the morning of November 13, the electricity that lit the mine was not working. This was a common problem in the mine. When there was no electricity, miners used kerosene lamps to light the mine. A mine car full of hay to feed the mules that worked in the mine caught fire. The fire quickly spread and was out of control. Many of the miners burned to death while others died of suffocation from the toxic fumes.
About forty-five minutes after the fire started, men were told to abandon the mine. About 10 to 12 cages full of men reached the surface through the elevator shaft. Others scrambled up the escape shaft. About 2:00 p.m. someone decided to reverse the fans that supplied air into the mine. This spread the fire and made matters much worse. Rescue workers went into the mine to try to save lives. But after a cage full of rescuers was lost at about 4:00 p.m., the company decided to seal off the mine.
The next day, rescue workers went back into the mine. They wore diving helmets with oxygen tanks, as no special equipment yet existed for mine rescues. They brought out the bodies of the dead workers. Then there was a surprising development. A small group of 21 miners had been quick thinking enough to build a barricade against the fire. They were found alive eight days later.
1909 Cherry Mine disaster