The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-01
Verdict of the Coroner's Jury
in the Matter.
The DISTRICT INSPECTOR CENSURED.
Negligence in Oiling the Machinery
the Cause Of the Fire.
The Inspector Makes a Second Investigation
on His Own Account.
ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY

PIrTsToN. Pa, May 81, 1871.
The Coroner's jury were In session all night and
rendered verdict this morning at four O'Clock as
already telegraphed to the HERALD. As | have
already stated, the jury find that the miners met
their death from improper ventilation OF the mine
that when the breaker took fire there was no means
OF supplying the men with fresh air, and that the
means of ventilation were not such as are required
by the act Of March 3d. 1870. The jury further
more find there was negligence on the part of the
employees of the company In not keeping portions OF
the machinery properly oiled and further, that the
company had employed on the day OF the accident
greater number OF men than the act already re-
ferred to warrants The verdict nnds further, that
Mr.. Thomas M.IWIliams inspector OF mines, knew
OF these VIOLATIONS of the law, but did not protest
against them, and that he failed In his duty IN not
applying to the courts for an injunction against the
operators.
During the night a great number Of miners and
citizens visited the Town Hall, making inquiries
about the probable action OF the jury. Great inter-
est has been manifested by the people In the
Of the investigation, and those who have been pre-
sent during the examination pronounce the exam
ination OF witnesses most thorough, and the unre-
hitting efforts inaklng the testimony laborous and
complete. This morning
INSPECTOR I. M. WILLIAMS
opened his cour OF investigation, consisting OF
committee Of fSe-F. Games Alfred Hefreran,
Thomas Smiles, Isaac Watkins ana John Reese.
interviewed the Inspector as to the purpose of his
holding a second investigation. He believes the
Coroner's action slpernuous, and that he is bound
by law to make this investigation, and referred me
TO the following extract of decision Of Garrlck NJ.
Harding Judge, to w.t.
BY the of thea.t the duty either
Of the Coroner or any justice Of the pc IN this county to
the said deceased sha have died of unlawful violence
or there be such strong suspicion of such VIC
s ew a Of acts a. @ make s a CT po
vdng the health AID safety of persons employed in coal
Mines for the proper dkct there been
an explosion or accidelt
Turning from thehecsion Of the presiding Judge,
upon which the INSPECTOR depends for his authority
for this unusual procedure in ignoring the Coroners
inquest, we extracN the following from section
twelve of act OF ASSEMBLY providing for the safety
of persons in mines, 70 witt
Whenever life serious personal injury per-
@ % ~ a BE h
duty the party haynE hage OF such e1a mine eoey
% or ana To- the
n s af e a hey s Of hi be
the coroner of nque to b. held the result OF any
inspector immediately repair the the acci
sna s Of ~ 5 G Of S 70
ploon do not reane an investigation by the coroner he
From the letter and spirit OF the law the Coroners
inquest Is legal, ami from
THE POPULARITY OF THE VERDICT
among the peopt action will probably be taken
against the delinquent inspector and perhaps the
operators. The evidence elected does not
tradct that heretofore given before the jury. The
following
In Brief
i 10
alarm was gwen; l smeed the grease burning be-
fore l heard the alarm; | have learned that the
breaker machinery was dangerous. know that one
of the Journals was in the habit OF getting hot and
took fire. rave not seen any fire there lately; no
blaze; saw little coal, but we put 1t out; smelled
the burnngo fol some ten or fifteen minutes before
the alarm OF fife was heard.
Thomas wosdhouse says: Am feeder of breaker;
when hesrd the alarm took my time picked
already throwing water upon IT. the fire
was yet confiied to the vicinity OF the fan when
liable to heat know OF nothing else dangerous; or
course the journals were likely to become heated,
and sometites the oil was poor know OF
HEATING THE JOURNALS
two or three times; 1t was about three weeks before
aO 1 oil for e
chinery; w(had had OIL once; we had no difficulty
Joseph Cnsly said-I was working at the West
Pittston shift around the shutes / was just
opposite thetsn when saw the IRE, about the size
have gotten 4 could have put the fire out; this
was about Two O'Clock in the afternoon; | had
heard OF tht journals becoming heated, but nothing
OF any amOlnL
James Krdv said was not working at the West
Plttston at he time Of the fire; was there imme-
diately afterthe Avondae disaster; knew that 1t
dangerGs there If not well looked after II was
fixed and neer heated afterwards; the journals on
the breakerwere very unsafe: I called Supern-
tendent LAKES attention to 1t, but it was not i'm.
proved wht Twas there; have not worked there
Edward Elwel said:-Myselr and Crooks and a
boy went up pL the first carriage; when got up
young Davis say to McDermOtt, the engineer
"Didn't teyDu so, ten or fifteen minutes before
The fire broke out that smelled OIL burning" l
was ordered Mr.. kendrick to put up an additional
fan In the Inne Tor improving the ventilation;
he said tire must be more air in the
in the mine d Friday, May 26 don't know how
many were tire on Saturday; the whole number
engaged in tt mine on the three shifts averaged
wheel.
John Tatbil macblnisr. says-I put up the fan;
1t made from neiy To one hundred revolutions per
minute when The engine made from forty-hve to |
fifty; though 1T was capable OF running 800 revo-
lutions with srety; have been making improve !
ments In the machinery as last as possible, and | |
was about TO make some improvements about the |
fan pump and improvements for the safety OF the |
carriage.
stopped all airand sopped the fan, ana ordered a |
signal to be gren tOthe miners engaged; the first |
carriage brought up hen; small boy came up on |
the last trip ami did not get of, and went down q 1
little ways, AMI theengineer rounded the engine |
and the boy got balk; the fan would draw up L
any fire by itssuctio; heard the alarm before l |
saw there was 1re OF one OF the hoisted carriages
and am not certain tw many on the other, II the |
engineer could haveDwered the carriage dozen /
times do not think nat any one would have dared
TO come up. the fire sread 80 rapidly; spark from
a miners lamp Nigh have communicated the IRE |