New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-19
THE EAGLE SHAFT DISASTER.
CORONFG's OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TESTI-
hONY-THE VERDICT.

IA when the West PitstOn disaster was the object OF
vcfgaton. The Coroner. Dr. =. j. OMallcy hasrimpan-
eed the following persons iurymen: o. f. Gaines,
foroman Prof W. J. Bruce. Thos Smiles Enooh Cort-
right, Andrew Dryden and John Lcwellyn. Tho first
witness called was Henry Harris He testified follows
in Welsh Henry J. Phillips acting as Interpreters
have been boss for about two months; looked over
all the mine the morning of tho explosion and did not
find lamp full OF gas anywhere | examined the mino
with q safety clamp after had examined every place
with the saiety-lImP would examine 1t with naked
lamp; there furnace in the ventilation; 1t
was il. working order on Monday David Harris. my
tended to It week days the furnace was within 20
feet Of the air shaft think there is not living man
Thought first by examining the mines that from
one side ana on further examination that came rom
the other found some boxes and powder kegs blown
from the place OF the chambers for 80 yards toward the
in tho opposite direction; the men in tho
When c so%e eight @O1hs ago an S SesteT Ts
found the falls which have taken place Mon
morning the mine clear gas as ever saw II
went around the mines that morning. and my return
how the air and told thom that everything all
right, and l went back myself to tho face OF the
chambers to satisfy them that 1t always went
around and examined the .mines before the miners
entered the tunnel or allowed to go work ex
amned a portion Of the old workings the west anI
found no gas have had but one complaint from the
men during the last two years TINS complaint was about
workings the right of the rock tunnel as enter to
workings but did not examine beyond Old cave this
old fall feet the west OF the main gangway; this
| ia not the same fall spoken OF heretofore.
was in the mine on Monday about M; the accident
occurred about $50 ~. did not have any OF
testing the pure air in the mlne; do not know whether
there was gas beyond the large not; could
get through there is crossole on the inside of the fall
carrying the air tho face Of the old chambers and back
along the southern chambers there were tiye doors in
the ino and they were all in good order; do
ec having seen any inspector m the nnei the doors
in the main glngway double but one OF the doors
closed Of itself never measured the quantity Of air in
| the mines never made any report to tine inspector ,
| An explosion occurred some Is months ago on the
west side Harris was burned on the hands at that tim
drunken man came downand illed topersuade MN To
60 out but he would not, and the result was that he
gnited the gas in tho mine had been lde ns previous
to this this explosion tore down nearly al me hratoe
u the mine 1t was near the cave on the west SIDE hrst
| spoken OF.
The inquest here adjourned until o'clock p. m
| Henry Harris then recalled and testified:
examined the furnace Monday morning, and then
the foot OF the main shaft and sent another
10 attend to the furnace; it after the explosion
that sent man to the furnace the men Travelled out
| up and down the main shaft.
| James NJ. Williams testified:
was in charge of the Eagle mines during the occu
sidered the system Of ventilation good gas would not
accumulate in the old working; made it point to
posion III the mine previous this there were but
two men IN at the time, one was carpenter who was
there TO make improvement in the YentllatiOn;
in the mine IN January during suspension; have no
mine nearly worked out believe there little
gas on west side of the shaft about years ago.
was there when Mr.. Nichols, the former Inspector
fire. the inspector would not go down into the
gorOus; MI. Tompkins often inquired how
ss fspo1ea to Mr. Nichols the t qaony OF in
the mine; had another way to test the matter; be
air passing through mine should be reported the
inspector, but did not read 1t at that time; some
very difficult to get the air there after We broke
through into the big companys WORKS there was no
trouble with gas, and the miners never complained OF
do rot recollect that ever told the men to be care
fan u Il
have warned them TO be careful when WORKING on the the
mine aud never made report to The Insp . to-, re-
but never showed to r Tompkns; the substance ofthe
letter request TO send map OF the mine amount
safety lamp was always hand each miner; the fire
boss was 10 look after the gas since ventilation was
tried TO keep the air good we had no instrument To- tot
sion would without standing gases.
L. r. Harris. recalled:
Q. Was the mine examined every night to see II tho
doors all cosedi A. looked Mt them every morn
Ing and found them closed they were ali closed on the
morning OF the recent accident
Harry W. Evans of the Miners Committee testified:
was one of the Committee who examined the mines
we went down yesterday mornings found one door on
airway and that Of sufficient area to let all the
air pass ts size estimated at about three by four
feet; then went to the main gangway TIL we came to
the fan the timber was blown toward the smart there
double doors in the mine.
Witness then submitted report drawn up by the
Committee follows:
REPORT OF MIXERS COMMITTEE.
We, rs a Committee appointed by the miners aud
la6rcrs Plston to Investigate into the cause of the
sad disaster aud calamity at the Eagle shaft on Monday,
Aug H. which resulted In the death OF II o. our fellow
and brothers, beg leave to offer the following re-
First. We discovered hut door the uPcas air
way which, when opened, cut off all the supply OF air
Through this the way Of ingres' and egres,.
Second: We found the arway III such condition mat
could hardly crawl through and In some places very
TEird: We found strong indications Of explosion.
and large accumulation OF gas but short distance
from the westerly OF the main road and with only
| I.gfpv hat III.
drivers were found; This large accumulation
ri e s1 cnaoD of the air Would work ont 10 the Intake
arway be ignited by the naked lights OF me men a
work The fact that all the bratce and stopping around
the stern portion OF the mine blown norm east,
and south gave conclusive evidence mat The eA'
FonJtb we found in three four places large accu
mutation OF gases The largest portion that we dis
HESRY W. EVANS, JonS BURNS, JONI HALyEY, THos.
EDMosns ions MEREDIfm Ho 5giSe MLN C' h'f''
The witness continued:
have been engaged in mining for p years think,
by diligence and care Qn the PAT OF me oPeItGI
and by regarding the ventilation law the accident would
Thomas r. Williams testified:
Was once engineer Of the mine; think the explosion
could nave been prevented by proper ventilation;
superntendent in that mine Tor tOur OF Ne years nave
sbeen engaged in mining for 80 years IN America; we
there has never been double door in the mlne always
alter The gases am strongly OF the opinion that there
was u fall Of roof on the west SIDE
Thomas Tucker testified;
Was laborer in Eagle shaft; have been there for three
months at the main shaft at me tme OF the eAnlo
sion; fled with goal az the race ana neh ,ae
the face TO the foot that morning; did not any APP
pearance Of fan of coal about the first OF the month
talked about the gas and iue to Mr. Harris.
W. W Kenrick, testified:
think the ventilation produced by the furnace if prop
erIy conducted was sufficient TO ventiate the mime;
from ~ O 10 5000 Of air minute WOud prODaby