The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-31
THE PITTSTON TRAGEDY,
Funerals Of the Victinns-Continuation OF
the Testimony Before the Coroner.

FUNERALS OF the NtcOfms-COnttnuatlOh OF
the Testimony Before the Coroner.
P1TTsToN, May 30.-On every hand to-day
one is reminded of the recent sad calamity at
West Pittston. Business is entirely sus-
pended, all the stores being closed. Flags
drsped in mourning float from number of
buildings. The funeral rites over the bodies
Of eight of the victims, principally Welsh
men, took place at West Pittston. Seats and
a speakers stand were erected beneath the
shade of an orchard near and in sight of the
scene of disaster, and by 1920 this morning
two or three thousand persons had assembled
to show their respect to the dead.
The bodies, all of which were in neat walnut
collins, were placed in front of the stand in
the following order:--John H. Burroughs,
aged 21 years. Evan Davis, aged 49, Benjamin
Jones, aged SO; Davis Edwards, aged 80;
John Lloyd, aged 81; A. L. Smallcombe, aged
56; Peter Davis, aged %, and Thomas Pros
SER Edwards, Lloyd, Jones, Smallcombe,
and Davis leave families; the others were
single.
AS the bodies were brought to the ground,
followed by their friends, scarcely dry eye
could be seen, while the sobs and exclama-
tions of bereaved wives and children brothers
and sisters, saddened the scene. Surround
ing the stand were large numbers of repre-
sentatives of the w. B. A. from over fifteen
branches, Sons of Temperance, Good Tenn
plars, and the Brotherhood of st. James, a
Welsh society.
The inquest was resumed to day. Drs.
German and Nugent ply sicians in attend
ance after the accident, testified that the
miners visited by them died from foul air
and the effects of carbonic acid gas
s. II. Browne, the agent of the lessees of
the mine, was sworn, and testified as follows:
l was at the mine on Wednesday last, when
Mr.. Williams, the Mine Inspector, entered
the mine; did not 60 in myself, but saw the
inspector when he came out, and he appeared
to be perfectly satisfied with the condition of
the mine, and said nothing about too many
men being at work or anything contrary to
law; asked Williams if Kendrick, the super
intendent of the mine, was doing well. and
whether he was competent, and he, Williams,
replied yes; when took charge of the works,
in January, instructed Mr. Kendrick to
have everything put in good order, aud also
ordered a large fan put mp, but the work had
not been completed; I also gave Mr.. Ken
drick copy of the ventilation bill for his
guide; the members of the coal company are
Messrs. Blake, White, Seward, and Hoyt
and they leased the mine for five years from
the Luzerne Coal and Iron Company; the
company have expended, in the purchase
and improvements, about six thousand dol
lars. The breaker was not insured, and the
loss, the witness thought, would fall upon
the lessor, though the other side thought diff
ferently.
James McDermott, the engineer of the
mine, was sworn-Mr. Reese did not send me
word on Saturday that was running too
fast, nor did he come to me. Mr.. Reese on
several occasions complained about speed
being too great for his work, and the engines
were slowed to please him; the engine was
calculated to run from 6S to 20 revolutions
per minute to do the work; / was ordered to
keep up this speed; the fan always made just
double the revolution of the engine; the fan
was q feet in diameter, and the journals 80
inches; there was talk one day of increas-
ing the speed of the engines to one hundred
revolutions per minute, by putting larger
wheel on the crank shaft, SO as to run the
fan faster, and thus get more air in
the mine this alteration was
to have been made on Monday; 1
up to speed of nearly one hundred revolu-
tions, or at least ninety; run the engine at
this speed about ten minutes; it was Mr..
Gorman's business to oil the journals under
my directions; the journals ought to be oiled
every three hours, but have known them to
run in winter elk hours they require oiling
ofteper in hot weather, but they ought to
run three hours in the warnlest day; the inside
journal was oiled through tube four feet
long ana quarter lncn Dore; tue Su7IL ran
on metal beamings; the outside of the fan
was pine; the wings ere also of wood.
Mr. Kendrick, the superintendent of the
mine, was recalled-When l returned from
the bottom of the shaft with the mine in
spector 1 stayed a few moments, then
walked towards the officer; Mr.. Williams
said, ''You seem to have quite number
of men down there; 1 counted fifteen in the
shifting shaft while stood in the door, and
found men working in the east gangway,
and there were men in the west gangway.
(witness) replied, we were probably
working rather more than the legal mum
ber. Mr.. Williams then said, ''You may
go on for ninety years without an accident
but if one did happen you will have tc
look out for consequences. Mr.. Williams
did not tell me to take out any of the men
Mr.. Williams could have easily ascertainet
how many men were at work. Inspecto
Williams never gave me any official instruc
tions as to the number of men L should EN-
ploY. came to this country since the venti
lating act was passed. understand we Cal
employ as many men as we please, if tn
Inspector does not object. 1 was mining
engineer in the old country, and served
regular apprenticeship.
The jury are expected to give their verdic
| IN NIGHT