New-York tribune., 1873-06-12


THE SCENE OF TIE ACCIDENT-WHERE THE fAoL'
HEs--THE STORY OF A MINERS LIFE.
IFRoM A sPEcf,L CORRESPONDENT or THE TRrBUSE'j
PHMADELPHIA, June 1.-THE cOlliery accl'
dent at shamokin has caused general anxiety Iha
place where IL occurred Is niles from Pottsyile, Win
which it is connected by the Reading Railroad Compa-
nys lines The cOliery belongs 70 the Mineral spring
Coal Company Bot drst reported to tho Reading
Coal and Iron Company The coal mine along tho
slde OF mountain ard reached by slope" ore in
cllned boring from the asc OF which galleries.
The letter reversed viii yey idea Of the form
Of the nine II we suppose that from the right hand end
Of the letter there another Jope," thus j. The first
horizontal line is the water level where the explosion
occurred perpendicular one the slope "here
the men we're at work, and where the gas created Dy
the explosion penetrated Tue explosion was owing 10
the earelessness OF Conrad Drumheser, the inside
boss" who took into the mine lamp, not sup
posing that innammabe gas had accumulated around
him. An explosion followed; the air became nonous'
and II was question Of physical endurance that
auy of the so men in the mine survived. bup-
posing that blasting powder had been e1-
ploded the waited. and thus brought themselves
still more under the influence Of the noxious yapor
This mistake was quite natural for the smell following
exploded powder Is much discerniDe IN tne con-
fined galleries coal mine than in the open air. The
term inside boss" s applied to the man having charge
OF the machinery and operations IN the mine while the
mau who superVlseS the WOfkng OF TIE engueri pumps
and ventatng apparatus outside called tue Outsdo
boss" There STATE Inspectors who expected 10
visit the mines but gas accumuates so quickly that 5
easily be determined whether the Inspector wnO
failed to examine this mine responsible for the lives
which have been lost It is not satisfactory however
find that the question Of safety left much 10
chance.
/. In a weLmanaged colery this accident could not
nave occurred It's the duty of the Superintendent 70
go down at O'Clock each morning with safety lamp
ana ascertain that all right before letting the miners
down att. If he finds aoxous gas the ventilaung fans
should be kept work until the bad air is expelled and
! a pure atmosphere formed In its place.
+ The story Of miners Life 10 little known outside
the locality where he works. He begins boy pick.
ing slate from the coal about 50 week. next be-
comes muledryer in the mine at $40 TO s1l, according
70 is efficiency ana now having attained manhood ho
is considered miner, and works on shares with his
father some one more experienced than himself A
llful miner working ten hours aiday can earn Sl75
month"; but nc is not employed by the day, but by tho
lob he works only aa long or as bard as he likes As
amount Of experience In it render the work
very inviting, or deprive it OF certairE
degree OF danger, he hardly be blamed
he does not pursue it very persstently. The miner
goes down at IN the morning and comes out Of tho
mine at in the afternoon. He then returns TO his
home too often spends the evening at the barroom
It the general testimony Of superntendents that only
for intemperanee, miners would be among the mOs0
comfortable and independent members OF the com
munity. There are, however, some steady men, Ike
Isaac May, who acquire coieries OF their OF Ike
Mr. Kendrck who hold responsible positions; or like
COL Brown couVersant with the scientific literature
of day, and yield to In intelligence and profess
| siunal skill On the whole. however, the miners
good-hearted, peaceful fellows, When they descend
into their gloomy they forget oil distinctions
Of politics. nationality, creed and are willing, as this
accident has shown risk their Hves securing each
| Thavk nm "
great strctnes being rather pleased than otherwise t
q good for holiday. II death occurs. all at
tend the funeral and it is not unusual 10 find the
suspended because there is circus lottery the viz
lage. Education, IL is to be feared is neglected You
told that the slate pickers attend school the Win
months but there too mucA reason O believe that
they fail to do so regularly
Careessness is, however, the miners greatest fault,
and tells most against themselves The second shaft.
which the law requires, is wanting at very Dany coll
lieres, and there numbers who like Conrad Drum
heiser, handle fire gunpowder reoklessly "Whero
do you keep your main supply of powderl" asked Far
raday of the foreman, when examining British niue.
Oh, in a bag" was the answer" And where do you
keep the bagP' "YOu are sitting on IT," tho
answer the astOnished chemist received. There IS good
that this indifference to danger miners
are the the world Although the elevator
q NewYOIk house is arranged that II the wire rop9
breaks its descent would be retarded by iron teeth
no similar appliance, intended 70 effect
the purpose is used in the coal shafts and il
observed 10 that IL IS better not 10 have too many
precautions, they would render miners too cOnadng
and recrless 1t is however the duty Of the public TO
look carefully after the welfare OF the miners both from
humane and pecuniary motives. When mining is de-
prved OF the risks and terrors which surround It, many
persons will be disposed 20 engage In IT, the pro-
duction OF minerals will increase, and people Will
more be Mortified b. the spectacle Of eight lives being
sacrificed and IS others being mpered by careessnsss
aud want Of rigorous adherence 70 fixed rules.
THE ACCIDENT STILL ATTRIBUTED TO TIRE-DAMP.
SHAMOKIN, Penn, June II. - The body Of
Conrad Drumheiser has not yet beer fornd bat
working with will TO set 70 him. Prs timebooK was
found this morning. Five " me v.'us will be buried
tomorrow The coroners iry adjourned til tomorrow
morning not coming TO definite conclusion, tho
deaths arc generally astriI I'D TO fredamp. Drum
hesers body, when found. vii tell the whole story.
The following is list OF dead men far rs aseor-
tanned:
John Hays, outside boss scotohman, leaving wifS
and children.
Mike Mensh, PENNSYLVANIA German unmarried
EnQch MaRenskie, pOlauder married
Lawrence Ragolsii. Pole married and family.
Anthony Harris, German.
William Drumheiser, German married, two children.
Daniel Powell, American unmarried
Nicholas Paulus, German.
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