New-York tribune., 1873-05-16
THE COLLIERY DISASTER.
HOW SIXTY LIVES WERE SACRIFICED.

VERDICT.
HALIFAX. n. s., May ia gentleman VINO
has returned from the burning colierf III i''O
ty SAYS relays OF men have boen at worA Sno0
filing I'D slopes and air shafts with elay A"o o 'i'
,.rs 80 ercoIv as ever he went within few feet or
-. :, ,io sbott from which blue suphurous
a.. - ascending 70 a night OF 20 or so feet The
90 from, the burning mine was something terrlnc
Depse volumes OF smoke continue 10 ascehu Hoh
sevorai air shafts adequate ioea can DO loIou Vi
th ,errble dsaster Tho computed loss OF property -
ors hut is nothing in comparison with the loss OF
ufa An the wood work In the mine is burned ana ex-
nerenced miners say it is one mass OF burning ruins
- 1ba e,uses that led to the disaster are not, as
49,, -, ated owing 20 the strike OF the miners, but
IN novder having been permitted to 0e used IN one OF
,ba beds worked by miner named Robert Mcleod who
sted on using unless he received higher rates for
cutting without IT,
came out in evidence which show reckessness or care
essncss in the work Of supervision Of the miners in
dangerous parts Of the NINE. The inquest yesterday
afternoon was on the body Of John Dunn one OF the
miners rescued from the pit, who died shortly after
being brought TO the surface Mr. Pool, Inspector OF
Mines and Mr. Carmichael Of NewGasgow, assisted at
the inquiry and all the gentlemen connected with the
Albion. Acadia, and Nova Scotia Companies were pres
ent watching the proceedings.
The first witness Thomas Lowther. foreman. testified
that the mino was carefully attended during tho time
the miners were out strike that there could have
been no accumulation Of when the miners returned
70 the works on Tuesday The second witness, James
DunstOn who was in the mine when the hre occurred
testified that he found nothing unusual in the mine
when he descended. When word was passed that the
mine was on fire. all hands requested TO go put 1t
out Those who refused assist we're ordered to leave
as uy remaining they would only impede the progress
o, the others. Had the men ooeyed the
order when it was found possible to stop
the fire there would have been Sufficient
time 10 put it out The level had been on nre De-
fore a man was stationed in the cabin TO give the
miners information as TO the condition Of their places
and 10 warn Of dangers. These regulations were
attended TO- also the furnaces for ventiaung
the same levels There in some levels than
IN Others In these the Of powder was prohibited
The bed where the fire occurred was aired by lattice
work When giving warning he Dunston) went as far
"a the face OF the bed, but could have done nothhE
because OF the smoke and DIRE, had he made for the
mouth OF the slope
A1avander orier was next called and testified that
his duty was to inspect the mine before the miners went
TO work. BE found the mine in the usual good order on
the night OF the 18th inst. There was gas IN several
wards but this was unusual He found little gas
in the lower level but IN McLeods ward He went
about Is feet IN McLeods ward and reported the pres
ence OF gas wherever existed Some testimony was
here given about strange wOrkmen going 70 the mine
and having lost their lives in consequence Of
disobeying the regulation warning them Of dan
ger but the gist OF LOrimers evidence
was in the statement that powder had not been used
by Mcleod the Dit would have been all right to-day and
there would have been loss Of lie 10 mourn for When
he heard the alarm given he went 70 the pumping pit
having heard cries for help and assisted John Bonneu
10 the surface Mr.. James Hunter went down with him
and remained in the bottom. The witness came up
shortly after in tub. bringing John Dunn, who was
badly burned and much exhausted. Burns went down
with three others after violent explosion occurred and
the men we're blown out Of the pit
Dr. Perrin testified that John Dunn died shortly after
he was taken out Of the pit.
Andrew Mcleod. brother Of Robert Mcleod. testified
that he cutting coal in the ward where the fire took
place they always worked their place with sulphur he
could not say found much gas in tho ward always
used powder after the third shot fred two shots. and
waapreparng fire the third when he discovered that
the ward was on fire endeavOred 10 put ii
out by ordinary with wet bags, but
after working for Is minutes, the fire gaining on
them all the time, assistance was called for and two
men came was exhausted and made for the slope all
OF them went the landing, shutting the door be-
hind them; ; Joe Richardson then came down and
directed get at the fire. but he soon returned
and gave directions for all the and horses TO come
out the witness then started for the opening but had
scarcely reached the mouth Of the slope when the mine
exploded, and he was thrown out on the bank; there
Dunn. the manager, going down.
At this stage Of the proceedings Inspector Of Mines
Poole questioned reference 20 the effect OF
having the door Of the ward open. The witness we an
inexperienced miner and could give no information.
The Inspector said the wtnesss testimony relative to
firing shots had a most important bearing on the cause
OF the disaster It was evident the first and second
shots had decided effect and blew down the coal The
third shot, however. was only blownout shot. 1t
opened a crack in the bench which then became reser
voir for the accommodating The Immediately ig-
nited and set fire the COAL which burned with great
rapidity engenderng intense heat and smoke and MAX
ing It impossible for the TO work AT O'Clock the
inquest was adjourned meet to-day at II O'Clock M
Robert Mcleod. who fired the shot which evidently
the disaster escaped but is too Ill TO attend the
inquiry The miners appear TO attribute the direct
cause OF the calamity 20 the refusal Of the
give an extra price TO Mcleod for getting out the coal
in his ward thereby enabling him 70 dispense with the
use OF powder. If the OF powder, stated. was
prohibited in that ward then It thel duty of some
one 10 see that the regulations strictly enforced
The names Of the men who volunteered to down the
air shaft 70 explore the mine after the first exposon
were AbrahamsGuy, Edward Burns, Thos. Glenwright
and Timothy Howatt all Of whom lost their lives. Guy
was above the surface when the first explosion occurred
and when his terrible fate made known 70 his wife
the unfortunate rent the air with her screams
TO give some Of the extent Of the explosion from
the several shafts, II may be statec OF an ola one
close 10 the miners residences and distant from the
mines some COO yards that large pieces OF timber
were driven through it up into the ar some
falling on the roofs OF the houses and crashing through
them II was truly heartrending 10 pass through the
SQUARE buildings where the families OF the 0st miners
reside The window blinds drawn, and the stiffness
OF death is over the place. The poor widows OF men
whose charred remains are far down IN me burning
sennlcber morn incessantly and pteousy the loss Of
those who have been suddenly snatohed rom them.
The inquest resumed at II O'Clock. The nrst Wit
eT..od hO led Il
was at work the bottom OF No level on the south
side; when went into the ward found only SIX inches
fhnt hiCh side: the mine all cleAr