Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1876-09-11
THE DAYTON DISASTER.
Further Investigation as to the
Defective Cable-Testlmony Of
Important Witnesses.

/ w. F. Wilson, a week ago last Sat
urday, were re-convened and held u
second examination day before yes
terday. The discovery of what was
sup posed to be important testimony
was what led to re-hearing OF
| the case. As miners and others in
this vicinity arc Interested 70 kn, y
tine facts In relation t. the disast,
rs far rs they are obtainable. we
present the testimony of the leading
witnesses examined en- Saturday with
all the details necessary to clear
understanding of the case /:
Frank Os,iston, sworn Il was
Superintendent of the Savage mine
when the Dayton Company got the
fatal cable from the Savage. 1t Was
loaned to the Dayton Company. Mr..
n. e. Hall went down to the works
with me and looked at the cable.
He told me he would let me know in
u day or two il he woulu want it.
Afterward he came aud took it away.
The cable was not new one. but the
r penen said it was good. 1t was
useless 10 as without putting another
splice in it, MS it was not long enough
to reach t. the stump. donot know
how long the cable had been in use.
The Dayton Company kept it
for about three months, a d Hail said
they had used it SD much that
they ought to buy it, and they did
so. They paid us $500 for it. The
original cost of such Il cable is alb,
$I,S00. We had used the cable in
the Savage until the water came in,
SO that We could do nothing but bail.
1t was used as general hoisting rope.
When we sold the rope To the Dayton
Company | considered it Il good rope.
| consider it so still.
Jurpr--Had you known of II 3-foot
splice in 1t would you have consid-
cred it good ropef
Witness-I would.
The usual length of splice is
from three To 10 feet. If a 2-foot
splice was properly made it would
be sufficient.
Juror-Did you ever see splice
made over 10 ar l5 feetl
Witness do not think have.
Nv statement IA IL the first cost of
tho cable is an approximation. The
reason we sold it SD cheap to tue
Dayton Company WAS because we had
no Use for it.
Jurur-Did you recommend the
rope to Mr.. Halll
Witness--I did not. left it all
| with him and the rope men.
Jarr--Da you think rope Is rs
good spliced as VII 'lei
WitaeSs-I thiak splice is gen
orally stronger than whole part.
The reason We did not spite. the
| rope is because il would have been
too large for our reel, by reason OF
It's thi knesS.
Jurr-You say that the rope was
"a good one. and that a splice shnuld
ne as strong rs whole part. Now,
since the splice ia this rope pulled
out, how could it be II SQUAD aud
| safe cablei
Wi,ness-Whea you put it in that
shape, | must admit that the rope
was not good.
The rope was no. spliced at the
Savage, 81 far rs | know. II might
have been done there. From what |
have seen Of the Savage rope man
regard him AS competent and etfi-
Client. He was very highly recon-
mended to me, and was SAID to he
nne al the hes, men IN the lead. The
condition of caoles is matter en-
tireIy ia charge of the rope mea.
rneir judgment is taken always rs
Conclusive. At the time l let Mr..
Hall have the rape l had no kno"l-
edge or belief that it was not safe
oae.
Jurnr-Haw d, you tell when a
rope is fitting!
Witness That is always left to
the rope men.
When | came tn the Savage l
found the rope in question IN use. |
do not know how long it had been
used.
juror From your experience in
mining do you think it is customary
to use sinking cage without bon
nett
Witness--The bonnet is seldom or
|siever used on such cages, for reasons
that are well known tnminers.
Bonnets are so made that | would
expect them to hold up as much
cable as the safeties on the cage
would support. Superintendent ride
often on cages when there is No bon-
net. 1t would he difficult To sink
with bnnnet On an ordinary cage.
Charles Schroeder, sworf-I am
rop iman at the Savage. Have been
in that position for five years next
February, The rope we lent the
D,yton Company was the only one
We had ut the time that we could
spare. The age of the rope | cannot
estimate. 1t was made up IT three
ar fnur pieres of old rnpe spliccd