The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-16

THE coRoNERs JuRr on THE VAUDEVILLE
DISASTER cENsUnE BOSSES AND MEN ron
USING OPEN LAMPS.

DISASTER cENsURE BOSSES AND MEN FoR
USING OPEN LAMPS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
PorrsvnLE, Pa, May Is, 1877.
The Corouer's Jury who for several days have been
making thorough investigation into the OF tho
terrible explosion last week the Vaudeville shalt
finished their labors this morning. great deal Of
testimony was taken and the condition Of the cocry
thoroughly explained The weight OF testimony wins
to the effect that at the best that portion OF the mine
where the accident happened is very dangerous, and
that the utmost precautions by the men and all he
safeguards required By law would not have done
than insure reasonable degree of safety The latter
not furnished ana tho former were not insisted
on.
OFFICIAL NEGLECT.
IL was proven beyond u doubt that the mnc in
snsctor had been neSlectu OF his duties and tina, for
some time back the men had been des,rous that ho
should visit tue collicry H. sworn TO that they
were AFRAID TO send him invitation. lest their
names should DO made public and their situations lost
10 them II was likewise sworn To that BENJAMIN
Moscly. one OF the victims OF this accident had been
discharged IRON colliery al Mount Lailc because hc
had sat on coroner's jury IN the case oil man killed
at that colery.
The nine inspector admitted that nc had not in
spectcd Wadesvc shalt since January 1876; that he
had not enforced the law requiring the mine boss to
measure the current OF air month and report to
hluI, anu mat ne nad not ordered 'uumU IOr
tho gangway as required by law TO be used IN case OF
en- accident Several witnesses swore that In incir
OPINION rs miners, had such door bccn provided tho
life ot KIRK az least gbt have been saved, anu poss
bly, that OF Moscly.
PiSpIxGs OF TUE JURY
The verdict Of the jury rs. ''rhat the said John
Dunkiu, William Kirk. benjamin Moscly, Herbert
Moore, Thomas Connors AID Joseph Milward were
Killed by an explosion oi IRE damp Vaudeville SHAFT
on the 9th day OF May 1871" The jury ure oil tho
opinion that he gas was brought down By fall OF coal
or rocI and Was igncd from The naked lamp OF Her
bert Moore. From tho evidence produced
satisfied that the part OF the where the explosion
took place was considered very dangerous by both
on the part OF the bosses III not ordering tho men TO
work WITH safety lamps exclusively believing, as We
do that haf tho men pccn working tho accident
would not have occurred, the evidence showing that
the men invariably obcyed ordered BY the bosses
10 work with safety lamps.
pIsoBEyED
eve are also satsfed that tho requirements OF tho
Ventilation aw were not complied with and The owners
Of the coliicry hc Philadelphia aud Realing Coal and
Iron Company are censurahle complying with
extra doors, as the law requires there ~ possibility
al least that tho hives oil two OF the men might have
been ~ rcd
NNN7 INSPECTOR PARTON CEXsUREn
'sThe Mino Inspector Samson Parton, who 10 a
oihcer oil the Commonwealth ana clothed with tho
highest authority whose commands according to law
should he Imperative AMI whose orders sup.
posed 10 disobcy has been grossly negiectui of hts
duties in not this collery ocner and pol
ling the owners TO comply with the law. !"
TINS verdict Is regarded as very mild one in tho
premises There IS IA strong feeling against the In
spector among tho MINERS who claim that thor fellows
in Luzernc county are protected as the law directs,
while hey arc not looked after. II IS not likely the
verdict VIII lead 10 pronounced result, as tho lam
lies oil tho VICTIMS oil tho explosion too poor
prosecute any one for redress.