The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-01-29
With a sharp turn, aud the superinten.

skinrod Conaway, brother OF one OF
the miners who was killed, left the mine
in the night before the explosion. He
was working in his room when he struck
"ieeder" Of gas under the coal, which
"hred on him" and run to the top. He
had his lamp sitting on the floor 10 his
right, but changed t to his left to alter
his style Of digging, when the gas ignited,
and tamed up to the roof. He covered
the blaze over with slack, but 1t was sew
eEal minutes before he got the blaEs out.
de told the men that he had had q little
Ore, and warned his brother, who worked
In the same room. He did not think an
accumulation Of gas in this room could
ss accountable for the explosion, Tor his
brother went right to work there in the
morning with naked lamp, and the ex-
ploson did not occur till afternoon. Tim
Minis, the fire boss, went in there Tues.
day night ahead OF the witness, taking
safety lamp. He found some gas in cor
ner.
Witnesses. AIentz and Cook said they
could soon tell by the change in the air Il
. door was open or down.
A MARROW ESCAPE.
Some days before the explosion, Cook
said, u door was knocked oil It's hinges by
an accidental collision with coal car.
Mining Boss Bratt came and told the
miners to come out, which they did. The
Fire Boss inspected the whole workings
three timesa day, Ths air was good, ex.
cept IN the main entrance, where q little
gas gathered in u hollow in the roof over
q "sWRmp."
MI. BrRtt when OF the stand also told OF
the occurrence when he warned the
miners to leave, lie gave the warning ss
soon rs he found the door was down, and
At once repaired the damage. Sill, about
three quarters OF an hour had elapsed, and
he refused to let the men resume work
Until he had examined the rooms for gas.
There, was three or four feet OF gas
enough to cause as dangerous an explosion
as that OF last week, and only the timely
discovery and immediate repairs prevent
ed casualty,
Wilbur sQuires said he had worked In
the mine four days last month, Tie air
vas pretty good. Theirs was some gas,
out not enough to be dangerous, except
that any mine was unsafe where the care.
lessness or ignorance OF the men could re-
suit in leaving doors open and deranging
the ventilation.
John Bratt, the mining boss, was next
called. He was tho last witness, lie
said tho fire boss inspected the whole mine
hree times . day, 1T least, and also lust
before coming out In the evening. Moth
,ng was said to Timmons or MCWilliams
ny the witness, or 30 far as he knew by
me superintendent, about the danger Oi
fomovlng the bratts. lie did not intend
10 permit the ditch to be dug under the
loor until no had consulted MIR, LaxOn.
SERIOUS STATEMENT.
Mr.. Fortney asked: "Mr. Brstt, what
pan you say as to The personal habits OF
anybody there in regard to intoxiCatlon-
| mean OF anybody in authority"
Witness-"fha is a pretty delicate ques.
slon."
Coroner Jones-"Yss; 1t is delicate, but
u Is proper. We are here to bring out the
ruth, and while you answer with reluCt.
lnce, as We all know, We have y right to
insist that you answer freely"
Witness-"Well, ] have seen Superin.
tendent Braxton, several times within the
last month or slx weeks, under the inllu.
enoe OF liquor"
Mr.. F0itney-"Whlle on duty?"
Witnesa-"SsJ, Str; when he should
have been OIL duty"
Mr. Fortney---"Wss no so much under
,he influence Of liquor as in your opinion
20 impatr, his judgment or glleCt his com.
petsnceY"
Witnefs-"Yes; thought he was"
These questions and answers were
heard in the profouudest silence. This
testimony stPms to give additional weight
10 common rumor which ] believe has
not found its way into print, to the effect
chat there was wonderful lack Of system
and organization at the mines, and that
the personal habits Of the superintendent
In charge were somewhat TO blame for this.
The, inquest will probably last until
Saturday, at least. w.s.g.