The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-01-27
me Newburg Mine Horrror.


The NeWbnrg Mine HORROR.
Ashorrible mine disaster occur
redat New6lrg, in Preston county,
last Friday, by which forty-one
nenilost their lives. The Wheel.
ing RegiStT says West Virginia has
been comparatively free from mine
disasters compared with Pennsyl.
yenia, but the terrible explosion
ihthe 0rel mine at Negburg, in
whichsforty one men were in an
instant swept into eternity, Is .
tragedy that has few parallels.
ofcourse the people are shocked
blythe terrible disaster and express
tho deepest sympathy for the rela
Nycs and friends who are stricken
with grief forthe unfortunate mi.
nerE But that is poor solace in
suchan affection and cannot undo
aititbe Of the great misfortune
Batitistoo late to do anything
elsenow far as this sad event is
concerned except what can be
donefor the bereayed families Of
themipers.
Bntthis will seryeas q warning
tothe miners and operators Of our
State. The qustion nov is sugges
ted. Whose fault is III who is re.
sponsible for wholesale destruc
ton Of human lifeS, Great acct.
dents occur on account Of circum-
stances over which men have no
control whatever Atotber times
they occur through mems neglect
and carelessness. Was tbsdisaster
at Newburg owing - carelessuess
and neglect Its6, was it the fault
ofcertain cfthe miners, Of the op.
efatoEF 6f the mine inspector, or
otSthe people Of the State in not
passing more stringent laws in re.
gard to the operating Of mines2
The act passed blythe Legislature
in 1883 says that the mine inspsc.
tor shall at least once every six
months, and oftener if necessary,
examine all the mines of the State,
and "see that they are as far as
practicable well and sufficiently
drained aud we'll and properly ven.
tilated, and that every reasonable
precautlun is takenato insure the
safety Of all persons workiugihero.
in" Also it shall be the duty Of
every owner, lessee, or operator Of
a coal mine to SIZE that there sis
proper and sufficient system of pure
air ventilation which shall be
maintained through every working
heading throughout the entire
mine, and sutIicien! TO expel from
said mine the noxiOas gasesof im.
pure air therein, so that the entire
mine shall, so far as the same is
used and opened, be in a healthtul
condition for the men working
therein To see that these provis.
ions are carried out the owner, les
see, or operator Of the mine "shall
employ competent and practical
oyerseer or mining boss, whose
duty it shall be to keep a careful
watch over all the yentilaLing up.
paratus," and when such owner,
lessee or operator sis informed Of
tile existence Of any noxious gases
Il
or impure air therein he shall, il
he knows or is informed of what is
is necessary to be done, forthwith
cause the same to be removed" or
call in the assistance Of the Mine
Inspector, whose duty it is to pro-
coed at once to the scene of
the trouble whenever such a re-
quest is presented either by the ov-
erseer or ten or more miners.
Have tha above provisions been
carried out as far as practicable at
NeWDurgI Feople neeu 70 thlhK
over this. If our laws are insult.
cient, more stringent ones should
be passed. The lot Of the miner is
nOeasy one at best. The people of
the State owe him all the protection
possible from disaster, Then, too,
human life is too dear TO be reck.
lessly swept away. The families
Of miners should in the future be
spared such sorrowful fortunes as
are shared by those at Newburg.
The Presidents Views.