The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-01
THE MINE DISASTER.
THE JURY PLAoEs THE BLAME
On the DiSobSdIsncs of the Instructions OF
state MIno IaSpsCtOr Tucker by Super
intsndOnt Laxton IuRdsquasy OF
the Mining Aes of 1889,
Special DisputeA TO The MieIliqopar,

the Mining Act OF lSb3'
Special Diplieh 10 he IaieIliqsRer.
NEwsURa, W, Va, Jan. 30,-The Cor
oners jury in the mine disaster Goncludet
the taking Of testimony this afternoon
and at once held a private session to de
eide upon their verdict. The testimon!
since the first day has not been ssnsationa
or surprising A miner named Metz sait
to-day that he considered 1t would not be
safs to leave the doors open while blasting
was going on, lie never SAW any beer ID
the shaft or any one under the inhuenca
Of intoxiCants, at least 80 az to renderthsn
incompetent to perform their duty,
Expert Evans said he was convinced
from u visit to the mine to-day that ii g
explosion had started farther back in the
near which McWilliRms WAS thought to be
working at the time Of the explosion.
lie also observed that the ditch which
McWllliams and Hornby were making
was not finished to the door by nine
inches, He said that the accident was
caused by some door being open, and stop
ping the current. II the door referred 10
was knocked down IL would not have
made change in theCurrent that would
have been psrcephb!e by the men, and
thus have given them warning OF their
danger. He thought that MCWilliams
would have known better than to have
knocked down the door under which the
ditch that he was making would have to
pass. He considered the mine safe when
all the doors were kept shut,
State Inspector Tucker said 81 was
here 10 inspect this mine in October and
November last. | found Indications OF
gas in QUE or two oil the rooms. Some OF
the doors aud stopplngs leakeda little.
The amount OF air that passed through
the mine at that time was enough for the
twenty-five men that were then working.
There WAS not enough air for Bixty.lye
miners, neither did tell Mr.. L4xt0n -.
He must have misunderstood me. | spoke
10 him about undergraduates on the cage.
| spOke to him about AuOtber outlet oil air.
| thought 1t WIS Necessary for him to have
fan, which recommended" Mr.. Tucker
considered the mine dangerous.
The jury spent about two hours in deli.
berating, vt the end Of which time it re.
ported rs follows:
THE VERDICT.
The jary's verdict Is as follows; ave
the Jury empsnoled aud sworn to inquire
and true deliverance make in what man.
ncr and by what means the miners who
lost their lives IN the Mountain Brook
shaft OF the Newburg 0nel Coal Com.
pany on January q came 10 their death,
10 find that said deaths were caused by
explosion Of fire damp, which accumulated
by reason OF II door, or stop, being open
and changing the air current from It's
proper course, thereby depriying q large
portion OF the mine Of sufficient Ventila.
tion.
"The Jury also find violation Of the first
paragraph OF section ol chapter 70, act Of
1883; also fnd that the instructions oitho
Inspector OF Mines were being disregardcd
at the time Of the accident.
"ln addition to the foregoing verdict We
would say that We regret 10 lind that the
statute OF our State contains no ADEQUATE
law for tho protection OF the live1 Of that
portion Of our population engaged In min.
ing. The rapidly with which our vast
mineral resources are being developed,
and the large and constantly increasing
number oil persons engaged In mining,
and tho dangers 10 which they are SUD-
jeCt IN the pursuit OF their perilouJ call
ing, would appear to be ample argument
for the enactment OF laws that would in
sure, as far as possible, their health and
safety. On the contrary, We find upon
our statute books law protesting to regu.
late the working Of mines, but containing
only nominal penalties for Its violation.
It provides for the appointment OF astate
Inspector OF mines, while under its provi.
sion he can do but little than advise and
entreat those who disregard the act. We
mean no reflection upon those gentlemen
through whose efforts the law was enact.
ed, for they encountered difficulties which
prevented them making 1t what It should
be, and We congratulate them that they
were at least partially successful.
ut ID, ,however,to be hoped that our next
Legislature will give US law governing
the working and management OF mines
that will In itS provisions be Commen.
surate with It's Importance, and that other
horrors such as We have Just witnessed
will not be required to awaken them to a
sense OF their duties. And while we feel
that the duties Of the State Inspector OF
Mines are well defined and in this case
have beOu faithfully discharged, , yet unless
additional power or authority be given
him by law to be enforced by injunction
or otherwise to promptly restrain the
owner or operator Of a mine from further
prosecution Of the work or a failure to
obey his orders, or when Ills suggestions
are disregarded when In his Judgment
there Is danger OF ali accident, the law
creating his office can bp Of little benefit
TO those engaged in the dangerous calling,
and we feel Ito be our duty 10 thus pub.
liCly urge upon Our Lawmakers the neCes.
sity q radical change In our mining
laws"