West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-02-05

I "orkeu, found the air good. / don't
think with the current of air they
had, enough gas could accumulate to
cause the explosion. The doors
ought to be watched while blasting,
unless there were pulleys or strings
| saw no one connected with the
work who was intoxicated.
Ed Cook = was in mine up till 8 a.
m. of the morning of the explosion
Had naked lamp, saw fire damp
once when door was of, saw it in
one minute, Bratt called US out at
once ;also saw gas light in the main
heading once.
William Squires worked in mines
four days last month The air was
pretty good. There was some Gas
in my room, and it event off," I
quit work because | thought there
was danger from boys and inexper.
fenced persons leaving doors open.
was told to keep my lamp down.
In mine of that kind there should
be eXperinced miners. The fire oss
was not in my room at all, and never
said any thing about the condition
OF the mines in the morning. There
was careless set of men in the mine
John f. B-at;-Was mploy ed Au
gust 10 last, and staid up till Mon.
day before the explosion. Was
mining boss during that time-my
duty was to see that coal was got
out and carry out Laxtons instruc.
tions. | asked Laxton if they want
ed me to boss inside. He said ives
But / would not be responsible, for
gas. That was David Evans bust.
ness. Then Timmons took Evans
place. Timmons, | think was a com.
petent man. His duty and mine
were distinct. lie was to look after
the ventilation. The door Cook
spoke of was doAn or of an hour
called the men out and would not
let them go back. / or 3 feet of gas
had accumulated while the door WAS
down. When left OH Monday tho
McWilliams ditch was about 80 feet
from the door, | did not quit on &C.
count of danger. | had seen some
of the officials of the mine under the
influence Of liquor. Saw Laxton so
once or twice while in the discharge
of his duties. Once too much so to
have clear Judgment. / never felt
any danger in working under lis in.
Structions and relying upon myself.
t the fire boss is absent from one
place 2 hrs. he is not doing his duty
The door Miller spoke of is 800 or
600 feet from the shaft. A man who
would not know the consequences of
leaving door open is not n safe man.
There is danger of an explosion
with inexperienced miners, unless
there is a constant supervision over
doors &c. There was more or less
leaking of air at all the doors, all
the coal was taken down by blasting
which frequently ignited the gas.
w. NJ. Paul-Had conversation
with McWilliams few days before
the explosion. He said he was 90.
ing to tap dead room to carry wa.
ter to stump" he was then digging q
ditch lie did not think there was
any danger at that me
David Evans Worked in shaft
from beginning 20 within two months
ago, was FIRE boss, until Timmons
came. My duty was to go down in
morning and see if there was any
gas, and come back, and meet the
men and tell them, also, it was my
duty to see about the doors, | had
nothing else TO do, had no reason
for quitting or differing from Laxton' 9
instructions. When q ditch was be-
ing made the men were oil called out
by order Of Laxton, it effects the air
all through the mine, we were four
hours in connecting; 8 feet Of gas
had farmed 200 feet from far end of
work. Next morning the mine was
clear The explosion went against
the air current
NJ. f. Grimes-Timmons would
not get toxicated, know Of Laxton
taking a drink, but not getting in.
toxicated, am carpenter at shaft.
Richard Helper at black.
smith shop, gave boys drink Of beer
we kept at shop, gave Laxton drink
once, never saw him drunk.
w. w. Brooks Superintendent
Of Moundsville mines, said the ex.
plosion was toward the shaft. the
door where McWilliams work seemed
not to have been closed at the time