Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-03
NOT THE FIRST TINE.
CONTINUED from first paae.]

bosses, w, SDaith and his son-in-law. There
| were from 200 to go miners in the workings.
Senator limestone man is enough to every
working place. 1t was difficult TO say where
| the gas came from. There were always feeders
in the mine and some in the main air way.
There were two continuous feeders. one near
| bull wheel and the other on the travelling way
turning of the timbered heading and which
could be lighted at any time There was S al
ways enough air to carry this gas away. Inc
whole mine had but two fire bosses
| Complied With the Mining Law.
Inspector William Jenkins was examined by
Senator Thompson and stated that he had been
| engaged IN the mining business since he was a
boy. He was 50 years old. He had been mine
| inspector IN this district for six years. He
knew Eaton, the mine boss, for hve or Six
| years. He was here about year. he met him
| some five or six times during that time. Eaton
sent him all the reports each month, and he
| considered that he had complied with the
| mining law. The witness went through
the mine on the 18th OF January,
ventilation was A IN fair condition. He made
measurements of air, and found that
there was 5000 cubic feet passing in at the
inlet every minute and this wa was split, gag feet
mine. There was TO- $50 feet at the third fiat.
and l0040 at the second fiat. The fire boss re-
ported to him that there was no gas in the mine.
| Witness found the fire boss marks at some
places. The absence of works in other
| places might be accounted for by the miners
taking off the marks as they advanced. All
| had naked lights. Safety lamps were never
| used. He never saw gas in the dip workings
during the last IL months. He always asked
| the mining boss as to the condition OF the mine.
He considered it a safe mine to work without
safety lamps He had spoken to Superin-
tendent Lynch about putting IN air COM
pressors instead of steam, and the change was
| made. The only thing that could have averted
the accident was by the fire boss discovering he
had fire in the mine and using safety lamps.
If these lamps had been used the catastrophe
would have been averted.
Being asked to give some information reia-
tive to the accident, Inspector Jenkins said
that the men had started to draw the ribs ten
days before, and in doing so had drawn posts.
and the strata over the roof had fallen. There
was also Squeeze" and the probability was
that gas had generated on the fall, and being
caught by a gust of wind would be brought
down on the lamps. ignite and spread and In
dust would have intensified the explosion and
generated oarbonic oxide gas (afterdamp),
which was a deadly poison.
The System of Robbing.
To Senator Thompson the Inspector stated
that the mine was being robbed" in drawing
the ribs, ana that squeeze had followed on the
robbing. HE thought that the system of draw
ing out and widening rooms, as was the system
used here. was proper one. In some mines
the rooms were driven AND larger pillars left
than was the case here. He thought that there
could not have been great amount OF fire.
damp, judging by the small amount OF damage
in the mine. outside of the loss of life. There
was considerable squeezing where the ex-
plosion occurred. There has been gas
since in the rooms and where the fall oc.
There he is also good raising nop ds
cover any feeders in the bottom. He was OF
opinion that the gas generated at the time OF
the explosion came from the fall in the roof.
A certain amount of coal is always left to pro-
tect the slate.
Examined by Senator Hines. the witness
said 1t was wise plan to use safety lamps at
points where pillars were being driven. He
noted that there were no fire boss marks on
two places where men had been working. The
number of fire bosses employed de-
pended on circumstances. The fall was
pointed out the locality on the map. He be-
1ieved that if safety lamps had been employed
in drawing ribs that the explosion would not
could not examine all the dip workings in
the time given him-two hours. If there were
any rooms which had not the marks the fire
boss had not visited them, as in duty bound.
The Cause of the Accident
Senator Hines-What caused the accidentf
Inspector Jenkins-An explosion of gas.
The Senator-Whar caused itf
The Inspector-A naked light.
The Senator-How did the gas come theref
1nspector-The gas was liberated by a fall of
slate from the roof. II the fire boss had exam
ined the place and found gas he should not
"all right" There are no old workings near the
dip" workings. it is all solid coal land. There
are no old workings near the point of explosion.
He knew Snaitb, the deceased fire boss for five
or SIX years. and regarded him as a competent
man. He had reason to believe he performed
his duty; never mad any complaints about him,
and never heard anything bad ;; about him ,;,I He
beer when off duty. He had inquired into
Snaith's character before he gave him
his certificate as fire boss. He had ex-
r,1fr ,f0
of law, on safety lamps. gases. ventilation. etc.
He had heard rumors about him since he got
the certificate. He heard Snaith had been to
Greensburg for a certificate as mine boss, and
that not getting 1t he had felt mad. and going
over to Kecksburg had got . little boozy. He
would on that occasion, probably, have been
under the influence of drink.
Trying to Avoid Trouble.
At this point there was some interruption,
due to a remark of Superintendent Lynch's.
Representative Mullin said that the committee
was not there to precipitate any conflict be-
tween the firm and the employees.
$50 far as know" said Mr.. Lynch, there
is the best of feeling between the firm and the
employees"
the only subponas issued have been to en-
ployes; none have been served on the firm"
"Yes, )" rejoined Mr.. Lynch. land there has
been committee going around seeking to find
out what they can against the firm"
Then followed criticisms on the present
mining law, and Senator Thompson said: 1--WE
are ali agreed that the existing mining law,
both here and in the anthracite regions. IS de-
fectiye. / suggest that every inspector here
present do suggest such improvements to it as
may occur to him, and make joint report to
this committee. We will wait a week or so for
you."
He Helped in the Inspection.
John Eaton miner and brother of the mine
boss, was in the pit at the time of the explosion
He took one of the fire bosses places and went
through from two to three fats, while
Snaith took the rest. SnaIth told him he
wasn't to go into the old places, but he did SO
every morning. No man could make a careful
examination of the mine in less than four
hours. There was plenty Of work for three fire
bosses. Keighley paid one boss off and told the
others not to go in the mine on idle days. He
never saw gas in the mine. There were small
feeders Of gas in the mine. Snalth was burned
at time of former explosion.
George Petfer an engineer, was burnt by gas
while attending to a pump in the mine. The
fire boss had been there shortly before because
| he (Peffer) signed the report and the ink was
| not dry.
Miner Carroll testified to the condition of
the mine. He thought the fire boss was cul-
pable. He only saw three safety lamps at the
| mine. Snaith could take drink like any other
man. There were once three fire bosses en-
| ployed but two of them had been laid off as he
was told, to save expenses.
| w. H. Durrall knew of a small feeder of gas
| in the head of IA which would burn for half a
| minute Small falls were frequent.
Stewart Gordon had been i've years in the
| mine and knew of two explosions. Saw
| Snaith in mine morning Of accident and took
| him to be sober. The week before saw gas in
| the dip" The reduction on the number of
| hands was about one-third
James Conlen SAID that the men used to go
| to Work without waiting for fire boss. They
| looked at the face TO see If 1t was right.