Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-02-06
THE MAMMOTH NINE
THE CORONER INVESTIGATING TIE CAUSE OF
TIE DISASTER.
Many Experts Are on Hand TO Tsstify-COnaict-
lag Opinions Regarding the Manner Of the
Death Of the Victims-Gas Neyr
Known 10 Fave Been in the Nine.

hlVNH " Law bOoH ~ Wv --A-Ns
GREENsBURG, PA, February 5.-The
inquest on the death of the l07 miners
ut Mammoth began here this morning.
The town is crowded with miners and
their families, from the Connellsville re-
gion, who are here TO attend the in
quest.
The miners sent for Messrs. Rea and
Watchorn, who arrived at 12 o'clock
to-day. The Frick Company is rep
resented by Messrs Lynch and Moor
head.
Coroner j. B. Wakefield had deter
mined TO hold the inquest in the Court
House, but at the last moment IL was
found that the courS rooms were en-
gagged. The inquest was held in Nc
Causland Hall. II is little hall and
was soon OvercrOwded, so that many
witnesses were compelled to remain in
the freezing halls for hours. In the as
semblage were number OF women;
few of them, however, bad lost any hear
relatives o., the explosion and the ma
jority seemed I'd have been attracted by
curiosity.
The number Of witnesses was con
fined, according to Coroner Wakelield's
orders, TO 10 on each side. They were,
however, examined eXhaustively, and
the jury appreciated, after the first wit
ness was heard, that it was in for long
sitting. The jury consists of II. G.
Lomison, foreman; B. +. Byers, Levi
Cline, Frank Stump, Luther Fansold
and Hiram Snively. For the occasion
the Coroner has retained III. w. Walk
instow as his attorney.
A noticeable feature Of the inquest is
the number of mining experts who have
been attracted TO the place by the eX
poSion. There are mine inspectors here
from four districts in Pennsylvania and
two in Ohio, besides fire bosses from
over 90 mines. They are all prepared
to give expert testimony If it is desired.
The Legislative Commission has wired
for a full report OF the evidence brought
out at the Coroner's inquest to be used
in conjunction with its own in making
up the report.
John Igoe was the first witness called.
He worked at the United mines, and
had worked in the Mammoth mine. He
thought that the latter mine was safe
When he worked there William Snaith
was considered competent.
George Pfeffer, an eX-engineer at the
Mammoth, said he had seen Snaith's
name signed to the report, showing that
he had examined the mine. He thought
Snaith was always sober when at work.
Miners said the mine was sufficiently
ventilated.
John Eaton was a Mammoth digger,
and his brother was mine boss. He
never heard that there was gas in the
mine. lie had dug coal AZ years. Never
thought there was any danger in using
an open lamp In the Mammoth mine.
He could tell whether there was gas in
a mine by the flckering Of his lamp. lie
had seen Snaith before the explosion,
and Snaith was sober. He had been
through the mine, and it took him four
hours to inspect It.. Snath told him he
could do it in an hour and half. He
had been fire boss for three days and
never discovered any gas in the mine.
Peter Wise aud c. NJ. Parker, repre-
senting the United Mine Workers,
croSs-examined Eaton, aud the latter
said it would take six hours to examine
the entire mine.
Jacob Shenk said that three fire
bosses had been employed at the mine,
but one was laid of prior to the explo-
sion. Had heard cOmplaintS OF bad air
in the shaft. lie had known OF several
gas feeders being in the mines.
James BOal said he left the mine the
day before the explosion; heard Of gas
in the mine and heard Snaith say there
was pleaty of gas; never heard Of Snaith
being drunk on duty. He thought the
explosion was caused by gas in the roof,
and that fall allowed it to escape. 1t
lignited before it could rise again. He
thodght there was 100 cubic feet of air
per minute for every miner in Mann
moth.
w. NJ. Murray, miner, worked in ID
shaft, and never heard OF gas in the mine.
He thought the explosion was due to
fire damp.
Pierre Lowther examined the dip on
December Il, and found no indication OF
gas. lie thought feeder could pro-
duce enough gas between and Q 9o'clock
to produce and explosion. Snaith was
his father-n-law, and was home the
night before the explosion. LOwther
was the discharged fire boss. He said
IL took three hours for him to examine
the slope. lie had seen Snaith after the
examination on January q. Snaith
had been through the mine, reported,
and went back to work.
At the conclusion of Lowther's testi-
mony, the Court adjourned until l
o'clock.
Coroner Wakefield warned Attorney
Parker. of the Mine Workers, that he
must not argue with witnesses and en-
deavor to confuse them.
Superintendent Lynch said this morn
ing that he had tried electric lighting
at the Trotter mine in 1856. lie had
mt i'm dynamos and thoroughly wired
the mine, and he was then warned by
Ieyperts from Philadelphia that the eX-
periment was dangerous; that any
breaking of a lamp would cause an ex-
plosion. and that the covering on the
wire would wear out and they would
omit sharks. lie therefore abandoned
the project
Clerk Harrison, Of the Frick Com
nanv. said that "a men had been laid OIL
prior to the Mammoth explosion, ard
that made difference of II workings
or rooms. Under the law those work
ings need not have been examined more
than twice a month, as no gas was
known TO exist in them.
When the investigation was resumed
at 1870 o'clock this afternoon. James
Ducan was the first witness called. lie
said that he never had any trouble with
gas at Mammoth. He had seen Snaith
drunk. He thought the men were
killed by slate falling upon them ana
not by explosion. They carried their
Iomns in their hands. Never heard OF
complaints of bad air.
THE HaZLETON HORROR.
No New Developments - Pumping the