The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-18

that it was the duty of the cor
oner to ascertain the cause NJ
death. and that of the inspector to deter
mine the circumstances that led to the ex.
plosion. Justice Gamble canvassed the
| question at length with Public Prosecutor
McFall before the jury began the investi-
cation, and concluded to pursue the course
that was first begun. Senator Rutter. of
Seattle, father of the present mining law,
was at Roslyn this morning, and he
thought that the plan Of Investigation was
not irregular.
A number Of witnesses were examined
today, and their testimony was in several
instances rather conflicting. The COM
mittee of experts appointed by the miners
as whole, held to the opinion that gas
ignited in the seventh east entry, but there
was division of opinion as to the point
OF explosion. Other well-known and ex-
perlsnced miners contended that shot
mad been fired in the cross-cut between
the fifth and sixth levels. which ignited
gas and caused both q gas and dust ex-
piosion. Numerous theories were pre-
sented and elaborately explained.
James McGovern, OF the Miners COM
mittee, was the first witness sworn. He
had prepared written statement as to the
condition of the slope as he found it after
the explosion. He had never worked in
gaseous mines, but was somewhat familiar
with the theories of gas explosions. Tne
seventh east entry between the face and
the manway was, in his opinion, the point
OF ignition. He had made minute ex-
animation of the entrance level and was
satisfied that no shots were fired there.
As to the drill hole in the cross-cut be-
tween the sixth and fifth levels,
ne was confident that the hole
was never made with powder.
The hole was drilled, he thought, to
enable the miners in the cross-cut to see
now far apart they were. but miscalcula-
ton was made in setting the drill. He
found considerable gas in the manway,
and not enough air in circulation to carry
1t away. In this kind of coal it would be-
an easy matter to detect when powder had
been used. The original drill hole, as it
had been left by the deceased miners, lad
beeu scraped out and enlarged since the
explosion, and no powder marks were to
be seen there.
Twenty-four years experience in mines
in Washington and Wales. Joseph Watson
thought, qualified him for a competent
witness in this case. Mr.. Watson had
done considerable work in the slope, and
was familiar with all its gaseous features
His testimony was very lengthy, and he
had an elaborate theory as to the cause of
the explosion. In his judgment the point
OF ignition was in the seventh east entry,
from whence the flames spread and began
to expand, causing air vibrations which
raised the dust in the upper Levels; and
that in consequence at the fourth east
entry an explosion resulted, from the con-
crr0 ->f I'll l.
manways, air courses and entries below
the fourth level, rebounding and carrying
death and destruction with it. The drill
hole. he thought, was put in with good in
tentions. and he was certain from the
indications that no shot had been
fired at that point. The air in
| the lower levels at the time
| was also insufficient to take gas impurities
| away. He credited Mr.. Harrison as being
cautious in the work, and when notified
of gas deposits in explosive quantities he
went presumably to inspect the dangerous
places. Watson was in the slope at the
time Gregory, the negro driver, was killed
by an explosion, and he narrowly
escaped by falling fat on his face
and laying there until the flames
had passed over. The witness
stated that gas was found more frequently
at an inexplosive point than at an ex-
piosive point, the humidity of the atmos-
phere affecting the quality of the gas.
Other witnesses who thought that the
gas ignited at the seventh east entry were
John Graham, brother of Robert
Graham, who was killed at the cross
cut: John Morgan, Welshman with
thirty-seven years experience as coal
miner, and John Mansei.
Lewis J. Moore worked in the crosscut
after the explosion, assisting in drilling
the hole through the barrier to get into
the manway. He saw no indications of
powder being used in that vicinity. He
had seen a miner operating a churn drill
in the hole to see If any tamping was there,
Only white substance came out when
the drill was withdrawn. Gas was found
escaping from the drill hole, but no cracks
were found.
Edward Hamilton had worked in the
slope for six months, and had an expert
ence of twenty-five years in mines. He
worked in the east entry and had fair
ventilation. In his judgment the drill
hole in the crosscut had been fired. He
was present when the hole was cut
through after the explosion by operating
the drill. When the drill was first taken
out black substance like burned powder
came with it, and white substance the
next time. Gas came ont of it, but not at
en- explosive point. He found indications
| of powder marks in the hole.
William Reese, who worked for some
time in the slope, thought that the venti-
| lation In the lower levels was not sufli-
cient to carry away the gas, which ex-
! listed in greater or less quantities in the
| levels below the fourth. Brettice was al
| ways furnished on demand.
Mr.. Morgan considered the basis OF the
| plan of the mine good. but the plan as .
whole was, he thought, defective princi-
| pally because OF the poor system OF
! handling the ventilation. Air sufficient
| to sustain 500 men was forced by the fan
into the slope. but the leakage was so great
| that but a small quantity went to the bot
| tom of the workings.
| George Harrison was again placed upon
| the stand. and he testified that he was in
! directly in charge of the ventilation, Fore
man Shaw working under him. Mr.. Har-
rison thought that in the ventilation Of
mines the intake should bo
| he largest and the ontake the
| smallest, although leading authorities
| take an opposite view. He thought that
1 the gas was ignited in the sixth east man
| way and the balance was a dust explosion.
| Mr.. Harrison stated that he had worked
| i'm the mine in the slope. On the day Of
the explosion he had at work one of the
best known and most reliable fremen he
| had ever met namely Jacob Weatherby.
| deceased and he felt confident that