The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-19

a. 70 the testimony that ex-Superintend-
ent Ronald would give when placed on the
stand. and when he Was called this morn
ing every ear was aier: 70 eaten MS eSi-
dence. Mr.. Ronald stated that his expe-
rience in coal mining covered period OF
forty-6ve years, having worked in Scot
land, England and America. he hao
handled men with safety lamps for many
years; was for six years state mine IN
spoctor in Illinois, and for the
past three years general superintendent OF
the Northern Pacific Coal Companys
mine at Roslyn. He stated that when the
slope was first started it was largely an
experimental proposition to determine II
the coal was level in the bottom. AT that
time the men were driving the slope by
contract, doing their own bratticing.
Later the slope force was increased in
order to expedite the work, and the brat
tees were made of tongued and grooved
lumber. at the company's expense.
vithout deducting from the price
on contract work. jacob Weatherby,
nnder whom the witness worked in
the East. and whom he considered one Of
the most cautious and capable men he had
ever known, had charge Of the brattice-
*. y
work was within 10 feet of complete cir
culatlon, independent of the slope. The
plan was TO ultimately give every entry
an independent current of air by splitting,
no tina. IL an explosion occurred on one
entry none of the Others would be affected.
He consided the plan as embracing all
the latest and best features OF nineteenth
century coal mines. When he left
IF f.> IN
the slope was in good condition. He was
down on April % and found fair ventils-
ton to the face Of the slope. There was
no gas that could he detected by Davy
lamp. The fan which supplied the slope
with air usually made 1870 revolutions per
minute. and an average $1,000 cubic feet
OF gas were put into the slope per minute.
For the last six weeks it had been making
$50 revolutions every minute. Mr.. Ronald
stated that the plan of the slope
was his own, and that Mr.. Harrison
worked under his instructions. As to the
cause of the explosion, he would not swear
that a shot was fred i'm the much referred
to driiihole in the crosscut between the
fifth and sixth levels, but all the indica-
tions point to the explosion as having oc-
Cured there He thought that there was
picked up dust and gained velocity as 1t
progressed and struck the seventh entry,
whence the unexpended force separated
and passed up the slope and into the
different departments, making the disas-
ter general in the lower levels. He be-
lieved that dust was the chief factor in the
explosion. but thought that no coal dust
would explode OF itself All coal dusts
laru
to with small percentage Of gas in the
air. He considered Mr.. Harrison a thor
oughly competent man.
Robert Pettigrew, foreman of mine No.
2. and considered one of the best informed
men in the camp, gave it as his opinion
that the explosion was caused by small
quantities of gas, aggravated by dust, be-
lieving that the fame was impaired either
from naked lamp or powder. The point
of ignition was either on the outside or in
side of the crosscut between the fifth and
sixth levels. The lower parts Of the drill
hole gave indications of being fired, but
he would not swear to charge
of powder having been employed. He
considered the slope quite dirty, es-
pecially from the third level down. A
blowout would have been sufficient to put
dust is more explosive than others, and
the force was aggravated by this quality.
A number of witnesses were called to
establish the facts previously presented,
Thomas Ray, Thomas Houk, David w.
Reese and James Ingalls, being among
this number. Their testimony made no
material change in the evidence previously
educed.
nbA~k Nall hnsvr u -
stand, stated that he he had known Mr..
Weatherby, one of the deceased miners, to
have worked in the capacity of sub-fre-
man. Under the then existing conditions
he thought that the air in the lower levels
of the slope was fairly good, but the circu-
lation was impeded and leakage unavoid-
able by reason of the plan Of pumping the
air down, Mr.. Weatherby first drew his
attention to the light circulation on the
morning of the disaster, and it was attri-
buted to the leaving of doors open
or to the replacing of brattices. Mr.. Nell
son stated emphatically that the explosion
could be ascribed to carelessness or negli-
gence on the part of Foreman John Shaw.
Both the prosecutor and the inspector en-
deavored to stop the witness in voicing
his sentiment. but the latter proceeded
uutAi hC ISieNeu Ills
Harry Franklin testified that there was
big leakage of air. permitting gas to ac-
cnmulate in the crosseut between the fifth
and sixth levels and in the seventh entry.
John Graham testified As to having con-
structed the brattices, which were made
as tight as possible. The brattices could
not be made alright.
The relief committee received several
romittances today. ana notice was received
from Walla Walia to the effect that car
load Of provisions had been shipped. The
people OF Roslyn have contributed 50 100.
RIVER AND HARgoR BILL CIT.
Senate Committee Reduces Oregon and
California Appropriations.
WASHINGTON CfTy. May 1S.-The Senate
commerce committee today applied the
knife TO the river and harbcr bill, and de-
cided TO make cut of - per cent. on new
contracts and continue the ap-
preparation on old projects. The result
will TO reduction of the total
appropriation by s2,0ss, $50. bringing it
down TO $50. 2Sl, S6S. Among the projects
scaled down were: Humboldt. Cal. har-
Dor, from s2oO,o to $4,000; cascades of
the Columbia, from S4S5. 900 TO ss26. $50;
dalies of the Columbia from $3.50 900 TO
siS5.50o.
The action of the committee in vot.
ing TO make a reduction in tho
general river aud harhor bill of
about 1000. 000 Will not affect the state Of
Washington to any great extent. The
reductions proposed are on contir ing
appropriations. in which the Gu. of y ner
cent. is 20 he made in the amount