The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-06-01
RESULT On AN INQUEST
Investigation of the VIM. Penn
Explosion Concluded.
REYNOLDS FIRED T7HE GAS
witnesses Testify That the victims Went
Into Part of the Mine Where Their
Work Did Not CAN Them and With
Nak d Lamp.

The inquest in the cases of Michael
Reynolds, David Fisher and John Stone,
the three men who died at the Miners
hospital at Fountain Springs from the
effects Of burns received in an explosion
of gas in the Holmes vein of the VIM.
Penn colliery, was concluded in town last
night by Deputy-Coroner Manley and a
jury comprising Messrs. p. j. Cleary, F.
j. Brennan, j. H. Manley, Charles Wit
cufsky p. F. Monaghan and John Scanlan.
The evidence showed that Reynolds
fired the gas and that the three victims
were responsible for their deaths because
they went into a part of the mine where
they had been warned that gas existed
and part into which their work did not
call them. One of the witnesses was very
positive on the latter point and empha-
sized the statement with the remark that
the only reason for the men going into
that part of the mine was to get loose coal
mined by Others
Notwithstanding the character of this
testimony some members of the jury con-
sidered that there had been a technical
violation of the mine law and for some
time after the witness retired the jury re-
mained in session discussing proposition
to censure the colliery officials A com
promise verdict was eventually agreed
upon.
James Coogan was called and testified
| that he was miner and had worked %
years at the VIM. Penn colliery. He was
| at the bottom of the slope when the eX-
| plosion occurred. When John Stone was
| brought out Coogan asked how the ac-
cident happened. Stone said they went
into the place without a safety lamp and
| Reynolds fired the gas. He said he was
| in the chute and Reynolds was above.
| Coogan further testified I'VE always had
safety lamps of our own and took care
| of ourselves but the fire boss would at
tend at any time we notified him, That
has been the custom since | have been
in that part of the mine, which is from
two to three years. All the men were
satisfied that it was necessary for them to
go in there in the mornings without
depending upon the fire boss. | have been
robbing in that mine for from 10 to 20
years and we have always looked after
| our own places. The men had been noti-
| fed to beware-that there was gas in the
old breast about 10 yards above the place
these men were supposed to be working.
The man who fired the gas was supposed
to be one of the most competent men in
the place, but the two men went up with
out a safety lamp. 1t was not necessary
| to take safeties up there previous to a
week or eight days before the accident
happened, when we were notified that
there was gas there"
Frank Sweeney, a miner, testified he
had worked at the colliery for about seven
years and in the place where the men
| were burned about two years He was at
the bottom of the slope when the explos
ion took place. Subsequently he asked
Fisher, one of the victims, how it happened.
Fisher said he was in the monkey"
Continuing, Sweeney testified, 1.-THE men
had no business there, They went further
than their work and if they had not gone
| 3 thaa naia ,nf hny,
pened. Isaw gas in the place about OF
8 days previous to the explosion. 1t was
about % yards above my battery. | noti
fled Coogan, McSurdy, Reynolds and
Stone that there was gas up there, but
didn't notify the fire boss. | examined
my own place. 1t was customary. The
fire boss might come in there ten times
and never get in your place once, because
the place may be working and there was
no manway or other means for the fire
boss to get up, so we concluded
to take care of the place ourselves
never qualified before a Justice
of the Peace TO examine gases
If those men had waited until / got il
and pulled down that loose coal they
would be alive to-day, There were si2
men working in the place. Coogan, Stone
Reynolds and McSurny were partners anC
| Fisher and me were butties. For month
or two before that day Reynolds nevel
walked in from the bottom of the slope
we always waited for a ride in; but that
morning Reynolds walked in ahead of us
If the fire boss had gone in there HI
would not have found the gas, becaus,
the place was working more or less and
don't think he could have got up to it."
Inspector Stein: "Mr. Sweeney, do
understand you that these men were try
ing to take coal that didn't belong Il
them"
2 A. THAT is the understanding
George McSurdy, miner, and having
2 worked or years at the colliery, and II
this particular place for a couple of years
: testified that he was at the bottom of tn
n slope when the gas exploded. The plac
was about three-quarters of mile from
G the bottom. He met Reynolds on tn
turnout about or hundred yards fron
C the slope. McSurdy continued, "Reynold
told me he fired the gas. asked hin
e how far he went up and Stone made tn
., remark He went too far Reynolds sat
I he didn't have a safety lamp. | also eX
p amined for gas in the morning befor
starting TO work, but never qualified be
q | fore a Justice of the Peace. / neye
agreed with any one to look after the gas
c but it was understood between us that W
would attend to IL ourselves Man
times we went to places where the fir
boss conld hardly get into The fire bOs
was not in the habit of coming to sucl
places and l never requested him to &
there"
Philip Jones testified that he had bee
fire boss of the mine for over twelv
years The day previous to the acciden
e he visited that part of the mine and foun
no gas. He had visited the place twic
that week. He had no instructions frOn
his superiors not to examine that place il
the morning. The men said they woul
look after it.. Reynolds said they woul
take care of that They told him Jones
several times they would take care of
| themselves.
Richard Palmer, inside foreman, test
!. fed ut is impossible to keep the curren
Of air running when you are robbinl