The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-06-19
THE JURY'S VERDICT .
Origin Of the Colorado Mine
Fire Undetermined.
OF EVIDENCE
There is a suppositlon as to How It Oc-
CURED But the Jury Did Not Feel
justified in Fixing the Responsibility on
Anyone.

4Ahgbhbs
The inquest on the bodies of Sober
Pranzie and August Loupid, the victims
of the fire in the Colorado mine was con
tinued before Deputy Coroner Donoghue
and jury at Girardville last night and
concluded. Several witnesses were ex-
amlned, but it was impossible to get any
positive evidence as to how theIfre started
and the jury 80 decided.
Some of the witnesses ventured opinions
and these were so conflicting that the
jury did not feel justified in accepting any
of them as a guide, although Mine In
spector Stein stated that from his knowl-
edge of the workings and testimony of
some of the witnesses he was almost con
WINGED that the fire originated from tim
Der IN the counter chute ignited by the
lamp of a driver.
The report that two men who were at
work in the mine when the fire started
had disappeared, presumably to escape the
consequences resulting from responsibility
for the fire, was thoroughly investigated
1t was learned that but one man ran away
and Is still missing, but the witnesses
stated that they did not think he disap
peared on account of the fire, but because
he owed a large board bill and was other
wise heavily in debt. The second man
supposed to be missing was a witness at
the inquest.
Dr. Brady, of Lost Creek, said that he
was called to the mines Immediately after
the bodies of the victims were discovered.
He examined them and was of the opin-
ION that the victims lived but few hours
in the chamber in which they were i'm.
prisoned.
Superintendent ID. p. Brown testified
that he was summoned to the mine after
the discovery and found the bodies living
close together, face downward. He was
OF the opinion that the victims survived
Tor several hours because they had built a
battery to protect themselves from the
smoke and gases and the oil cans of the
men were found near the bodies half full
of water.
The superintendent could not give the
origin of the fire. He said the Lehigh
Valley Coal Company would be willing
tO.spend thousands of dollars to determine
Anthony O'Donnell, loader, and who
was supposed to be one of the men who
had disappeared, testified that on the
night the fire started he was engaged in
loading coal on the west level of No. /
slope and at the foot of the counter chute
in which the fire started. He worked
there about six hours but did not know
how the fire originated. He and Thomas
j etferson were the only men loading out
OF the chute. O'Donnel nitted that
he went up to the top of the counter chute
that night and returned. He went up to
see how much coal was in the chute.
Michael Curdutf, a miner, testified that
at about eighteen minutes after midnight
he was on his way out of the mine after
quitting work and saw smoke which
looked like sheet of canvass. He re-
ported 1t TO the foreman and Curduff and
the foreman went back and found there
was fire in the counter chute.
Thomas Mckeon, the inside foreman,
was next sworn. He said Curduff re
orted the fire to him. The leaders
started work at about four o'clock in the
afternoon. They went in after the breaker
stopped. The working time was six hours
The men Travelled in on the west Nam
moth gangway on the drift level, then on
the water level and went into 50 breast,
then across to SO breast, then down to the
first counter, then to No counter, and il
was in what is called No, where the men
lost their lives. They were found in No. 2
counter gangway, opposite breast 0S
driven up from the slope west gangway.
Mr.. Mcheon was questioned by Mine
Inspector stein as to whether he knew of
any previous fires in the mine during his
,Mckeon's) bosship and said there was
one in the water level gangway at No. 2l
breast, south dip. Men were standing
timber and in lifting collar their naked
lights ignited the laggings. The fire was
speedily quenched. That was year ago,
Or more, Since that there has been fire
in No. slope, starting from similar
cause, and there was another of little
account, canvas was ignited. This was
IN the West Buck mountain.
Questioned on DrppautiOng Mr. McKaop
said he had told the leaders at the place
where the last fire occurred to be very care
Lul with their lamps and he had required
some men 20 stand timber with lanterns
and to throw water Oh the timber before
starting work.
In answer to question as to whether the
use of the Clanny safety lamp in the mine
would be precautiOn against fires and
loss of life Mr.. McKeon said it would.
Mr., Mckeon was surprised to hear that
Anthony O'DOnnell, the loader, had tes-
,ihed he walked up to the top Of the
counter chute. He said the loader had no
business up there. There was no old tim
Der in the lower part of the counter chute.
put there was some down ON the gangway. |
After the fire McKeOn asked Thomas
Jeilerson, the other loader, why he set the |
place on fire and jefferson answered he
lid not do 1t. jefferson added that he |
got up on car to top the coal off and
Mcheon said, Then you are the man
who set the fire Off, - but jefferson denied |
{.
Thomas Hogan testified that he and
Michael Curdutf worked together. Hogan |
discovered smoke in the Holmes tunnel, |
BUT didn't see any fire. At first he inn
.giued it was powder smoke, but upon
he truth he made his way
'ut OF the mine and notified the foreman |
James Kelly the driver for O'Donnel, |
ma jefferson, the leaders, told of the cars |
paded aud hauled out on the night OF the |
IRE Niid In answer 20 Mine Inspector
'ieln's question as 20 whether he had any |
'eaeon 10 believe that either Of the leaders |
yets under the influence OF drink, be au- |
Wered that he aid not jefferson had
'ny worked three or four shifts i'm the
'laoe, but 1fD0nnell had been there for
Ome time
At th'f Inside Foreman MeKeon