The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-11

At yesterdays session Of the commits
sion investigating the Twin shaft dis
aster little evidence that was new ol
startling was elected. the witnesses fol
the most part being called to corrobor-
ate those who were heard yesterday.
A crowd even larger than that OF the
first day was present at both sessions
Attorney General Mccormick was not
present, but was represented by his
deputy. John p. Elkin. Of Indiana.
David Davis, civil engineer of the
Newton Coal company. was the hrs,
witness called to the stand. He did no,
think that the accident was caused
by the weakness of the pillars or the
manner Of placing them. The average
width of the pillars was twenty feet
The manner of placing the pillars might
have u tendency to weaken the mine
The driving of chambers though largt
pillars also had a tendency to weaker
the mine. 1t looks as If II Is possible
that the accident might have beer
superinduced by the manner of work
ing the mines. He never heard tina,
any mining engineers or surveyors hat
refused to go in the mine at any time
because of its dangerous condition. HE
noticed a disturbance about 800 fee
square on Thursday before the acct
dent, The operators knew of this.
TO Mr.. STEMS questions he stated
that the general superintendent, Mr.
Langan. directed what the width o
the pillars should be.
The attorneys for the miners neX
called John B. Law, the general manag
er of the company.
, ,,,
''i''-
The Newton Coal company he sait
IN answer to Mr.. MrGoVern's question
operates three shafts, Seneca, Ravin'
ana lWin, anu one breaker. the Sene
ga. lie hihseil mas peen general man
aser SINCE is9.' ne does not go iht'
''it i'l''S resu'ariy ana Is not iah'iii'
",.N az! o' t,'' mines
9|!t' ,h'e''',v"' Lahsah ,Iiu c''"isr -
NV ,',,S va Ia" NV, N.Iw W. M
~ ~ "' ,'S ' III"
s",,' 80 anu 'm"'oS "s,e opene'
~ =. ~. WIZ, 'u."s -. - '.e', III MS op','U' y,
70 -" a.., ~ iea, ,"e,, ~.
ly beneath them in the sixth vein. Th
i'e.nou vi "'lii','s "' the i"'' snai
"'e. "'s "pp,o' al
va .n e"e
- 49,. ~ ,.n . n .. ."'e" "' ~
r,'> -, "> :.
80, -" 20" ",
,,,,,,a Tt,a ,a,",,.,,. ~ . Is,
am,. r,,as II 10 NOT bod ,nir,nE ~ ",
oni,i,n ,,, ona,, .,n,,,o,,, tn ,ha ,,.;d,,
of Q, feet ~ nroner sized ni,lars ar. Iaf
tn nrotect rho roof
The company furnished the miner
with all the props that was necessar,
ON the Sunday morning of the acciden,
II was necessary. he admitted, to sen
to Scranton for two car loads of props
These however, were extra sized prop
which were usually kept on hand.
Mr.. Wheaton. attorney for the. com
pany wanted to show by Mr.. Law. tha
the COMPANY would not mine Goa
i'm a reckless manner in the tw
lower veins when it has two O
three veins. of unmined coal to b
gotten out from above these veins.
AN ob'ftIloN fAisED.
The attorneys for the miners object
ed to this questioning as the fact tina
the company was liable to lose som
coal had no bearing on the inquest.
Chairman stein, however. admitte
the question and Mr. Law answere
that If his fears are correct, the com
tha % unnar xa,ns ION" ' '@ wal ''''
John Williams. company hand a
| the Twin. who on the fatal night cam
| out with Hughes. Healey and the other
was next called by the attorneys 70
| the families. On the Saturday pre-
ceding the night of the caye-in he NO
ticed a su,Ieeze not over five hundre
feet from the foot OF the shaft Tb
width of the cbambers opd ,onou.oy
NJ tho Tyin is I'm bis onip,on Prov, q
to % feat In his on,n,on Tho onon,ro
,,,.,o too large for s.f.t,, uo ,h,a,,.
"a .h. s,ooa ,as, ,naar ~ ,oos T., ~,
ss.,, 1T, r.hara .hroa .,,,ou VI
nv. IL, ''"'e p''a's "a
| O' 'ne i"a' ".s"' nc "en' uaeA !ht
.i'e "'i"e ou' .o"iu "o' set uo"h INT
! the "orki"ss because oi the 1ail ina
had occurred. Aiter waltihe at IN
foot OF the oridge Ior TWO hours ne wen
out on account OF the danger.
He never saw General Manager Lay
In the mine and only saw InSDectC