The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-25

subjected to so much criticism of late
because of the slow progress that is be-
ing made towards the recovery Of the
bodies of the Twin shaft victims that
ii decided last week to bring together
the mining experts Of the region to pass
upon the methods they are employing
i'm the work of rescue.
In response to this invitation party
of twenty. including mine operators,
mining engineers and other experts met
at the shaft yesterday. They were:
l. A. Stearns. general manager Penn
sylvania railroad collieries: w. A. La
throp, general superintendent Lehigh
Valley Coal company; Mine Inspectors
Stein, Brennan, Davis, Mcdonald and
Roderick; j. l.. Cake. general manager
of Clear Spring Coal company; James
B. Davis, superintendent of Dodson and
Black Diamond collieries; E. H. LAW
all, superintendent of Lehigh and
Wilkes Barre Coal company; w. ].
Richards, mining engineer of Lehigh
and Wilkes Barre Coal company; Geo.
r. Morgan, general superintendent of
Susquehanna Coal company; c. D.
Simpson, of Simpson 4 Watkins: An
drew Dryden, consulting engineer
Pennsylvania Coal company; Isaac
Moister, division superintendent Lehigh
Valley Coal company; s. h. Bennett,
general superintendent Butler Mine
company; Alexander Dryden, superin-
tendent Pennsylvania Coal company;
w. ID. Owens, district superintendent
Lehigh Valley Coal company; W. G.
Thomas, superintendent <Latiin Coal
company: Henry Mcmillan, foreman
Pennsylvania Coal company; Colonel
Brown, division superintendent Lehigh
Valley Coal company; David Evans, su-
perintendent Stevens Coal company;
f. ID. Jenkins, general manager stevens
Coal company; George o. Thomas,
foreman Clear Spring Coal company;
James Young, assistant superintendent
Pennsylvania Coal company.
EXAMINED THE WORKINGS.
The officials of the Newton company
stated that they were desirous of re-
ceiving from these gentlemen any sug-
gestions concerning the matter, and
expressed willingness to eXpend any
amount of money that might be neces-
sary to recover the bodies.
The party went down the shaft and
mines aud maps of the property, the
unanimous expression of opinion by the
above mentioned gentlemen was that
they were surprised at the progress
which had been made. taking into ac-
count the condition of the mines. the
continuance of the squeeze, the pres
ence of an enormous quantity OF gas,
and the fact that no explosives could
be used in prosecuting the work. No
suggestions We're made that any better
method of working could have been
adopted. Their judgment was that
everything possible had been done, and
Is being done, to reach the bodies Of the
entombed men.
The question Of driving from the
Clear Spring workings through the pill
lar of coal between their mines and the
Twin shaft workings was taken up and
fully discussed; and it was decided that
ii was not only not practical. but use
less, and the Indications all showed that
the squeeze commenced in that locality.
or near the Susquehanna river. and the
gas which necessarily accumulated in
the Twin shaft workings near the Clear
Spring line would make it impossible
for the entombed men to retreat in that
direction, even had the fall not extend
ed that far.
THE FALL WAS GENERAL
1t was also shown that the point
where the work of rescue commenced
i'm the slope. was at least sixteen hum
dred feet nearer by actual measure
ment. in a straight line. to where the
.,,l sod tr.h h.. xIa,
II an opening had been made from the
Clear Spring mines at the point where
the bore-hole was put through; and the
facilities for prosecuting the work rap
idly were much better at the No.
slope than from the Clear Spring mines.
The Indications as shown in the mines
and on the surface demonstrated be-
yond a question that the fall was gem
eraI over the entire territory between
the No. 3 slope and the Clear Spring
colliery
After the conference. which was held
during the afternoon at the Eagle ho-
tel, one, Of the party, q prominent coal
operator of this city. stated to Tri-
bune reporter that the question of ad-
vising an abandonment of The work
of rescue was brought up but not acted
upon. They were not disposed to dis
cuss it for the reason that they believed
the company alone should de,ide this
matter. There was however II genera!
expression of the opinion that the bodies
could never be recovered
T.. l.. Fuller. secretary of the cone
pany, said when interviewed on the
question, last night, that while the COM
pany Is firmly convinced that the rescue
work is a hopeless task, they will con-
tinue it as long as it is safe for men
to work i'm the mine. He believed that
this would not be very long as the water
which is rapidly rising will soon stop
the work. As the caved-in workings
ell I'm wit h xya ter the paS is forcad nlit