The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-10


nor Hasting to investigate the Twin
shaft disaster began the taking of tes-
timony yesterday in St. AlUysius hall
Main street, Pittston. Two sessions
were held and both were crowded to
the door.
AS early as 10 o'clock the interested
parties and spectators began arriving
and at ! o'clock, when the commission
put In its appearance, standing room
was at premium. The commissioners,
Inspectors William Stein, of Shenan-
doah, Edward Roderick OF Scranton,
and Edward Brennan, of ShamuXin,
together with Attorney General Henry
G. Mccormick took seats on the stage.
inspector Stein, chairman of the COM
mission, occupying the desk H. NJ.
Hoke, private secretary to the attorney
general, was the official stenographer
Immediately in front of the stage were
the attorneys. f.. +. McGovern of
WilkesBarre, and p. A. O'Boyle and w.
H. Gillespie, of Pittston. representing
the relatives, and F. w. Wheaton and
j. b. Woodward, of Wilkes Barre, for
the company.
The proceedings We're opened by At
'oiheS SShci al NiCNoiiiiich outlining tne
pohcy OF the investigation. He safd
that ne was there at the request of the
inspectors TO aid them to the exteht of
his ability In arriving at the truth in the
matter they were investigating. They
We're ready to hear the testimony If any
and all who had any knowledge of the
condition of the mine prior to the ac-
ciueht OF VINO could throw any light on
the cause or the accident. The purpose
Oh the INVESTIGATION was to determine
common rrmdenca ware rSsa W '"m Nv ,na ,na
operation of the mine and If there was
neglect either on the part of the inspec-
tor, owners or employes. to determine
where the responsibility belongs. If II
is one of these accidents for which no
one IL b!amable then II Is the dutv of
the commission to seq If proper leyis,s-
lation can not be devised TO prevent
such accidents i'm the future
Chairman Stein had been furnished
with a list of witnesses who had yoIun.
teered to give testimony and without
any DELAY he called the first on the LIST
Edward Hughes. He Is a brother of
Michael Hughes. one of the entombed
the fatal night leaving at q 20 o,c,ncl,
on account of the immense danger.
Mr. Stein beron to question Hughes
but before he could get fairly started
he WAS ,nterrupted nv Mr. O'RovIe who
held that local order of procedilre was
to have the comuany show the condi-
tion of the mine and then If auy one
wanted to DENY their statements Iet
him be heard. The burden of proof was
ON the companv he thought
ATTORNEY y Boy LE > Idea.
Chairman Stein said he could not see
that it made much difference which side
was heard first. Mr.. OBoyle thought
that Inspector Mcdonald should be
present with the maps and that he and
Mr.. Law be called upon to explain them
and the cause of the accident 1t may be
accepted that it was an unavoida BILE
accident or there may be some present
who may wish to deny some of the
company's contentious.
Mr.. Law explained that Inspector
Mcdonald was expected to be present
with his maps and was surprised that
he was not there. He said he would go
out and get him and proceeded to do so.
Mr.. Woodward said the position of the
mine officials was that they came there
to aid the investigation in any way
they could. hey came there without any
knowledge of the order to be followed
and were not ably prepared. They
stood ready. however. to furnish maps
or any other information that might be
Of use in the investigation and We're
prepared to submit to any order of pro-
cedure the commission might advise.
Chairman Stein after short consul
tation announced that 1t was the sense