The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-06
ACCIDENT AT THE
Won ST0RCH MINE
Coroner and Jury Are Inquiring Into
the Cause OF II.
TESTIMONY HEARD LAST NIGHT
IL Was TO the Effect That Thomas
Hiil Was Not a Fire Boss but a
Watchman--A Theory That the Men
Could Have Saved Their Lives II
They Closed Tuiiey's Gate--Wit-
nesses Who Testifed--Inquest viii
BE Resumed Tonight.

The coroner's jury impanelled to in
Vestigate the Won Storch mine disas-
ter by which six men lost their lives
last Saturday, met in the arbitration
room of the court house last night.
Eight of the twenty-four witnesses
who are to be examined gave their tes-
timony and the sum and substance of
their stories were almost identical to
previous reports in The Tribune.
Evidence that Thomas Hill, who was
known as a fire boss, was merely a
watchman, and that if Tulley's door in
the New Diamond vein had been
opened by the men they could have
saved their lives, were the features Of
the inquest.
Another matter hinted at very
strongly last night in the questions to
witnesses was the belief that some one
deliberately set the mine afire. Here
is a sample question:
do you think a miners lamp could
have set it afire?'
mo, sir"
Nov, understand me, I don't mean
the spark from a lamp, but If the flame
itself was applied could the mine be
fired?"
"Oh, yes, sir"
That was the way outside Foreman
Charles Zeigler presented his idea
through Mine Inspector Henry Owen
Prytherch, the questioner. The Jurors
were: John d. Keator, Edward Bar
rett, James Barrett, Robert Courtright,
William Jones and Patrick Cusick.
The arbitration room cont aimed pos
sibly fifty men, most 0f whom were
fellow-workmen of the dead miners.
MAPS OF THE MINE.
Maps showing the workings of the
mine were displayed. Promptly at s
o'clock Coroner S. p. Longstreet called
the first witness, Edward Simpkins.
the young man who was in charge of
a pump and was stationed at a point
nearest the fire. He discovered smoke
shortly after 1.30 o'clock a. m. Saturday
morning and at once started down to-
ward the lower pump house. He went
back and found the smoke increasing
as he proceeded. Simpkins then went
outside and gave the alarm. He after
ward went in and rescued two men,
sending them out, and then went with
in 500 feet of the Light Bridge" where
the fire Is supposed to have started,
but he could see no blaze.
At this point in Simplin'S recitation
a man sitting in the front row of
seats broke in with:
"As an interested party, Coroner,
can l ask this man a question:"
He was told that he could not He
pressed his point, but was finally ST.
fenced.
Simpkins, in continuing his story,
said that at one time he was within
$50 feet of the place where the men
were working. He shouted to them
but received no answer. When ques-
toned by Inspector Prytherch, Simp-
lins said that to his certain knowl-
edge no one had passed up or down
the shaft during the night.
He admitted that he went up the
slope and returned again at $50 o'clock
Friday night. Gould any one pass
up or down without you seeing him?"
mo"
what, then, is your idea as to how
the fire started?"
Il haven't any," was the answer.
"If a fire was smouldering at the
heel of the light bridge could you have
detected it?"
"I was positive there was no fire at
$50 O'clock"
WAS NO OIL THERE.
Coroner Longstreet asked Simpkins
whether there was any oil at the light
bridge and was told there was not,
save what dropped from the oil boxes
of the cars.
Thomas Morgan, surveyor for the
Delaware and Hudson company, ex-
planned the workings of the mine from
the maps which he had made. Survey
or Morgan could see conditions under
which a fire could shoulder at the
light bridge without Simpkins detect
ing it He was not asked to mention
the conditions.
The other witnesses last night We're:
Division superintendent Finlay Ross,
Patrick Campbell. fire boss; outside