The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-06-30

INQUEST
Cause Of the VIM. Penn COlliery Ex-
plOsiOn Reviewed.
THE INQUEST HELD ON LAVENBERG
II Was Delayed to Await the Recovery Of
Philip Haggerty, One Of the Victims The
Jury Declares the Mine omcials
Guilty Of Neglect.

night held an inquest on the death of William
Layenberg who was one of the victims of an
explosion Of gas in the VIM. Penn coliery on
March 23rd, last. There were two other
victims, Joseph Sargent and Philip Hagpertv
All the men were residents Of VIM. Penn.
Sargent died three days after the e.accident
An inquest was held on his death on March
9Th by the same jury that sat last night and
verdict charging the officials in charge of
the collery workings with carelessness was
rendered.
Lavenberg fingered for several days and
hnally succumbed to his injuries An inquest
ON his death was deferred TO await the re-
suit OF the injuries sustained by the third
victim, Haggerty, hence the holding of the
inquest at this late day. Haggerty was at
the Miners hospital for weeks and finally
recovered. His appearance at the inquest
last night showed that his head, face and
hands were fearfuly roasted in the explosion.
There was large attendance at the in
quest. Mine Inspector Stein was present
ana d. w Kaercher Esq, Of Pottsvle, was
there to represent the VIM. Penn Coal Com
pany Martin f Moore, one of the Potts
Vlile court stenogapbers, accompanied Mr.
kaercher to report the case for future ref
erence, as it was anticipated that suits for
damages will follow, in view of the verdict
rendered by the jury on the former inquest
There was long string of witnesses. in
cluding Superintendent William II, Lewis
Inside Foreman Richard Palmer, Fire Boss
Philip II. Jones, David Davis, Elias Bevan,
Anthony Deane, John Bevan, Oscar Zerbey.
William Grow and Philip Haggerty.
The entire case was reviewed and much of
the evidence was a repetition Of that adduced
at the first inquest. The facts as agreed upon
/ ny all parties concerned are as follows Sar-
gent and Lavenberg were engaged in loading
cars in the Buck Mountain vein of the col
liery on the morning OF March 23rd when
part of the West Mammoth gangway mo. II |
dropped into breast No s. The cave-in re- |
leased body of the gas in the lower aban-
doned workings and also caused disarrange-
ment in the air current. which caused the
gas to pass through the gangway and tunnel |
to the place where Sargent and Lavenberg |
we're loading cars. There was a slight explo- |
sion OF gas, by which the two men were only |
slightly injured. Haggerty was in the
tunnel, short distance from the other men.
but there was no explosion at his place. be-
cause he was sitting down and the gas passed
too high above him to be ignted by his Iamp
The counterohute at which the two men were
loading was about 140 yards from the place
where the caYe-in occurred. Sargent and
Layenberg Joined Haggerty In the tunnel
and the three men then walked out in
darkness to the place where the gangway had
gone down. The discovery of the cave-in
was more OF an accident than anything else
on the part OF the officials. Fire Boss Jones
saiu he walked out east on the gangway less
than five minutes before the cave.in occurred
and noticed nothing to give him any alarm.
trip of cars followed right after him.
When IOueg arui Vad nj hn H.
man there to go back into the gangway and
get shovel to go to work IN the Holmes
vein above. The man went in for the shovel
but almost Immediately returned and told
the fire boss that part of the gangway had
gone down. Jones and others hurried in and
after brief inspection Jones left young man
at the east side of the cave-in to warn anv
men who might approach from the west of
what had occurred. Jones and others then
hurried east to make round about way
through the upper workings to the place
where the three leaders were ON the west
side and warn them of what had occurred
Meanwhile Sargent Lavenberg and Haggerty
had their way through the tunnel to the
West Mammoth gangway and walked towards
the west side of the cave-in The guard
ON the other side Of the hole heard their 40 ;
proach and warned them back. The ,
men asked for light. The guard answered
that part of the gangway had caved in and !
he could not get across to give them a light.
The best evidence thus far secured as to what 4,
then was given by Haggerty last
night. He testified that David Hopkins. the
guard, in answer to the request for a light
told Sargent Lavenburg and himself that
they couldn't get light, as the gangway had /
gone down. Hopkins did not give any other
reason, or say anything about gas. The
three men were in darkness Hopkins was
about % or 30 yards from them The men /
stood there for few moments and then Z
Sargent asked Haggerty, DO you think it
would hurt to strike match 2' HaqPertv's
answer was, u don't think" Sargent then
struck match and the explosion followed
The three victims were leaders
All the witnesses testified that the place
was "On the squeeze" One John Beyan said
he thought he heard a fall one time i'm the
lower workings and spoke to Fire Boss Tones
about it at the slope, but the latter said the
fall was in the Holmes vein above. Bevan
did not fear any danger from below after
that. All witnesses agreed that some collars
and number of legs gave evidence of
squeeze. Several legs were Sprayed the day
before the accident. 2
William Grow, driver boy, testified that
tNN NV pvoa AhatLAtLeu uAul TO 20 ahead of
the trips in and out the gangway, but gave
no reason for the order. Grow said he
obeyed the orders. He was afraid and did
not think it safe to make the trips and when
he would see any pieces of coal dropping in
the gapgway, or hear any timber crack, he
would pass the place as fast as he could.
Fire Boss Jones testified that the gangway
was such as is found in any mine that is on
a squeeze and repairs were kept up when
ever timbers showed signs of weakening
The day before the accident repairsmen who
had been at work there stopped work at room
and went to another part of the mine be-
cause they found the gangway was not on as
much squeeze as it had been. This some of
the repairsmen also testified too. Jones also
testified that the droppngs In the gangway
was all small stuff and none Of the pieces
were as large as at first. At no time did he
any idea that oaye-in would oc-
cur 10 the gangway. All precaution was
directed to the squeeze from above He said
he would not 90 into the place himself if il
was dangerous, nor allow anybody else a
10 do so. The instructions he gave a