The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-08-21

puts down the time and signs his
initials in white chalk. If there is
gas he writes on the black board in
blue chalk, gas at 3:I5, or whatever
time he visits that room, and signs
his initials. Thus the men know
whether it is safe to go to work or not.
If there is gas in room, they cannot
90 to work until it is famed out.
This is done by three or four men
going into the room and vigoursly
farming aboNt with their coats or
shirts, thus setting the air in motion,
which in turn drives the gas out into
the entry where it is absorbed by the
pure air and becomes harmless. If
the @en went into the rooms where
there was gas, with ordinary miners
lamps in their hats the gas would
Immediately ignite and a serious fire
would be the result, SO they are very
careful to have their lamps in the
entry, sitting on the floor, when they
have tofan gas as the gas is always
near the top and the pure AIR at the
abottom. The only light allowed in
a room where gas is gathered is the
salty Temp. In this lamp the light is
covered by very heavy screen and
II the theory is that although the gas
Il goes into this screen and the Hame
Immediately blazes atp making a
\ siokly blue light, yet as it comes
Il through the screen to che outside it
II is cooled and therefore does no harm.
4 The Mine Boss goes in with the
: men aad where room is regarded
as dangerous the men do not 60 in
until he tests the gas. Then he makes
the roGnds sees how the men are
t getting along with their wotk, gives
them directions where any are needed.
He,also has tine power ito transfer
menfrom one room to another, have
new rooms started and either such
5 dutiss. Every day lie makes this triF
5 which is fifteen mikes if he goes every
place. but the day we went in, he
S did not have TO gO.over all so it wa.
r only,thirteen miles we travelled.
, Iawant here to speak especially O
S Mr.. Mack Taylor, the Mine Boss o
l Non, with whom e wentthe rounds
S He is man ot magnificent physica
t proportions, being OVERSIZE feet tai
Z land sarge accordingly. He has |
= strong intelligent face and is maj
! in every sense of the ,w&rd He &
L very courteous and kindly took tn
q trouble to explain everything in sucl
&c a maHGer as would give one a clea
n understanding OF the workings of TIL
h mine / could sac that all his mel
S respected and liked him and more
i, than once we thought, lie is the righ
II man in the right place. Dne of tn
/. pleasansest recoleGions of my visit t,
If pRockwOcd is my meeting with Mr.
q Taylor, Eho is also member of thu
c, IBoard of.Aldermaa OF that city, and
d heard it said that he was one Of tn
kllNery best as he beloaged,tono "click'
e por ''ring" and seemed tie have tn
d Interests Of the tax payers always il
!. view.
: After Me- McCully and myself ha'
: haen provided with miners cap il
e which was fastened lamp we starte'
II in, walking tuntil we came to tn
d "slope" where we stopped unit
c enough empies THAT is empty cars
n we've gathered to carry the miner
d down into the mines. Into these W
climad and were carried down III
is slope at rather lively gait. Me rod
e down the first branch entry and afte
h the Boss had showed us the working
" of the gas whic.l always gathered il
@ the FIRST room we went to, we visite,
v several others and then took the ca
e to the main entry. These cars wer
e full of coal and we had to hollow OH
0 places in the coal SO that we conl,
|. lie fiat down as, even then, our back
Y come very close to the top of til.
v entry. We rode back the distanc,
e we went down, which made about
a two mile ride, and then we walket
a the rest of the way. This gave u
s eleven miles to walk. On this rid
$ back the driver showed us the plac,
e where a man was killed by falling
O slate and,hole left from where tn,
slate fell is almost the shape of cot