The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-26
HELD AN INQUEST.
Coroner Investigates the Cause of the
Death of Coleman Tierney.

Death of Coleman Tierney.
Coroner Tremblay held an inquest
last evening at Duggan's undertaking
rooms on the body of Coleman Tierney,
the miner who died Sunday at ST.
James hospital from the effects of in
juries received in a blast in the Bell
mine Saturday morning.
James Meehan, partner OF the de-
ceased, was at work with Tierney at
the breast on the second floor of the
1300-level. Witness had his back to
Tierney, who was loading a foot-hole.
Suddenly a blast went off and when he
looked for Tierney he was gone and
was found at the bottom of the chute.
As near as the witness could estimate.
Tierney only Ia time to put in two
sticks Of powder from the time he com
menced work till the blast went off.
The witness did not know whether the
primer was on or not, but did not think
so, as he did not believe the hole was
fully loaded, n 1t was Tierney's GUS
tom to put the fuse in with the last
stick. The witness stated in conclu-
sion hat Tierney had been conscious
for a few minute when he saw him at
the hospital. Tierney had said at that
time the accident was purely acciden-
tai and unavoidable. The witness could
offer no idea as TO h caused the ex-
plosion, as the only thing he had seen
was his partner using the tamper and
there was no occasion for the powder
TO go off. In response to a question
from Mine Inspector Hunter, the wit
ness said the hole was a dry n and
the ground was not 'cavey.
Ed Mcguire, foreman at the Bell, was
the next witness. He did not see the
accident, but had investigated 1t. He
found three holes had been drilled, one
of which had been blasted. He could
not tell how the accident happened, but
thought the powder might have got
crosswise of the hole and that probably
Tierney tamped il too hard. He re-
garded Tierney as a capable and care
full miner. Asked by Mr.. Hunter II
Tierney's manner of putting in the fuse
was a good one, the witness said he
did not approve of 1t.
superintendent James Higgins of the
Bell rave 1t as his opinion the ground
was a little broken up and that proba-
bly, the powder stuck. n in forcing
II INTO the bottom against the resist
ance of the air, caused the explosion.
Replying TO a question from Mr.. Hun
ter, the witness salt ne did not think
there was In fuse In the hole.
Dan Griffin, shift boss. under whom
Tierney worked, said he passed through
the place where the accident happened
about 20 minutes prior to the blast. He
saw the men at work and everything
appeared all right. He heard of the
accident almost as loon as 1t occurred
and went Immediately back. He found
Tierney's partner in the dark and gave
him a light. On looking for Tierney
they found him in the chute.
Deputy State Mine Inspector Frank
Hunter Investigated the accident and
found a fuse with a cap on and another
that had been burned. Five tons of rock
had fallen on the five sticks of powder
that laid on the floor, indicating to him
that the powder was not easy to explode
from ~concussion. In his opinion Tierney
had put in a primer with the powder and
that probably in some way the cap
pulled out, causing the explosion. He
considered the accident entirely unfore-
seen and unavoidable. The jury return
ed a verdict reciting the facts relative
to the time, place and cause of death,
and holding the accident to have been
unavoidable and that no one vas re-
sponsible for IL.
The funeral Of Tierney was held yes
terday at Centerville and the body was
shipped east to st. Paul last evening.