The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-26

inued Judge Womack "that more or less
gas is constantly generated in this mine
And that safe guards had been provided
to deal with it and render it harmless.
There are two shafts, the main one used
fer hoistering coal, etc, and the second
one solely for the purposes of ventila-
ton: though it may be used as a means
of ingress and egress. At the mouth of
this air shaft there is large suction
fan, driven by steam twenty-five feet
in diameter, which is said to be three
times larger than is necessary for this
mine. In addition to this condensed air
IS forced down the main shaft by a con-
densed air engine, the exhaust being pure
fresh air fresh air is distributed 10 all
parts of the mine by means of DOORS
brattice, etc.
1.-The gas boss, who has worked in this
mine nearly all his life. testified that
occasionally there is an unexpected, un-
usual and abnormal rush Of gas from
some hidden reservoir. That such a de-
yelopment of gas can not be provided
against and when. met with, all that can
be done is to divert it as rapidly as
possible into the main air shaft. That
when there is 4 large quantity of gas in
q room it will tend to rapidly burn out
or overhead safety lamp. His theory
which was concurred in by all the more
intelligent miners was that there had
been a sudden generation Of gas in the
extreme eastern workings, about a quart
er of a mile from the main shaft; that
this gas entered the room in which Sim
Mcintyre worked; that he did not dis
cover it, being at work, but that his lamp
od
portion OF the glass chimney, thus en-
aiding the flames to reach the gas.
"All indications point to the fact that
the explosion began in or near this room
and extended a space of three or four
hundred feet, knocking down the brattice
and changing the air courses. Nc
Intyre's body was the last one found
and within ten feet of itw as found his
lantern, securely locked but with a hole
in the glass chimney about an inch in
diameter on the exterior, and less than
a half inch On the interior (the glass
being about q quarter of an inch thick.
This clearly indicated that this glass was
not broken by the explosion, or by any
exterior force. but rather from the in
terror outward. OF course no one can
say that this caused the accident, but it
was sufficient to have caused it. The
body of the mine superintendent was
found some fifty feet from where, which
was the place where his duty would
have called him in eXpelling any unusual
accumulation of gas Most of the miners
met their death by attempting to escape
and coming in contact with the foul air
from which the oxOgen has been consumed
by the explosion. 1t is thought highly
probable had they remained in their own
rooms several lives would have been
saved The air in other portions of the
mine was pure and uncontaminated i'm
mediately before and after the explosion.
One miner says he heard the explosion,
but did not know what it was. and con-
tinued at his work until his regular time
to quit some half hour or more after
the explosion. He was at work in the
west end.
THE officers in charge Of the mine eX-
ercsed their utmost endeavors TO allie
viate all suffering and distress, and their
Efforts in this direction seem to have
been greatly appreciated by the families
of the deceased.
THE mine superintendent, who was
killed, was a man of large experience in
gaseous mines. He was a regular grad
uate Of school of mining, and held the
highest certificates of proficiency grant
ed under the Pennsylvania mining laws.
Under his management the output OF coal
had largely increased, and but for this
disaster the out put for this month would
have been the greatest in the history of
the mine The demand for this coal con-
sderably exceeds the present output.
1t is understood that arrangements had
been about perfected to largely increase
the capital of the mine sink a new and
much larger shaft and greatly increase
the output.
1T is not known what effect the dis
aster will have upon the future OF the
mine Regular work in raising ccal VIII
be resumed next Monday
Mr.. lFaison and Judge WomGck arrived
at TIE mine late Wednesday Afternoon.
the day after the explosion. On Thurs
day morning the coroner, DR.. Lutterloh,
arrived and held an inqust over the dead
bodies. Following is the evidence, taken
by Commissioner Faison, and the verdict
thereon by the jury:
EVIDENCE TAKEN AT THE INQUEST
w. j. Tally, being duly sworn, testified:
Il am auditor of the Cumnock Mining
Company. The explosion occurred on
Tuesday, May 22nd, about 4 p. m. The
dead are: John Connolly, Jas. Mccarthy
Joe Glass, Wesley Clegg, John Willett
Will Tynor, John TIarkey, Gates Wood.
Carlton Thomas, white; and Joe FraSier
John Reaves, Will Reaves, John Lea
Palmer, Ollie Bynum, Peter Palmer jim
Palmer, Daniel Collision, Joe Taylor,
Jerry Hubbard Sim Mcintyre, Jim Marks,
colored The injured are: Ike Harreil-
son. Baxter Aston, Jim Seymour,
Dougald Mcintyre all coored was
nresent when the bodies were taken from
the mine Charlton Thomas was taken
out alive but died last night "wednesday
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