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

route of the air. There is a compressed
air engine in the mine to pull coal up
from dip to entry Explosion about 200
feet from the engine. Most OF the bodles
were found at the engine. Don't think
there was much fire or that men were
hurt much. but coming up from the dlp
met the bad air latter damp and were
suffocated. Connolly was found 20 feet
from the engine. He was burned o"oiy
and was injured on side. thlnK lie
moved after explosion. His compass was
found in extreme east think ne coulo
have travelled that far. He was an eA-
pert miner. If there was sudden OUT
burst of gas his place would nave oeeh
where his compass was found. me gas
could have gotten in lamps and purnt
out the gauze or burst the glass Gas
burns in lamps if escaping. Can't see
gas burning in lamps very we'll. Founo
one broken lamp. The piece of glass
seems to have been blown out by neat.
1t was found in east incline within ~
feet Of Mcintyre. Coal is mined by pick
and blasted with battery Accident could
not have been caused by use of q fuse.
for no fuses are used. Dynamite is used
because it will not explode gas. The
miners cannot open lamps. They arc
locked and keys only at lamp house and
al points in the mine where they can be
trimmed. There is NO danger at these
points. There was no evidence OF an
explosion at these points. Effects of eX-
plosion covered space of 800 or 400 feet.
My judgment is that accident was from
an upheaval of the floor and a gush of
gas from it. Connolly had no particular
place to work-had general oversight OF
the mine. Mccarthy was a contractor
and worked in the east. His duty was TO
look after his hands His body was
found at the engine, where he usually
was at that time of the day
Patrick Daley being duly sworn, testi-
fed:
Il was at mouth of east workings
where you go in from shaft. Heard
breeze and knew it was an explosion
Tried to get away, but was Knocked
about 20 feet. There was no fire. No
indications of an excess of gas. | am
trailer boss. Air was perfect where
was. Went to the west to notify the
men. Went back to the east as far as
could Had Hart notified Could not get
to the bodies at that time. Went 400
feet east There was nothing suspicious
where I was. Was starting TO the east
at shaft when explosion occurred. Every
thing was in good condition as far as
knew Notified men in the west within
five minutes from the time l picked my
self up. Sent George Carey to notify
them Could not so to place of eXplo-
sion and sent for Hart l went down
with Hart and put up brattices and as
in hO1ipC
lamps are used in the mine. Miners are
not allowed to open the lamps except at
points where keys are kept.
George \. McNath, being duly sworn
testified
My duties are to clean, light and give
out lamps, except few that are owned
by individuals. / have seen the broken
lamp, it belongs to the company. sew
it the morning of the explosion. l. was
cleaned here by Joe Glass that morning
have the key, and Glass also had key
The keys are simple I always lock
lamps. Some Of the locks are broken and
some are picked. All the lamps are not
accounted for that were carried into The
mine that morning. Lamps that ares
cracked have new glass put in and charg
ed to the men. | never let lamp go into
the mine THAT gas VI ar Can &c III odS1i
the glass. The safety lies III the gauze
top Of the lamps. Lamps in use are con-
sidered absolutely safe
C. A. Mcdaniel being duly sworn, tes-
tilted:
Il helped get the bodies from the mine
Was not present when lamp was found
Was getting a mule out Was working
in the west at time of the explosion. Air
was all right. There was nothing wrong
in our end of mine
VERDICT OF CORONER'S JURY
After the above evidence had been
heard the jury retired and rendered the
following verdict:
We. the jurors summoned by the coro-
ner have investigated the CumnocK GOAL
Mine disaster and find that these p mon
came to their deaths by the explosion Of
gas and the after damp. but how the ftc
originated we cannot say.
r. w. SEGROVES,
THOS. J. JOHNSON,
OREN DOWDY,
j. r. BURNS,
r. r. SEGROTES
G. G. LUTTERiOH.
Cumnock, n. c.. May "a. 1890
Mr.. Samuel HenSzey, one of the owners
and manager of the mine arrived thsre
late Thursday afternoon rom New ork