Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-06-14
FAILS TO PLACE BLAME
A NoN-cOMMITTAL VERDICT AT
PORT ROYAL, PA.
Inquest on Death of Four of Rescue
Party, but First Explosion Is
Not Probed.

Port Royal, Pa, June 14.--With evil
dence before the coroner's jury that
Port Royal mine No 2, of the Pitts
burg Coal company has been in a
dangerous condition for some time,
that gas Accommodations at times re-
suited in explosions, and that there
was negligence on the part of at least
one of the Is men who persisted Mon
day night a non-committal verdict was
rendered.
This verdict was handed to the
mine officials and newspaper men
present.
William McCune, David James,
Fritz Kruger and Taylor Gunsaulus,
ST., met death by an explosion of gas
in Port Royal mine No. 2, of the Pitts
burg Coal company, while trying to
rescue the bodies Of Jerry DAILY, Frank
Davenport, John PEBBLES and John
Sickle, four men who had been killed
by former explosion, which oc-
Cured about 6 p. m, June TO- 1901.
The second explosion was likely
caused by the igniting of some in
fiammable material from the first ex-
plosion. Signed
C A. Wynn, Coroner,
Alexander Watkins,
David S. Hutton,
Jacob S. Morrow,
Thomas f. Francis,
James A. Smith,
Daniel #. Watkins.
"June 13, 1901. 1886 p. M"
Harry Hongh, one of the miners,
corroborated the evidence of Thomas
Gleason, vino sWore on Wednesday
afternoon he had absolute proof that
Assistant Foreman Samuel Hadley, Of
mine No. 2, had removed the warning
sign and allowed Jerry DAILY, John
Sickle, John PEBBLES and Frank DaV-
export to work with open lights in
one of the entries where gas could
easily be detected.
Late last night there was some ex-
element over threats made against
Thomas Gleason, fire boss, at mine No
2, over the allegations against Had
ley, whose body is entombed in the
mine. Gleasons mother and sister
warned him. He said in part
Il did not blame my friend Sam
Hadley for the death of those men.
| do not know who is responsible for
this unfortunate disaster. | can only
refer to my testimony before the cor
oner and my report on the condition
Of the mine before the explosion
said no more at the inquest than
would have said il Sam had been pres
ent. | was in bed when the explosion
occurred at 6 p. M, therefore | can
not place the blame on anybody But
/ am not afraid to face these men.
The fact was quickly made known
to Mrs. Hadley and the dead mans
friends, and the temporary rage of
the men subsidized
Instead of the promised conference
between officials and state mine in
spectors, which had been announced
to take place yesterday morning,
George Foutitt and Bernard Callahan,
who We're the only state representa-
tives here, decided to organize a res
cue party and enter the mine Charlie
ton Dixon, w. G. Stratton, Ben and
Charles Forrady. Edward Halpin,
Richard Maize, John Davis, August
Constant, William Luekowy and Mi
chael Smith descended the shaft. The
exploration party journeyed along the
main tunnel to the overcast about
three or four miles. Four of the party
remained at the overcast and six went
further but after going about 720
feet Stratton was overcome and the
party returned, bringing Stratton
along. Those in the party stated that
traces Of fire were noted, and that
there is much gas in the mine.
Another final attempt, so It was
said, was to be made to recover bod
les this morning But whether this
will be successful is considered ex-
tremely doubtful.
Last night at shaft No. / a gang of
men set to work covering up the en-
trance with canvas. This. so they
say, is because 1t will assist in the
ventilation of the mine, At the ton
of the shaft the hot air was ascending
and ii was impossible to look down
into the deep hole. The test explo-
sion occurred before daybreak yes
terday morning. 1t was slight one.
and since that time to last night the
indicator at shaft No. 2, which
records automatically all explosions.
had not moved