The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-21
Lungs OF Miners Found tn BE FILLED
with Dust and ns Black as An
thracfte Itself.
PETER ROBERTS UNDER FIRE
PORTIONS OF THE PREACHERS
BOOK READ BY MIR. wOLvERTON.
Witness for the Miners who Told Of
BRUTAL 0utrages" and Condemned
Acts OF the Union.

SCRANTON. Pa. Nov. 3o-The economic
and sociological features of the anthracite
coal industry and the effect that employ
ment in and about the mines has upon the
health of the mine workers were the prin-
cipal subjects brought before the arbitra-
tion commission to-day by attorneys OF
each side to the controversy. While there
was an entire absence of the brilliant cross
examination which marked the proceedings
during the last few days. the cross-exami-
nation. nevertheless. had the attention Of
the commissioners.
The afternoon session was particularly
expert testimony on the question of the
health of the mine workers. Three ply
sicians. who have practiced In Scranton
or Wilkesbarre, took the stand for the
miners, and. in substance testified that the
occupation of a mine worker was very un-
healthful and shortened his life. DR.. Frank
p. Lenahan, of Wilkesbarre, who says he
has had a long experience among the mine
workers, testified that fully 80 per cent of
the men who work i'm the mines are amaze
mic. Their health is impoverished and their
condition is below par. thus decreasing
their earning powers.
The principal ills suffered by the miners,
the physicians said, were the miners asth-
ma, rheumatism, lumbago and sciatica
The miners asthma comes from inhaling
coal dust. powder smoke and vitiated air.
DR.. John OMally. of Scranton. SAID fhaf
at post-mortems he had seen miners lungs
as black anthracite itself. and Dr. Lena
han testified that he had personal knowl-
edge of a man coughing up coal dust nine
years after he had left the mines. He said
he had information that a man had coughed
up coal dust fifteen years after he had left
the mines. 1t was also stated that 80 per
cent. OF the miners who reach the age of
fifty years are afflicted with some form OF
rheumatism.
DIR. O'MALLEY'S TESTIMONY.
DR.. O'Malley, when questioned by Mr..
Lenahan. counsel for the mine workers,
said his experience had been that catarrh,
asthma. rheumatism, stomach troubles,
pneumonia. sciatia, lumbago. anaemia. etc.
were the diseases from which miners usu-
ally suffered.
Asked as to whether or not the disease
was durable, the doctor said that the
fatalities resulting from IL were slight, but
that it was likely to produce some fatal
disease.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Torrey. OF
the Delaware & Hudson Company, DR..
o Malley said he was not speaking from
official records bu. from memory True
asthma, he said, Is a neurosis, but miners
asthma was due to some irritant like coal
dust He did not know of any book which
technically defined the difference between
ordinary asthma and miners asthma, but
he said he felt himself capable to define il
by reason OF his long experience.
On further cross-examination he admit
ted that whooping cough patients were fire.
quently taken into the mines for relief and
that asthmatic patients are usually long
lived.
''Is it not true?'' Mr. Torrey incurred, :,
that asthma has a tendency 10 protect a
patient from contracting consumption
II would not admit that" said the doctor,
Would you deny it7"
Il would deny that.
Dr. Lenahan's examination was con-
Quoted by John Shea for the mine workers.
After stating his connection with several
hospitals OF this city he said the coal COM
panies contributed very little to their sup
port. His testimony regarding the causes
of miners asthma, etc, was substantially
ifn ynf same Th as efect sat y py tne
ting into the lungs OF the men, he said was
that IL brought on bronchial troubles and
eventually peculiar form Of consumption.
AVERAGE LIFE OF MINERS.
What is the average life OF a miner?"
Commissioner Wright asked.
Very few get over fifty years."
'I mean after he begins to work.
twenty-five or thirty years"
Answering a further question he de-
clared the occupation of a miner to be very
unhealthful.
On cross-examination by Everett warren.l
counsel for the Delaware & Hudson. tho
witness said he was not aware that prac-|
tically all the taxes of Pennsylvania werel
paid by the corporations OF the State. ThisI
reply produced some laughter In the court
room.
THAT seems TO be very funpGAto thisI
audience" remarked Mr.. warz lhut<
is true" he then challenged n
OF DR.. Lenahan that the corpq
tributed little TO the support
and said that while the State
gave a financial aid this was
by reason of the taxes paid
porations.
When asked IL IL were not
persons who are employed on
light are likely TO have
appearance, the doctor said
statements ne had heard to-dd
the lack of sunlight would N
10 any great extent 10 the
dition because the companies
that the men left their work
He admitted a number OF nlI
i'm "A nearby axle works had
with sciatica. rheumatism an
ton, and on further cross-exan
that a miner cannot be got
the exciting cause Of his ailme
he is UNIT for other occupatiof
Mr. Warren detailed the bette
which exist I'm the mines now.
TO purer ventilation. and the
fire boss. who precedes the
mines. but the doctor said M
see how the purity OF the
Increased without increasing
and consequently increase the
the miner TO rheumatism. pneuf
DR. Richard II. Gibbons. OF -
lowed. He was questioned only
utes when the commission a
meet tomorrow morning a. 10
PREACHER ROBERTS'S
The cross-examination OF the
Roberts ended shortly after the