The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-18
REPORT IS MADE ON
VIRGINIA DISASTER
Dust Explosion Was Caused by
Windy Shot
WAS A DANGEROUS MINE
Mine Officials Had 3een Warned That
Dust In Mine Should Be Removed
and That sprinkIing
Should Be Done.
WAS A DANGEROUS MINE

Montgomery, March 17.-(Special. )-After
an investigation of the awful mine dis
aster at Virginia, in Jefferson county, on
February 20, last. the three state mine
inspectors have agreed upon a report of
which the following Is the last paragraph:
Taking into consideration the findings
of our investigation and the testimony
of the witnesses we examined. we believe
first that It was a dust explosion, and
second that it was ignited by a windy
shot fired in the fifth left entry, number
one room, on right hand rib of room
about fifteen feet from the face" signed
]. NJ. Gray, chief mine Inspector. and
NJ NJ. Kuffner and James HIllhouse, as
sociates.
The report was brought to the capitol
this morning by the three inspectors and
delivered in person. They spent some
time in the private office of Acting Gov
ernor Cunningham and went over the sit
uation with him. After they retired he
gave out the report for publication.
The report enters into the details of
The inspectors relate that "as the miners
were enxious to have some of their men
go with us to make the Investigations" 7.
H. Tinney, checkweighman for the miners,
| and Joseph Hoskins miner, were taken
in Both are holders of frst-class mine
foremen certificates. w. M. Herbert "a
man Of broad experience in coal mining
t,oA T.
of America was also taken along. The
bodies were all out save five on March
8, before which time the inspectors say
they could not begin to make an investi-
cation. we began our examination prop
err" says the report, ION March 8, and
worked the 9th and 10TH completing the
examination down to the water in the
slope where there were three bodies under
the water. We found one body on the
9Th in the fourth right air course" Three
bodies were brought out March IA, and
| the investigation was completed March
| Is. There is still missing one man who
| is supposed to be buried under debris,
and one man was buried without identi-
fcation The total deaths was Ill.
Details Of Investigation.
ly into the details of the investigation,
telling of the progress of the inspectors
| through entries and all courses, and some-
| thing of the formation of the vein. At
| the place where the fatal shot was fired
| was found evidence of a great amount
Of heat and the indications of a windy
shot were uhmistakable. The miner who
| fired the shot was found down the track
some ways, showing that he had run out
- Nhar, tof1
of the whole search of the mine are gone
infinitely into. In room II. of the fourth
left. was found l. great deal of fire damp,
and some poor bratticing
| The following were the closing para
| graphs of the report:
| 81 call your attention to the reports
of the associate mine inspectors from
| December IS, 1902, to December 12 1904,
| the last made prior to the explosion. Also
| to letters from myself, based on these re-
| ports to the different superintendent of
the Alabama Steel and Wire company.
and A. w. Reed & Co.. the two COM
| panies operating the mine.
you will ffnd enclosed copy OF the
| rules adopted by A. w. Reed & Co.. based
on my letters to the mining and shoot
| ing Of coal in this mine. had not seen
a copy Of these rules until after the ex-
| plosion but Mr. w. NJ. Kuffner, associate
/ iiiinC lHSptOiOif Ou Jult 10, 1914, WI1lle
making an inspection of the mine, read
and approved the same
you will. see further from this re-
| port and testimony that these rules were
not carried out. We believe that il these
rules had been faithfully observed that
this great disaster would not have oc-
CURED. We further believe that the testi-
mony of Messrs. T. H. Tinney and
Joseph Hoskins and Mr. W. M. Herhert
| who fOVpctipa oil he
OFT this conclusion.
| Taking into consideration the findings
or our Investigations and the TESTIMONY
OF the witnesses we examined we beIie,,e
| first, that 1t was dust explosion. ana COO.
ond. that 1t was ignited by windy shot
fired in the fifth left entry No. room
on right hand rib of room, about fifteen
feet from the face"
| Investigation Made.
| Here begins in the the arrangements of
the papers the reports of investieations
| earlier ~
On December IS, 1902, Assistant Insnec-
tor Hillhouse found the ventilation good
with plenty of air. The same inspector
/ reported June IL, next, following the same
| thing about ventilation and the fact that
| the superintendent had agreed to com
plete the travelling way by August /.
Mr.. Hillhouse found the work on the
main way progressing on September 10.
1909. with fan ready to be installed. The
air was good in all the heading save
the first right where it was mot SO
good" -
Mr. Hillhouse made next report for
an investigation on October 10, 1903. He
found the ventilation good but much
aust IN the second west heading. He
advised the bank boss to sprinkle with
water as there was danger at any
time of windy shot to make an ex
plosion, as the mine is generating gas,
1t was noted that precautions had been
taken In the appointment Of a fire boss
| to guard against accidents
The report was sent to the Alabama
Steel &c Wire company by the chief in
spector October 20, 1903. with request to
note the fact that dry headings should
be sprinkled.
Chief Inspector Gray wrote the SUPER
| intendent at Bessemer on November H..
1903. about man getting hurt In the
mine at Virginia, and also calling atten-
| ton to the fact that the nina forap,o,