The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-02
PIPER EXPLOSION
COSTS NINE LIVES
VIII Keys Dies from Injuries
Received in Disaster
INSPECTOR HAS RETURNED
Thorough Investigation of Recent Elk
plosion VIII Be Made lmme-
diately-Llttle Damage
Done.
INSPECTOR HAS RETURNED

Another death has resulted from the
explosion at Piper, in Bibb county. Tues
day afternoon. making the total death
list nine, VIII Keys having died early
yesterday morning Dave Woodman, who
was among those injured. is said to be
In a serious condition and me will prob
ably die Mr. Goodman is a son-in-law
of George Barber, who Is a member of
the executive committee of District No.
20 of the United Mine workers. He sus-
taned serious burns about the head and
Is unconscious.
NJ. NJ Kuffner, associate mine inspector,
who went to Piper early Wednesday
morning TO make a preliminary examina-
ton, has returned to Birmingham. sun
day morning ]. NJ. Gray, mine Inspector,
James Hlnhouse and Mr. Kuffner, asso-
ciates will go to the mines and remain
there until a thorough investigation Is
made. They will then make detailed re-
port of their investigation to Governor
Jelks. and until this report Is filed at
the capitol the cause of the explosion
will not be made public. The governor
has taken considerable interest in the dis
aster. and came to Birmingham immed-
lately to confer with Mr.. Gray relative
to thorough investigation
INSPECTOR Ruffner Returns.
"When I reached Piper all of the dead
and injured had been removed from the
Inflated Mines" said Inspector Kuffner
yesterday afternoon. 1.-THE explosion oc-
Cured In the fifth heading, but I cannot
assign the cause until a more thorough
examination is made. I gave explicit In
structions to the Little Cahaba Coal COM
pany. the operators, not to allow any
repairs to be made In the fifth heading
until our investigation is complete.
IT cannot recall ever having seen a
mine where an explosion had occurred
where the damage amounted to SO little
as is the case in tho Piper disaster. The
loss to the company will be slight Work
could have been resumed on mining coal
today, but on account of the men be-
ing somewhat demoraized they will prob
ably not go back to work before Monday
morning. 1t is supposed there were about
| 40 men at work In the mine at the time
of the explosion"
Nothing definite will be given out with
reference to our investigation until a
report is made to the governor" said In
spector Gray yesterday afternoon. 1.-THE
preliminary report made to me by my
associate Mr.. Kuffner, is the only lnfor-
nation have received of an official ma
ture with reference to the disaster.
Inspector Gray Detained.
at spent a greater part of this after
noon in the circuit court testifying as a
witness in the Virginia mines damage
suits which are now being tried. If had
not been detained in court would have
gone to Piper Immediately.
"Of course no cause of the explosion
at Piper can be assigned until complete
investigation is made. The Board of In
spectors after their investigation of the
Virginia mines disaster. decided that 1t
was caused from a windy shot I have
heard that the Piper explosion was
caused from a windy shot +"
National Committeeman William r.
Farley of the United Mine workers, went
to Piper Immediately after being In
formed of the explosion and assisted in
every way possible In the relief work
He has returned to Birmingham.
All of the bodies of the miners killed
have been buried. Mr.. Kuffner states that
the crowds gathered at Piper at the time
of the funerals of the unfortunate mi
ners was larger than the crowd at Vir-
glnia mines.