The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-01-06

CONTINUED From Page Ones

~ ~ tksk = VI ~ - -
Continued From Page one.)
md was working with his son when
the disaster came. He said that he
did not see anything nor hear any
thing. This witness was considerably
hurt. He said that there we're four OF
them together and they all came out at
the same time. There was smoks
coming ont. They came to the mine
opening. He said that before the ex-
plosion some times there was plenty
Of air and at other times the supply
was not very good. He did not know
which one of the four men entered the
mine first He never knew of any ac-
cident happening in the mine before
not know what caused the ex-
pIosfon. These men used picks and
shot some coal after 1t had been un-
mined. They put OF one shot that
morning.
orizio Depetros was next examined.
He was at work in No. on December
6. He had worked here about one
month and a half He went in the
mine that morning about five-thir:y
o'clock entering the mine with his
brother. He said that he was pick.
ing coal down from the roof when the
explosion came. He had put OF u
shot few minutes before. The light
went out and he colud not find any
matches. He said after the shot the
smoke cleared away. After the explo-
sion he went out the opening along
the car line with the other men. He
saw one big flash. He did not know
what caused the explosion.
Triple Foreman Testifies.
Port knight. tipple foreman. was
the next to testify He said that he
was at No. tipple when the crash
came. The witness stated that he
saw big volume Of dark brown smoke
issuing from the mouth of No. 6. He
said that the noise was like that Of
dead shot and that there was roar
that kept up from five to eight min
utes. He said that there was trip
of nineteen loaded cars broke on No.
I6 tipple about fifty feet from the
knuckle and that all the cars ran back
into the mines; this occurred only
a short time before the explosion. The
witness did not think that the broken
trip had time to run back to the bot
tom of the slope until the explosion
came. He stated that about six
months before this explosion a trip
broke. The former trip broke down
some wires and tore up the track.
The trip started back when pin
broke. The pin when examined did
not show any defects. He was talk
ing to Mr.. Talbot when the trip
troke. Talbot dropped the receiver
because he had heard of the explo-
sion Mt No. 8. He said the cars would
have to run about 1880 feet. The
piece OF the pin was exhibited in court.
He did not hear any noise at No. s.
Talbot dropped the receiver about
two seconds before the trip broke.
The witness did not think the trip
had time to get to the bottom Of the
slope. According to Mr.. knights tes-
timony the broken trip theory caus.
ing the explosion will have to be elem
mated. He said that the fan at No.
6 was running the day before tho ex.
plosion.
i N. Tomasko, of Connellsville. Pa.
representative of the slovish Catholic
Union and C. L. orbach, of New
York, representative of the 6laVish
Evangelical Union, P. Bufano. of Con-
nells, and N. G. Bufano, of Morgan
town. are here.
The special mine investigating cont
mlttee will arrive here tonight and
will remain during the inquest.
j The evidence this morning was taxi
en- down in shorthand by Miss Nellie
BLY, Clemmer. This afternoon the
evidence was taken down by Mr.. E.
C. Frame. The evidence will be trans.
cribed to long hand as fast as the
stenographers can do it.
Levi Martin was the next witness
to take the chair. He has been
resident of Monongah for fifteen years
He said that he was home when the
disaster came. He said that he heard
noise like thunder. He saw the
smoke coming out of No. s. This oc.
CURED at ten-thirty on December G.