The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-01-23
A Comparison of the Reports.
Confined from Parge j

making the explosion possible. 1t
can well be imagined how Is load
ed cars, weighing four or five tons
each, running uncontrolled 1900
feet down an per cent erode into
mine opening which was the inlet
OF ar, would cause such an ex-
tremely abnormal force as to raise
the dust in the air and dislodge the
latent gases in the most remote
parts of the old workings in all sec.
tons OF the mine, and drive these
elements of danger on the open
lamps Of the miners in their work
ing places. 1t is evident, too,
from the report Of the fire bosses
bulletin board at the mouth of No.
mine that traces of gas were
found in several places on the
morning of the explosion, but dur,
ing our whole investigation we
found very few traces of gas in eli
thcr mine,
IT the runaway trip and the ex-
plosion were simultaneous. the
wreck almost blocking the No. 6
opening might have prevented the
destruction OF the main opening,
but as at No, s mine, the force OF
the explosion could have found re
lief in a destruction of the return
airway and the No. 6 fan, which
remained intact, only slightly dis
arranging the fan house by concus-
sion, Remembering that there is
Il gradual rise of the coal vein from
the No. to No. mine, and that
the elevation at No. mine is said
to be about so feet, it is but nat
ural to assume that any light gases
and fine dust disturbed bv heavy
falls of roof or high.speed hauIage
systems would drift in the direct
ion of No. s workings and lodge at
the highest available points in ey
cry part of the mine.
The interior of each mine is
reached and developed by seven
CD parallel main headings run
ming west, the distance between
the two sets of headings being
about i 200 feet, and the connect
ion between the two mines made by
three parallel north and south
headings. The connection is said
to have been closed by stoppings
and doors, each mine having an
independent system of ventilation.
Notwithstanding that every per
son IN NO. 6 mine was lost, the
terrible fierceness and Destructive
ness of the explosion is much more
in No, than in No. 6
mine, the greatest force coming
from the inner workings and lead
Ing outward, increasing in force
and volume as it swept the dust
laden headings leading to the No.
S opening.
owe noticed many evidences of
great 1ant Of skill or practical erDe.
'1encc in the locating and drilling
OF holes, as well as the want Of
Judgment i'll the use, and in MANY
instances the very excessive use Of
blasting powder, and in two par
tlcular instances blown out shots
were found where all the surround
lngs would justly the opinion that
an explosion had taken place at
both points, namely: A point
known as No. l right air course to
main west heading. In the face of
this heading a seven foot cut was
made IN the coal and one blast had
been fired, the hole having been
drilled very high and pointing up
ward, the blast blowing off a por
ton of the coal, leaving two feet
OF the hole and failing to break
down the coal which it was intend
ed to remove. The coal from the
blast was thrown back a distance
of twenty-five or thirty feet, and
the coal charrcd and much dust in
evidence around the face of the
heading, as if an explosion had ia
ken place. There was an entire
absence of any Sign Of any one hay
ing been in the place after the blast
The miners tools were laying in
the break through leading to the
parallel heading about twenty feet
back, just as if they had been
placed there by the person for
safety while firing the blast. The
heavy iron track rails, with part
Ing through the break through.
were twisted and torn and thrown
outward for TIVE We or four cen feet
and the body of the miner who had
evidently been in the break through
waiting for the blast was scattered
around In the breakthrough to the
"a lal