The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-03
MINING DISASTERS.

| The frequency with which mine &C., cidents and disasters occur of late years is a matter of serious concern to all lovers of humanity, and if 1t Is possible to devise and utilize some means of preventing them 1t should certainly be done. They are not only destructive of immense values in money and property but the deaths and suffering resulting from this cause make up 8 record that is posi- lively appalling. and the discouraging feature about it is that these happen ings are on the increase Il the time. Hardly a day passes thai we do not read of some serious disaster in some part of the country. In some cases there ocurs an explosion from gasses some other explosive goes off prema- turely. and in either case human be- ings are killed and mangled bv scores. Then 1t frequently happens that some portion of a mine caves in. or there is fall from the overhead works and many human beings arc either killed outright or are left to die a lingering death from suffocation. In many ways those who work in mines are in danger at all times.
 1 Almost a century ago Sir Humphrey Davy, an eminent English scientist. invented the safety-lamp as protection against the dangers resulting from ex- plosions of fire damp. This lamp, which Is called by a competent authority "one of the most valuable presents ever first used in 1915. and soon became an object of common use among the min- CTS of Great Britain. Previous to that time the miners. eS- constant danger from explosions from fire damp. which is highly explosive gas that accumulates in coal mines and Is liable to be found in almost any deep mine. When it is released and becomes mixed with the air 1t ex- plodes nt the first contact with fire and the results are frequently fearful. Even the light or a pipe or cigar will sometimes set 1t off, so sensitive is it.
 The lamp iu@enxed by Sir Humphrey was so constructed that the miner could carry ono into any part of the mine, in his hand or attached to hls hat or belt, without danger. It gave light but the heat and Hume could nor come Into contact with the gas in the mine. Whether these lamps, or any other form of safety appliance is still used In the mines we do not know. but should suppose not, judging from the terrible explosions that are SO fre- Quently occurring. both in this coun- try and in Europe. Possibly no such method. or anything of the kind. is generally used, or else they have some. how lost their efficiency Whatever may be the cause, we know that many explosions occur. and the results are fearful
 Another frequent source of dang CT and death Is the caving or falling in of some part of deep mine. When A mine assumes the form of a tunnel pursuing its course along a vein Of coal far below the earth's surface, and it Is thought that there can be even a possibility of falling-in the overhead portion is shored or propped in sucr way as to be thought secure. Some. times the work Is imperfecuy done 1T the first place. and sometimes the tim. bers rot or give way. Sometimes tho natural pillars left by the miners yielc under the pressure. and sometimes tlso. the miners unexpectedly strlk, weak place as they proceed. In any