The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-18
MINE DISASTERS WORST IN HISTORY Past Years Record Exceeds All
 in Loss of Life THREE KINDS OF MINE GAS Fire Damp Is Said To Be the Only One of the Three Gases Which Will
 Explode and Cause the
 Loss of Life.
THREE KINDS OF MINE GAS

New York, January 1.-The year 1908 was marked by more mine horrors-by more loss of life underground-than any other year in history. And the year 19O9 scarcely three weeks old, apparently is going after 19OS's grewsome record, Only last week almost 100 lives were snuffed out in an explosion in a model mine near Bluefields, w. Va, and a few days prior death exacted another terrible toll in the Letter mines in Illinois.
 The great mass of the people startled by the enormous loss of life holds it's breath for a moment, sheds a few tears, contributes few dollars to the fund for the helpless women and orphans and pro- ceeds to forget all about it. A few men, scientists or humanitariaps, ask: Why do such accidents occur2 How can they be prevented? To the first question there is no answer To the second the reply is. They cannot be prevented"
 The Lick Branch mine was a model mine, said to be one of the safest in America. It was double shafted, double timbered, and well supplied with air shafts and ventilation. The shops above were the latest mechanical devices oper- ating fans, sending air currents rushing through the mines through every entry and drift, supplying the life-givng oxy- gen to the men at work.
 All these precautions are taken to pre- vent the accumulation of gas Science has not yet solved the problem preventing the formation of gas. It can prevent its ac- emulation, sometimes.
 Mining engineers and chemists recognize three kinds of mine gases. They denomi- nate these gases as fire damp, after damp and white damp. Now and then miners call the two latter choke damp.
 Now, fire damp is the only one of the trio that is explosive. It is a gas given off by coal under the influence of the heat of the earth. Chemical analysis shows that it is never the same in any two mines. It is lighter than atmospheric air and gathers rear the roof of chambers, drifts end entries Sometimes it is found in pockets" that is, cavities in coal veins. It consists largely of carburetted hydrogen or what is known commonly as marsh gas, familiar to those who live near marshes and swamps Fire damp is not explosive until it is mixed with air and brought into contact with flame.
 When Davy invented the miners safety lamp 1t was thought that all danger of mine explosions was over. This lamp has the flame surrounded with a metallic screen which does not permit the passage n Rut after long usage and miners grow care less. They will smoke in the mines It is against the rules, yet on the dead nine out of 10 will be found the old ppe the half-flled sack of tobacco and the few matches
 Sometimes, too the careless miner will "tamp' his shot or blast with paper in- stead of clay. The result is that the force of the exploded power is upward. not downward, a flame shoots up and if there be any gas around an explosion is inevitable. Such an explosion above ground not be attended with serious con- sequences. But in the narrow, cramped confines of a mine hundreds of feet under ground the result is appalling. The gases released by the explosion, moving along the lines of the least resistance, tearing, twisting and disrupting, reach the air and maintain shafts and wreck them. This 1mpflSOnS those miners not Killed by the explosion and cuts off their air supply
 Now, as soon as the fire damp explodes certain chemical changes take place The gas which results is called after damp. This is a non-explosive. After damp is of about the same specific gravity as at mospheric air. The explosion has de- stroyed all the oxygen in the air so only the after damp remains. It completes the awful work by choking to death the burned and mangled victims.
 Sometimes in addition to after damp there is found the third deadly gas, white damp. This is a heavy white. vaporous gas. plainly visible to the naked eye, which often follows after the explosion. It seeks the ground and hovers there like the miasmatc vapors one sees where ma laria abounds. It is carbonic oxid and is non explosive, but it's fumes are dead ly. and he who breathes it perishes in- stantly.
 There is no preventative even in the safest mines. Only eternal caution will avail and men who eat sleep and live in danger soon feel a contempt for it that eventually begets carelessness and an- other hundred lives are sacrificed.