New-York tribune., 1909-01-18
LIVES LOST In MINES
only Eternal Vigilance Can PreUent
Disastrous Explosions.

Flttsburg, Jan 1.-THE year 1908 was marked in
Ns country by more mine horrors-by more loss
oh ire underground-than any ether year in his
tory and the year 1869. scarcely three weeks old.
apparently is going after ls0Ss record. Only last
Tuesday over half hundred lives were snufed
out IN an explosion in model mine Blue
Helos. '" Va, and on the day before death
acted another terrible toll in the Letter mines in
AiInols A few men, scientists humanitarians
ask Why do such accidents occur? How
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 model mine said TO
be one of the safest IN America 1t double
shafted. double tirnbered and well supplied with
air shafts and vents. In the shops above were
the latest mechanical devices operating fans send
ing air currents rushing through every entry and
drift in the mine. All these precautions are taken
10 prevent the accumulation of gas. Science has
not yet solved the problem Of preventing its forma-
tion.
Mining engineers and chemists recognize three
kinds of mine gases. They term these gases fire.
damp, afterdamp and whitedamp Now and then
miners call the two latter chokedamp.
Firedamp is the only OF the trio that is ex-
plosive- It is 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. II is lighter than atmospheric air, and
gathers the roofs of chambers. drifts and en-
tries Sometimes It Is found in pockets; that is.
cavities veins. consists largely of
buTetted hydrogen. what is known commonly
marsh gas, familiar TO those who live near
marshes and swamps. Firedamp is not explosive
until it is mixed with air and brought into contact
with fame.
When Dayy invented the miners safety lamp it
was thought that all danger Of mine explosions
was over This lamp has the flame surrounded
with 8 metallic screen. which does not permit the
passage OF the fame. But the screens burn out
after long usage, and miners grow careless They
will smoke in the mines. 1t is against the rules.
yet the dead bodies OF nine of ten victims
Of mine horror will be found the old pipe. the
half filled sack Of tobacco and the few matches.
Sometimes, too, the careless miner will ''tamp"
his shot or blast with paper instead of clay. The
result Is that the force of the exploded powder is
upward. not downward; a fame shoots up. and il
there be any gas around an explosion Is inevitable.
Such an explosion above ground would not be
tended with serious consequences; but in the mar
row, crampei confines of mine. hundreds OF feet
under ground, the result is appalling. The gases
released by the explosion, moving along the lines
OF least resistance. tearing twisting and disrupt
ing, reach the air vents and main shafts and
wreck them. This imprisons thSse miners not
killed by the explosion and cuts otheir air supply
AS the hredamp expodes certain chemi-
cal changes take place. The gas which results is
called "afterdamp" This is a non-explosive ir
respirable gas. composed chiefly of carbonic acid
gas and nitrogen. Afterdamp is Of about the
same specific gravity atmospheric air. The ex-
plosion destroyed all the oxygen in the air, so
only the afterdamp remains. This completes the
awful work by choking TO death the burned and
mangled victims who were not killed by the ex-
posion.
Sometimes. in addition to afterdan,p. there is
found third deadly gas. ''whitedamp." This is
a heavy, white, vaporous gas, plainly visible TO
the naked eye which often forms after the ex-
ploscn. It seeks the ground and hovers there like
the miasrnatic vapors seen where malaria abounds.
II carbonic oxide, and is non-explosive, but its
fumes deadly, and he who breathes IL perishes
instantly.
There is preventive, even in the safest mines.
Only eternal caution will avail. and men who eat.
sleep and live IN danger soon feel contempt for
that eventually begets carelessness and thus other
lives sacrificed.