The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-02-27

With mining experts for jurors,
Coroner Snyder Is this afternoon
conducting an inquest over the
body OF Duncan Robertson. one Of
the two men known 70 have been
killed IN the north trunk sewer
caye-lu. In which gang Of II men
were entombed. on the big sewer
work near the A.-Y-p. exposition
grounds last Tuesday morning.
Much OF the testimony was OF a
technical nature. intelligible TO the
expert jurors. and il tended to show
that insufficient precautions bad
been taken 20 protect the lives OF
the men employed on the work.
The story OF how the accident oc-
CURED. and Of the manner OF work
IN the section OF the tunnel where
the caye-in happened, was told by
the survivors o. the accident who
were buried alive and held impris-
oned In the tunnel for "a hours.
At Scene Of Accident.
The inquest is being held at the
scene % the accident. where the
Jurors were given an opportunity TO
inspect the tunnel work nov in
progress. and that AZ the place
where tho accident occurred.
Superintendent ID. A. Royea. In
the employ ~ Grant 4 Smith. con-
tractors, testified that the crihbing
OF the tunnel Was sufficient In his
judgment to sustain the weight OF
the earth.
Pictures showing the incline Of
the tunnel and the manner IN which
the work was conducted. were 10
trodnced in evidence.
Given No Warning.
Martin Zlssers. one Of the nine
men ontOmbed, and who survived
the accident. said there was abso-
lusely no warning OF any kind
giyen--thRt all Of d sudden there
was a roaring sound and the earth
came down. The timbers in this
mine we're s feet inches apart.
aud these timbers we're 10 BY 10.
Above them are what is called J
inch tagging.
Peter Nicholson also told OF how
the accident occurred. He was one
Of those who ran away in time to
escape the falling earth.
Rested on Sand.
H. W. Bassett. the contractor in
charge. said that. in his opinion, tbs
tinbcring that was being put IN
this tunnel was sufficient. but on
the other hand. his testimony Show
ca that thcre had been times when
the flmbers had given way and
slipped. when they dug into soft
ground. He said the ends OF the
timbcrs where this accident occurred
rested on foot Of fine sand
William Clegg an experienced
miner. who has charge Of another
section OF this same tunnel. said that
In his tunnel. above which there was
only 20 feet Of earth. while IN this
tunnel where the cave-in occurred
there was "a feet. he had used twice
as much timhering as that used in
the one where the two men were
killed and nine entomhed.
After the hearing Of testimony The
jury went over the entire sewer
work and individually questioned
the workmen and personally looked
at the timbering aud other work.
The Jury.
The jury is composed Of W o.
Boyle. John Fisher. Frank Babeock.
II. "a Davis, w. r. Lindsay and f.
L. Hughes An Of these have either
studied mining or have had actual
experience In mining and tunneling.
MeAleer Still Missing.
Pete McAicer. who was employed
with the gang which was cntombed
by the cave-in. Is still mysteriousiy
missing since the morning of tho
accident No one can be found by
the coroner who remembers having
either seen him at work or noticed
that he was not az work.
II viii be several days before the
eNcavating gang can reach the body
of August Stangel, who Is known to
have been killed in the accident.