The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-18
CARELESSNESS OF
MINERS CAUSES
EXPLOSIONS
DEADLY AFTER.oAsEs FINISH
WORK OF DEsTRUcTIoN-LAsT
YEAR MORE LIVES WERE LOST
THAN EVER BEFORE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. ls.-More lives
we're los, I'm the coal mines OF the
United States during 1908 1than In
any other year in history This year is
going after l9QSs gruesome record
Hundreds OF nyes were lost last Tues
day N q model mine near Blueneids,
w Va, and on the day preceding near
]! thirty miners were killed IN the
Letter mines in Illinois.
The great mass OF The 1merltan
people startled by the enormous loss
OF life, holds its breath FOR moment.
sheds few tears. contributes few
dollars to the FUND for the helpless
widows and half.StarYed orphans anu
proceeds 10 forget all about H. \ few
men. scientists or humanitariars. ask
why do such accidents occur3 How
can they BE- prevented TO The first
question. there Is 10 answer. TO the
stc0nd the reply is They cannot be
prevented
The Lick Branch mine near Blue
feeds WAS model mine, said 10 De
one 81 The safest in America. Il was
double shaited, double timbered and
we'll supplied With airshaits and vents.
In the shops above were the latest
mechanical devices operating fans
sending air currents rushing through
the mines, through every entry ami
drift supplying the llfe-g!ving oxygen
TO the men at work.
All these precautions are taken u
Prevent the accumulation OF gas Sci
encc has not yet solved the problem
OF preventing the formation OF gas.
II can prevent its accumulation some
times.
Mining engineers and chemists rec
osnize three kinds OF mine gases.
They dominate these gases fire
damp. after-damp and white-damp.
Now and then. miners call the two
latter choke-damp.
Fire-damp is the only one OF the trio
that is explosive. Ii is a gas given
of BY coal under the influence OF the
heat OF the earth. Chemical analysis
shows that II is never the same in
any two mines. Ii is lighter than at
mospheric air and gathers near the
roofs OF chambers. drifts and entries
Sometimes IL is found In pockets
that is. cavities, in coal veins Il con
sists largely OF catbureted- hydrogen
or what Is known commonly as marsh
gas. familiar TO those who live neat
marshes and swamps. Fire-damp is
not explosive until IL is mixed with ali
and brought into contact with flame
Wien Davy invented the miners
safety lamp. II was thought that al
danger OF mine explosions was over
This lamp has the flame surrounded
with a metallic screen, which does
not permit the passage OF the flame
But the screens burn out after Iona
usage and miners groW careless. The!
will smoke IN the mines. IL Is agains
the rules yet on the dead bodies OF
nine out OF ten victims OF mine hor
ror will be- found the old pipe the
half-flled sack CT tobacco and the few
matches.
Sometimes, too. the careless minei
will lamp his slot or blast wit.
paper instead OF clay The result i:
that the force ~ the exploded powder
IS upward. not downward. a flame
shoots mp. and II there be any ga
around an explosion Is inevitable
Such an explosion above ground woull
not be attended with serious consc
uuences But in the narrow. crampec
confines OF a mine. hundreds OF fee
under ground, the result is appalling
The gases released by the explosion
moving along the lines OF the leas
resistance. tearing twisting and die
rupting reach the air vents and mali
shafts and wreck them. This i'm
prisons these miners not killed by the
explosion and cuts off their air supply