The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-13
DUST AND GAS WERE
JOINTLY TO BLAME
Hillhouse Reports on Disaster
at Mulga
CONDITION OF THE MINE
Every Precnution Had Been Taken BY
Mine OfiiciaIs-Mining Machines
Had Left Some Dust In Sus-
pension In Mine
CONDITION OF THE MINE

lie report OF James t1lllnOuSe, cnlef
mine inspector of Alabama, on the Null
ga disaster. April 20. was made public
yesterday after having been submitted
to Governor Conner. The report is signed
by Mr. Hillhouse and by Assistant In
spector Robert Nell
! The conclusion is reached that the ex-
plosion was caused by gas augmented by
dust in suspension in the mine.
| Accompanying the report is copy of
Assistant Inspector Neill's inspection of
the mine, made April IS, and also re-
port of Ed Flynn, dated January 25 who
was the chief mine inspector, in both of
which the conditions in the mine were
pronounced excellent.
| The report reads:
Hilihouse's Report
! Birmingham, Ala May D. 1910
Hon. +. B. Conner, Governor State OF
Alabama. Montgomery, Ala.
Dear Sir: I'm compliance with Section 20
of the mining law, with Associate Vine
Inspector Robert Neil. 7 made careful
and thorough examination of the disaster
at Mulga, which took place at 9:15 D. m.
April 20, 1910, causing the loss of 80 lives.
This mine is operated by the Birming-
ham Coal and Iron company, and the
mine is named Mulga 1t is located about
| II miles west of Birmingham, on the
Ensley Southern railroad
| There are two timber-lined shafts, Nos.
1 and 2, 3s5 feet apart; each shaft is a 81
proximately 40 feet deep, piercing the
Pratt seam at 300 feet and the Mary Lee
luAa %
Grated Double-decked steel cages are
used, and both shafts are equipped with
structural steel head frames.
We would not make an investigation
until all bodies were removed from the
mine. the last being taken out Sunday
evening. April "a. The mine was badly
wrecked, causing considerable delay in
our examination.
Monday morning we were accompa MED
by J. j. Rutledge a representative of the
United States geological survey, stationed
at Knoxville. He was instructed by the
government to assist in making examine
ton. Mr.. Rutledge's broad experience
was of great value to us in helping to To-
cate the cause and origin of the explo-
sion.
| Very Modern Mine
Mulga is a very modern mine and has
been operated only two years. No ex-
pense has been spared to put the property
in workman-like manner, and to all ap-
pearances no pains or energy were
spared to bring the property up to the
best of the Birmingham district The
examination of the inside showed clearly
the desire of all connected to place the
operation on a high plane.
After continuous trial to locate a start
ing point of the explosion, we find we are
much in doubt. My first desire was to
investigate the question of the windy
shot theory but after numerous exam
nations of each working place, no shot
of this kind could be found.
| There were two shifts working In this
mine-the day shift and the night shift
| The day shift had prepared and fired Its
shot before leaving the mine at 4 p. m.
| The explosion took place at 9:15 p. m, and
the examination showed that no shots
had been fired. AL coal that had been
broken was explained by the day shift
who had retired. Upon further examina-
ton, there was a portion of two cases Of
Aetna B. permissible powder. found UNI
exploded; also 10 sand dummies used for
tamping. The system of exploding this
powder is to connect wire leading from
detonator to the electric trolley line,
which was used by the electric motor
the method used for hauling coal to tho
shaft
Hunted for Gases
After deciding there could be no blame
placed on the windy shot,, all coal
was undercut, the next question was.
what if any gases had accumulated, or
whether dust could have assisted in an ex-
ploson of this nature" Upon going to
one of the extreme points of the opera
| ton, known as the manway heading
some accumulations of gas were found
although it may have accumulated after
all the brattices were blown out. by the
force of explosion. There were two min
| ing machines in operation at the time OF
| explosion; these machines produce con-
siderable dust while working. This dust
| in mining parlance is called buck dust"
| The dust in suspension from machines
would strengthen the force of the explo-/
| sion. Precautions were used to load out>
| each days accumulation of mining caused
| from the machines, before shooting. In
| vestigation shows clearly that several OF
the employees were in the act of loading
this dust into mining cars, when they
| lost their lives. Many strange freaks
could be seen that would be hard to
figure out. and the only points of great
Importance to explain were places that
showed the greatest volume of the ex-
plosion. which were locations known to
be free from the question of gas or dust,
other than the dust deposited after the
| force of explosion had passed.
| The places that showed the greatest
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