The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-23

L
and distilled the volatile matter from it.
Great disturbance was found at the mouth
of this heading by the cars thrown from
the track and a general torn-up cond-
ton of the entire heading was apparent.
| Attached is a copy of Inspector Neills
report. He sets out the many dangers
that are apparent and cautions most
positively against the firing of holes on
| the solid. 1t was known at that time
the gaseous condition of the mine.
The examination after the explosion
showed that two holes in the fourth left
heading in room No. had been fired on
the solid one hole was 2h feet, another
| 20 inches, and the third 10 inches. We could
not say whether those holes were fired
that day or not. The investigation, how
ever, showed that the superintendent did
allow the using of dynamite-he made this
statement, which was a disregard en-
tirely of circular letter attached, that was
sent to every operator, forbidding this
practice.
| Fire was found between Nos. and
rooms on the fourth left heading. whether
the shots mentioned on the solid were re-
sponsible for it or not is connective. How
ever, considerable dust was seen in this
heading.
The fan used was a 12-foot Crawford
McCrimmon and was too small to venti-
late a mine the size of Palos. This, in adj
dition to the curtailment of the area to
the intake, Is responsible for the poor ven
tilation.
l wish to call your attention to the fifth,
sixth and seventh left and also sixth
right and fourth entry, which were not in
operation at the time of Mr.. Neill's in
spection, and on the day of the explosion
all headings but the sixth and seventh
were at work. Therefore, while the VEN
tilation was pretty good on day of IN
spection, the chapces are that 1t was very
inferior on day of explosion for the rea-
son that there were more headings at
work.
Change Of Foreman
You will also note in Mr.. Neill's report
that he was informed of change, which
was going to be made on March l, of
mine foreman, and that he (Mr. NeilD re-
quested in said report that the new mine
foreman must not allow any shooting on
the solid Should such be allowed chances
were greater for an explosion.
I will also state that we were unable
to find any clay or sand to be used for
tamping shots, which was recommended
in our circular letter for shot firing.
When Mr.. Neill rendered his report to
Mr. Flynn, who was then chief mine in
spector, Mr.. Flynn, seeing by 1t that they
were about to make a change in their
mine foreman and knowing the condition
of said mine. made a personal visit to
Mr.. Drennen, the president of the COM
pany, requesting him to be very careful
in whom he placed there. as this mine re-
quired a great deal of attention and
should it be neglected that he might look
for trouble in the way of an explosion.
Apparently, Mr.. Flynn's instructions were
not carried out as the change was made
and an explosion followed.
The following is the fire boss report on
Palos mine:
| April Is, 1910. Palos, Ala, No. mine is
clear of gas except fifth left Nos. 2 and 8
| room, and sixth left. No. 8 room. Those
places have gas. ]. w. STANSBERRY.
! May 4, 1910. Palos No. mine is clear
of gas except the fifth left. Nos. and
3 room, sixth right. sixth room Those
places have gas. j. w. STANSBERRY.
May 5, 1910 No. Palos mine is clear of
gas except fifth left and and rooms,
and fourth right, No. 2 room. Those
places have gas.
Recommendations for Future
The following recommendations for
the future of the company are:
l. That you put in a larger fan.
Your present fan. while it was large
enough when your mine was not de-
veloped to the extent it is now, is en-
tirely too small for the present work.
ing.
| 2. That you make a large inlet and
outlet for your air.
| 8. That you have thorough system
of watering or sprinkling your mine:
that is, to have constant sprays at the
entrance of each intake and at differ
emit points on the slope. also in the
headings. so as to keep the air moist.
4. Your coal must be undermined
either by machines or pick, and abso-
lutely no shooting off the solid
| 5. Permissible explosives must be
used and clay or sand for tamping ex-
clusively, and have regular shot firers;
and shooting should be done at night
When ready for operation please no.
tify this office, and either or one OF
the associate inspectors will gladly go
to your mine and make an inspection.
List of Those Killed
The following are the names of those
killed:
! Bob Bray. white. married, miner, aged
So.
C. H. Standberry. white, married. fire
boss, age 80.
| Earl stansberry, white, married, fire
boss, age "a.
Fred Stansberry, white. single, fire
boss, age 90
Milton Spruell, white, single. trapper,
age H.
James Clark, white, married. con-
tractor. age rs.
| L. v. Warren or Dick Barnet, white.
single. miner, age 20.
| John Milligan, white. miner, single.
age 20,
Lee Braslin. white. single, driver, age
81.
Elmer Conley. white. married miner.
age 49,
Martin Rurrell. white. married. miner.
age %.
M. L. Black. white. miner. married.
age 80.
Albert Pennington, white. single
driver, age 15,
Ranso Brassfeld. white. single, miner
age az.
Rob Stansberry, white, single, driver.
are 90