The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
CHIEF OF THE MINE BUREAU ARRIVES Dr. l.. A. Holmes Will Visit
 Banner NO STATEMENT YET Noted Expert Will Make Investiga- tion Before Discussing Matter.
 Tells of the Disaster at
 Scranton

Dr. L. A. Holmes, director of the ou- reau of mines, United States geological survey, arrived in Birmingham yesterday at noon to visit Banner mines. where ap- proximately 12s convicts lost their lives Saturday. He came direct from Wash ington and will make 8 thorough and aster.
 Dr. Holmes went Immediately to the offices of the Pratt Consolidated Coal company and made himself known there. He expressed desire to go Immediately to the scene of the accident and a few minutes later left with Erskine Ramsay, vice president and chief engineer, and Robert A. Brown. They went through the country In an automobile and reached the mines at late hour yesterday after noon.
 Dr. Holmes is one of the most noted ex- perts in the world. He has been in Bir- mingham attending all of the recent mine explosions and said yesterday that he liked Birmingham very much, but that he did not like to come on such occa- sions.
 To Make Examination
 q was in Washington when the re- ports came,' said Dr. Holmes. and when the seriousness of the explosion was made known I made arrangements to come directly to Birmingham. I cannot, of course, make a guess as to the cause Of the explosion. I have no information except what is reported in the papers, and would prefer to make an examina- tion myself before expressing an opin- ion.
 ''I was very much concerned to hear that pr. Rutedge was overcome. That is a feature that I am at loss to under stand as I was told the black damp was not hanging over the area which Dr. Rutledge entered. As I understand 1t he was not wearing one of the helmets or if he was 1t sprung leak. I am relieved to learn that he and the other members of the crew were not seriously hurt"
 The Scranton Horror
 Dr. Holmes was at the Scranton. Pa, uiSdster III WHICH .dpout louT Scofe isleH were victims.
 That disaster was started be an ordi- nary fire and could not have been antici- pated," he said. "The mine had In 1t two engines used in operating the works. The engines were fired by one man. They were several hundred yards apart and he would attend to one and then go to the other. A fire broke out In one and 1t spread before he could reach 1t. The fan was running at full tide but it was situated between the fire and the mouth of the mine and was showing air in. The men who were behind the fire were the victims of the thrush of smoke laden air, which was assisted by the heavy fan pressure The dead were all suffocated by the smoke. There was no explosion although smoke creates gas and probably there was large quantity created in the Scranton mine.
 Stringent Laws Needed
 "At times there occur accidents which cannot be avoided, but every state should have the most stringent mine laws and in1ict severe penalty upon anyone vio- lating them. There should be created a spirit of careful cooperation between the official and the miners to the end that a common result may be the better ment of mining conditions and the re- duction of accident.
 pr Holmes said he wished to look over the site for the rescue station in West End before he returned to his headquar- ters in Washington. He will be taken to West End this week.