The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-22

him to act as fire boss. Juror Taylor
/, asked him if II was his duty to en-
anime all parts Of the mine. lie re-
Piled that he examined all except the
unworked portions. Juror Taylor said
that gas accumulated III unworked
portions. and that II was as necessary
to examine thcm aS the regular work
ings.
Rcpurtrd il to Day Foreman.
lie stated that compressed air was
used to ventilatc the "poCl;ct' where
tile explosion took place. wltch, under
questioning. lie admitted was a had
method of vcntilation liz stated that
he found tho broken air !!ne at l.i3
o'clock. and tnat he reported II to the
day foreman. But he failed 10 observe
the rules of the company IN not maxi
ing 4 written report OF Tho break Ills
written report was introduced in evil
dcncc. lie also said that AZ soon as
tho ail line was broken .hclr was no
way 10 prevent the accumulation OF
gas. iic admitted also that anworkcd
pockets should be tested cur gas.
Louis Wilson. day foreInan and as
sis.ant ire boss, was called up from
tho bottom Of tbs mine TO go ON the
witness stand. lie came NJ, ulack and
rrimy, with ila ZAP and LAMP He
said he was assistant ii~e loss TO
George ". stoves, day foreman and
general foreman. lie entered Tie mine
shortly after ) o'clock on Friday morn
ins, while tho night shirt was still
working where thu SIX Poles were kill
cd The day SHIFT, lie said won't on
bctwccn & and I O'Clock. lie said 1t
was his duty 10 inspect all Inc work
ing parts. not the unwork'i parts, as
Inc had been instructed II. Tile com
pany.
Wilson testified that he found u
pocket OF gas in crosa,,Ut No. 81,
ard the air line broke at the tee.
lie detected the gas with his safety
lamp. He told the niGht mcn not Ia
go int" that place any more. lie said
he asked how long the air limo had
been broken, and one of the men told
him il had been broken three hours.
Then he wrote in chalk tho word gas"
as - danger signal on = log Of wood
In front OF the breast. lie said that
tho Poles could speak English. hut he
didn't know whether they could read
ut. and he thought they should be
examined TO sec ii they could read
English. He stated that the night boss
should have ment!oncd ;he broken
pipe.
story of Explosion.
Then he told the story of the OK
p%losion. OF the hight FOR life ty tho
MANNED and injured. and of his part In
the rescue. lie was SONS distance away
when lie heard tho explosion and felt
the shock. lie rushed hazel AID found
men wounded and screaming in the
pitchy dark, struggling to reach the
exits. hll the air batteries were blown
out. lie hung curtains on the bat
trrics "a get tho air back. and then
he went to the aid OF the injured.
Others came 10 his aid. aud. ono by
one. the wounded were ragged to
fresh air. Frank Berger was found
hrsi. Ills heart was stiu beating. and
Wilson attempted to rcsuscitate him
by artificial respiration. Bat life was
%cXtinct within & few minutes.
Five others were dead. and he left,
them 10 care. for tic living. II was
ut tao risk % his life. he modcstly al.
mittci. and thr jury seemed 10 b-l.cyc
his story rs he shuddcrinri" told l.,
He reverted 10 the broken mir line. and
said that the night foreman, Hopkins.
mad said 10 him that lac 1iGn't have
lime TO nX II. But he touinn swear
Una, thc explosion occurred liz we gas
"pockct' lie discovered. as tic crno
men were lying gu, IN the matn tuu-
mel aud non was inside.
thd NJ Personal Warntny.
He agreed With Juror T,i$ior tina
the miners should DO kept oui until
the mine IL announced clear. snl lie
Thought mines should be VENTILATED
witlt natural air. No persona. war.ing
had been given to tho ,ninels. Id ius-
tiitcH, and he didn'; know wncthcr ;Ery
Had ever before seen tho word gas.
lie declared tnat tho night foreman
could have repaired the break in five
or ten minutes, and that. had II been
repaired. the explosion would not have
occurred. lie. tho, was ASKED wlie;her
unworked portions Of the mine should
bc tested for gas.
"They Examine unWorkcd portions In
nay part OF the country. IA" replied.
y. 5. Bautro, the hotelkecper. was
: called TO testify as to whether ali III.
men had been brought out. II had
been rumorcd that some we're s,i.l
2 buried beneath the debris. But "a was
only ~Jarnnitach he HAD not heard from
and h.; body had been found. :
,, r. Voolfolk I'rstiHrs.
William &. Voolfolk. yice-prcsidon,
OF Tho company, was called. He va:
SIM In his work clothes. lie describe.
the management OF the mine. Thcr.
: are a day and night shift. ana a.,bur
no men in all are employed. IN.
mines are in charge of ". \. Sullivan
!; who reports 10 him. and sullivan Ia,
under MIN George y stoves, MIN fore
man. lie thought MS men wcr. con-
netcnt. lie makes n personal inspcc
y -M - . F.m lies