The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-10
POWDER EXPLOSION
 PROBABLE CAUSE Gas Theory Not Plausible, SAYS MCCORMACK PRECAUTIONS TAKEN The Mine Was Free From Dust, Due to Sprinkling, and the Condi-
 it0ns Were Known to
 Be Ideal

In a signed statement issued last night q. B. Mccormack, president of the Pratt Consolidated Coal company, declares that every precaution known was in use at Banner mines previous to the fatal ex- plosion Saturday morning and that the disaster could not have been caused by the presence of gas or dust.
 The mines were so well sprinlSled, he states, that the rescuers who ventured into them after the explosion reported the interior wet and muddy. In addi- tion, the fans were in perfect order and full operation and the strong current of air passing through the mines would have made impossible the accumulation of gas, especially near the junction of the sev- enth left entry and the main slope, where the greatest force of the explosion was felt.
 Following is MT. McCormack's state ment:
 A Great Surprise
 "The disaster at Banner mines was a very great surprise to us. Every pre- caution which modern and improved mine appliances could suggest had been taken by us to protect the convicts working
 in the mines. We had at one shaft an electric fan which gave twice the amount of ventilation required for the mines. At the other shaft we recently installed another fan with three timess the capac- ity of ventilation required for the mines. These fans were in perfect order and in full operation at the time of the explo- sion.
 "The night crew comes out at o'clock and the day shift goes in the mines at that hour. We had two experienced and competent fire bosses, each having first grade certificate. The night fire boss had made thorough inspection of the mines and had just gotten out of the mines at the time of the explosion. From all indications the explosion took place near the junction of the seventh left entry and the main slope and very near the air shaft, between the time the night crew came out and day shift went in. So, immediately after the inspection by the fire boss, and with the strong circu- lation of air passing through the mines, It is incredible to us that the explosion was caused by gas. Very little gas has ever been generated in the mines. The usual burns and signs of fire following a gas explosion do not exist.
 Every Safeguard Provided "Every safeguard, regardless of ex- pense, has been taken by our company to prevent explosions in that mine. The
 mines are daily sprinkled to prevent dry ness and accumulation of dust. The top walls and bottom are sprinkled daily and thereby the mines are constantly kept wet. The mines were found wet anc ] muddy after the accident. There was absolutely no dust which could have caused a dust explosion. The force oi the explosion was felt over a very linn | tied area, thereby showing it was neither
 an extensive gas nor dust explosion We were so anxious to afford full protec | ton against dust explosions that we in stalled' throughout the mines a paten spray for moistening the fresh air carried | into the mines. I was recently advised | by the chief mine inspector that with thu | ventilation and other protective appli anees in use by us, that there could no I be any large explosion in the mines While the exploration is incomplete, VI are satisfied from our knowledge of con ditions. that the full facts when knowr will completely establish that the ex plosion was neither a gas nor dust ex | plosion.
 q can only say that if the deaths were caused by either gas or dust that tht company officers were absolutely unable | to foresee it, and powerless to avoid it We had in use every known approved pre- ventative We had in force rules ant regulations for the safety of the mer | and mines more stringent than have beer
 suggested in any proposed mining law We had capable and experienced men ir charge We know of nothing that VI could have done which would have avoid ed the accident.
 Powder Probably Exploded "From present information of condi tions. before and since the disaster. W, are forced to the conclusion that 1t wal | powder explosion. We carry into tht mines each morning a days supply O. permissible explosives. While there is nt law against keeping a larger supply il | the mines, we have, as a matter of pre- caution, carried in each day the suppl, for that day. We use exclusively tn, permissible powder approved by tn, United States government. The days sup ply was sent in each morning by tht
 shot-frers. All of the shot-firers were free white men. Convicts were not al lowed to handle powder except such as was given to them by the shot-firers to put in the drill holes, in their respective
 rooms No convict was allowed to fire a shot. This even applied to experienced miners
 Someone Did Something
 'The explosion took place after the
 powder had gone into the mines. Pow
 der of this kind may be exploded by con cussion. The only way I can account foi the explosion is that someone did some thing about the powder that caused it to explode.
 Tt Is unfortunate that no eye witness is left to explain how it happened. From accidents of this kind we are unable to learn anything of value to prevent their recurrence, because we can never know
 definitely and with certainty how they were caused.
 we are giving preferred attention to the rescue work, and doing everything in our powpr tO get the dead hodies ont Of