The Detroit times., 1912-03-25

WHEELING CREEK, o, March. c5.
This Wheeling Creek mine is the
safest OF any in the bituminous
fields said Guide Frank Had, as we
fitted two little miners lamps TO the
front OF our caps and encased OH
clothes in overalls.
There are some that are SO bad
that people wouldn't believe the truth
about them" We were clambering
into one OF the little wooden cars that
carry the coal out OF the mine. We
sat down I'm the bottom so that our
heads wouldn't bump the low roof OF
the mine.
In a moment the motor had whirled
us into the entrance avenue OF the
mine. This is called the entry
about six feet high and six feet wide.
There is only room in IL for the single
track on which cars run. Along the
side walls there is a niche about
every 800 yards into which workmeD
jump for safety upon the approach or
the meter, which carries an intensely
strong headlight. The rays OF this
lamp can be seen quarter OF a nile
II the track happens TO be straight;
around a turn track-walker must
depend upon his ears for knowledge
of this motors swift approach.
That's probably as dangerous q
part OF miners life as there Is,
said Had. when the train came 10 a
stop. Every day the 400 workmen
come into the pit that way and some
day the rails will spread and there
will be an awful loss OF life. | al
ways walk in and out when | have
the time. It's lots safer"
The lack of air is the first thing an
outsider notices In coal mine. The
air is so thin that a strangling sensa-
ton is experienced Perhaps the
dense blackness OF the place helps In
this feeling. All about men are shout
ing. mules are running, machines are
drilling, picks are resounding aud
wedges" are being "shot"-and all in
total darkness.
Here and there, indeed, there are
electric lights. but they cannot do
more than punctuate the fact that the
blackness is the densest blackness In
the world.
Suddenly a. mine mule looms up IN
front. Then Imen spring out OF It's
way with a cry or look out" and the
mule passes. taking its loaded cars
up TO some spur of track where the
motor Is due on its next trip.
All about the mine appear the UNI
bers." These are wooden posts used
to support the roof of the mine. Cross
beams are placed on top OF them, SO
that they are tight against the rock
top. This is done to prevent the TAI.
ing OF stones and earth that might
crush the workmen.
"But Il is not always done soon
enough Dor well enough" said Guide
Had, who is an expert miner and an
executive board member OF the Hook
ing Valley district OF the United Mine
Workers of America.
See" he pointed. as he led the way
into deserted working" OF the
mine. There on the floor lay great
mass OF soap-stone, earth and shale,
where, as coal was being picked out,
It had fallen onto miner and crushed
his life out.
Most OF these slips" come when
a new wedge" Of coal is being blast
ed. A layer OF coal. or "the seam"
as II Is technically termed, Is about
FIVE or six feet high. About 30 feet
Of this Is measured or for one shoot.
ing" In this is drilled. either by
hand or by machine, three holes about
ten feet apart and about half way=np
the seam. Into these holes are put
strings OF gun powder. Into II Is
placed a lighted "squib" and the min
er and his companion, his buddy"
run from the chamber.
In minute a dull roar is heard
and some five or ten tons Of coal Is
dislodged from the seam. Sometimes
II is thrown out into the chamber in
big heap OF fragments. Al other
times, II will simply have left It's
moorage along the upper stratum Of
slate and will have to be picked out
In the latter case, the coal viii come