The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-29
7 ANARIES save about 500 hu-
man lives a year. They are

MdU HNtS d HSdi ACJ O.
- the chief reliance of the
United States Bureau OF Mines in the
rescue OF entombed coal miners
whenever a mine disaster occurs.
During the few years they have been
used in this work more than 5000
lives have been saved through their
use.
All coal mines are full OF coal dust.
Dust OF any character that contains
carbon In certain forms will ex-
plode. Flour dust frequently causes
explosions in -four mills, but the eI-
plosions caused by coal dust are per.
haps the most common examples Of
this disastrous phenomenon.
For long time miners refused to
be convinced that coal dust would
explode. The mine disasters which
were costing several thousand lives
every year were attributed to other
causes. Since the real menace of
the mines has been ascertained. how.
ever. It has been less difficult to
train miners how to proceed to pre-
vent explosions and how to act when
they occur.
Only anthracite coal dust explodes.
Such explosions are caused by what
miners call "blowouts." A miner
drills a hole In vein OF coal and
lamps in the charge The explosion
which follows is expected to break
up the coal. but sometimes, instead
of the coal breaking, 1t holds firm.
Then disaster follows. The plug
flies out OF the boring and is followed
by long tongue OF flame that licks
into the coal dust and causes the ex-
plosion.
II the explosion were confined to
the immediate vicinity In which il
occurs. the damage done might be
inconsiderable. but such, unfortu.
nately Is seldom the case. The ex.
plosion usually develops a great wave
OF air which stirs up the coal dust
throughout the mine and starts n
series of explosions which NAV
travel through the underground pas.
sages for four or FIVE miles. CARRYING
Death to hundreds Of workers and
destruction TO thousands Of dollars
worth OF property.
After an explosion comes the
deadly coal damp" or black DAMP
which rapidly brings death to every
living soul in the mines who escaped
the force OF the original explosion.
To rescue miners from the after
perils OF these explosions is one OF
the principal functions OF the United
States Bureau Of Mines. which was
organized after the terrible disaster
IN the Monongah mine, In West vir
ginia. in 1907. in which $50 men were
killed.
So effectively does this bureau
work that the average annual death
toll in the mining industry has been
cut down from some 1900 to 1000.
or from seven men for every million
tons TO 4.29 men for every million
tons.
Without the canaries. however.
this work OF rescue would be prac.
ueally out OF the question. At any
rate. 1t would not be nearly as effec-
tive
When there Is an explosion or q
caye-in at a coal mine and miners
are entombed, word is Immediately
sent 10 the Federal Bureau 10 rush
10 tho scene OF the disaster one OF
It's specially equipped life-saving rail.
way cars. These cars are stationed
at various central points throughout
the country In the different coal re-
gions. The car crew Is assisted In
the recue work by a mine rescue
corps which IS attached TO every
mine. Each corps consists OF SIX
men equipped with an oxygen he'll
met resembling that worn by deep
sea divers. This apparatus includes
tank strapped TO the back OF the
rescuer carrying oxygen enough for
Two hours and cartridge OF causdc
soda strapped in front TO take up the
poisonous gnses from the breath OF
the wearer.
Upon arrival at the mouth o. the
mine where disaster has occurred
tho first thing the rescue crew does
is 10 look after the miners who have
managed 10 crawl TO the surface. IN.
jured or otherwise. and 10 admin.
lister first aid. A part OF the life
saving crew attends 10 this psrticu-
lar line of vo-k while the others try