Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-10
NEGLIGENT LAWLESSNESS

Down IN a coal mine in Pennsylvania the other day
some eighty persons were instantly killed, and about
thirty more were manned as the direct result of a plain
violation of a we'll understood law by some person or per-
The mining laws provide very definitely that ex-
plosives shall not BE carried on the same conyeyances
which are being used for the transportation of human be-
ings. A group Of miners were on their way to work in a
section OF a coal mine. They were riding. as Is custom
airy, on the small electrically propelled cars provided for
that purpose. Contrary to the explicit provisions Of the
law, a car containing several kegs Of blasting powder
was attached to the rear OF the little train. just what
happened may never be known with certainty, but the
theory which is generally entertained seems as reason
able as any. 1t is believed that the trolley wire broke,
and that the resulting sparks ignited the powder, caus-
ing the explosion which killed most Of the men who were
within the area of its influence. Whatever the cause
the powder exploded. and the lives were lost.
Those lives were lost because someone violated a
sane and reasonable law intended for the protection Of
human life. The act may have been committed by some
official who was not himself present when the explosion
occurred. Or it may have been done by one of the group
of ill-fated passengers. In that case the culprit ha. per-
ished by his own act, which Is by no means a rare thing
1t ID a we'll known fact that persons who use ex-
plosives are apt to be reckless in handling them. The
constant presence of danger seems to inspire contempt
for it. and there are probably few miners who have not
ohleH 1ONaIS ~ Te8ulduOnS which nave been made for
their own safety. When the tragedy which has been
braved, and invited, comes, the offender is accompanied
in his suffering by others who may have had no part in
his act, but who. in all probability, have committed sim
liar acts themselves times without number.
The chances are that the carrying Of powder md
men On the same mine train has been 4 common occur
renee 81 that Wilkesbarrs mine. 1t may have been done
thousands q times without ACCIDENT The fatality now
SDlls attention to Il.
The e6ectiveness yof the lesson may be emphasized
~ a measure BY the melting out Of punishment to the re-
sspenssbieS person or persons II responsibility for this par
ttcplsr act can aecuratsly Be fixed. and II the person or
Eelsons RESPONSIBLE can be found among the living. But
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