The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-02-25
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INDIAIvH Mines
Whitewashing Begins in
Mine Disaster
Especial to The DAILY woRkER.)

SULLIVAN, Ind, Feb. 23.- The
embarrassing Of thu owners Of the
City Coal company mine began today,
following the recovery of the charred
bodies of the 81 miners killed in the
explosion in the mine here last week.
The report Of Deputy State Mine
Inspector Albert Daily to the coro-
ner's inquest is expected to be that
the Explosion was accidental and
unavoidable"
"The disaster emphasizes the need
for stricter state laws governing the
operation of Indiana mines," John
Hessler, president of District No. IL,
of the United Mine Workers said
For miner to go down into mine
that does not have safety exit or
manway is absolutely suicidal, and
yet some of the mines in the state
/ operate without this safeguard.
Pass Safety Laws Too Late
HAD there been no escape shaft
at the Sullivan mine, the toll of death
would have been far greater.
"This is the answer to the house
of representatives at Indianapolis in
adopting committee report that per-
mits operators and owners of CONNER
cial mines to produce coal without
providing second outlet of escape"
A conference of general assembly
men has been called to consider mine
safety regulation for Indiana The
senate passed such bill, but it was
amended in the house to omit pro-
visions necessary to safety.
State mine leaders were invited to
attend this conference. Hessler was
asked to speak and present the min
ers' views on safety legislation. Sims
conferred with Governor Jackson, in
an effort to have the rules suspended
and rush bill thru both branches of
the state legislature for the appro-
priation Of $4,000 from the state
treasury for the relief of the destitute
families Of the victims.
Two Hundred Orphans
Over two hundred children were or
phaned by the catastrophe. Most of
the dead miners had large families.
Under the state workmen's compen-
sation laws, the families will receive
only $3.50 a week for five years, af-
ter which they will receive nothing
The mothers and wives of the dead
miners declare this is small consola-
ton for the loss of their menfolk.
Poisonous fumes were still pouring
from the mouth of the mine pit to-
day. The rescuers encountered nu-
merous "squeezes," where the roof
walls and ceilings squeezed together
and threatened to block the narrow
passages of the 350-foot deep mine.
The mine, typical of Indiana mines.
was considered dangerous and badly
equipped.
Bames Open Lamps.
All the mines of the surrounding
country were closed down while the
miners flocked to Sullivan to render
what relief they could.
Indiana has no law prohibiting the
use of open flame miners lamps, and
it is the unanimous opinion that one
of these lamps ignited gas which
caused the fatal explosion. Secre-
tary Work of the department of the
interior, declared, Several hundred
thousand open lights are carried daily
in the coal mines of the country,
each lamp being a hazard to life and
property thru fire or explosion. Open
lights have been responsible for many
coal mine disasters in the past"
Indiana mines are noted for their
gas pocket formations, and it is these
open lights which ignite the lamps,
causing the explosions.
The state Legislature has appropri-
ated ten thousand dollars for the re-
lief of the families Of the victims.
It will be several days, Daily said,
before mine inspectors can enter
the mine in safety. Black damp and
deadly gases still are abundant in
the mines several arteries, he said.
making inspection at present i'm
possible. ~ "
Miners who escaped with their lives.
today express amazement that the en-
tire tipple was not blown from the
mine. They described how two blasts
shook the pit. the first caused by ig-
milton of an accumulation Of mine
gases and the second an explosion Of
still larger volume OF gas COM
pressed by the vacuum which followed
the first blast
Two separate Investigations were TO
be launched to determine responsible
ity for the explosion. Representing the
state, Inspector Daily planned to be-
gin tomorrow hearing witnesses. The
states investigation will extend over
a period of several days and will in
clude visits TO all entries OF the
wrecked coal mine.
Prosecutor N. X. Harris also an
nounced he would probe the blast.
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