Report of the Bureau of Mines of the Department of Internal Affairs of ...

170 REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF MINES. Off. Doc.
superintendent of the Mahanoy District Collieries; he stated that he
was superintendent over the district in which North Mahanoy Colliery
is located. I received weekly a report kept daily of the condition
of all ropes about the colliery. The rope in this case was reported
to me by Mr. Eltringham the outside foreman to be in good
Older and is now in good condition, never before knew of a rope
breaking so close to the socket, my opinion is that the wires in the
rope became crystallized by the water which often stood in the
"Braney" pit at the bottom of the plane.
On August 16, Mr. Whittick, father of one of the victims of the
accident pushed a car over the top of the plane for which he was
discharged.
Q. Was that rope in your opinion properly examined when last
passed upon?
A. I can't say positively, as I have only the word of the man
who made the examination.
it
Q. Do you believe the rope was re-socketed when it is claimed that
was?
A. I can only take the report for that.
Swanze Eltringham was next called, who testified that he was
outside foreman at North Mahanoy Colliery at the time of the accident,
and the only cause for the rope breaking inside the socket
was on account of water.
Q. When was the rope re-socketed last?
A. Frank Wertz, the blacksmith, says four months ago; it is a
steel wire rope, one and one-half inches in diameter.
Q. Why is it that no record was kept of the latest repairs to the
rope when the rules of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company require it?
A. 1 don't know.
Q. Did not Mr. Richards, the superintendent, instruct you to resofket
your ropes every three or four months?
A, I don't remember.
Q. Did you examine the ropes daily?
A. Yes; each day.
At this point the hearing was adjourned to meet on Tuesday evening,
December 7, at seven o'clock.
When the hearing was resumed on Tuesday evening, Frank Wertz
was (examined by Mine Inspector Stein.
Q. Are you conversant with the mine law in relation to the examination
of ropes and chains in use at collieries?
A. I never had the law given to me.
Q. Don't you know daily examinations of ropes and chains must be
made?
A. Only from hearsay.