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

No. 10. FIRST BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. 245
intersect one of the cross entries; tbis would not only make a
direct route for the air current for quite a distance, but would also
dispense with the door and its consequent annoyance.
Vesta Nos. 1 and 2.—These mines are, at the present time, practically
one, as all the coal produced in them, except one entry, is run
over the former's tipple. On my last visit they were employing
14 machine men, 138 loaders, 14 drivers and 21 other persons. The
condition ^f these mines, as regards drainage, is fair, but in parts of
the mine the ventilation was not up to the legal requirements, owing
to the air not being properly distributed. Cubic feet of air entering
the mine, 36,720.
Little Redstone.—In operation 185 days during the year. Cubic
feet of air at inlet, when last visit was made, 32,880; additional air
measurements were taken on entries 8, 9, 12, 14, 17 and cut-throughs
on entries 7 and 18, and at outlet. With the exception of a few places
where the ventilation was inadequate, the mine was in fair condition.
Umpire.—In fair condition when last visited.
Description of Fatal Accidents.
Alvin Sheaffer, German, a miner, aged 34 years, was instantly
killed January 24, in Washington mine, by a fall of slate. Tlie deceased
and George Worherley worked together in a twelve "foot"
place that they were driving from entry 4 to 5. At the time of the
accident, Sheaffer was taking out posts from under the slate, when
slate that measured fourteen feet long, twelve feet wide and eleven
inches thick fell, part of which struck him, resulting as above stated.
Sheaffer left a wife and three children.
On February 2, at Acme mine, John Fernell, Hungarian, miner,
aged 20 years, single, was instantly killed by a fall of coal and slate,
while "bearing in" under a "half shearing."
Edward Clemmus, American, driver, aged 18 years, received such
injuries, by being caught between cars and coal pillar, that he died
some eight hours after. The deceased was moving a trip of three
loaded cars along entry No. 11 toward the double parting, and when
near the entrance to the above entry, the trapper boy, who attends
a door which is located between entries 11 and 12 called Clemmus to
"stop," but instead of doing so he continued to come on.
By this Time,
another driver. William A\ilson, was on the main entry, also on the
way towards the double parting, with a trip of two cars. The speed
of both trips was such that they reached the parting of entry 11 at
the same time; this resulted in a collision. The deceased was on the
front end of the first car of his trip and, seeing that the trips w'ould
come together, he jumi)ed off. Just as he did so. the car was thrown
from the track, catching Clemmus between it and the entry pillar, re-