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

248 REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF MINES. Off. Doc.
after machines, was instantly killed in Fayette City mine by a fall
of coal. This accident occurred in room 52, entry 11. Deceased and
Edward Axtou worked together, and while running a mining machine
at the face of room, a ''slab" of coal twelve feet long, one foot thick
and about six feet wide fell, striking VanHorn, with result as above
stated. At the time of the accident there were two other miners,
Abraham Timm and Alexander McFarland, in the room waiting for
VanHorn and Axton to finish some work that they were at, so that
they might go home together. After an examination of the place,
and from the evidence produced, it seemed that this accident was unavoidable.
VanHorn was a single man.
•
At Mongah mine, June 12, Edward Roy, American, miner, aged 28
years and single, was instantly killed by a fall of roof coal. The
deceased worked in room 14, on entry 12, but the accident occurred in
room 15, in which John Taylor and Moses Reed were employed. Roy
had gone into this room for the purpose of partaking of his lunch,
and while doing so the roof coal fell, striking him with result as
stated above.
Thomas Booth, American, driver, was instantly killed in Hackett
mine, June 16, by being caught by his trip. The deceased was on
entry 7, on his way out to the tipple with a trip of three full cars,
and when near room 7 of the above entry, he was, in some unknown
manner, thrown under the first car. The electric lines pass up this
entry, and it was suggested that he might have come in contact with
them and been thrown under the car. The theory was also advanced
that he might have been urging his mule to a faster gait and tripped,
and, before he could recover himself, the car was on him. From the
position in which the body was found and other circumstances connected
with the accident, I am of the opinion that the latter theory is
correct. Booth was a single man, aged 23 years.
On July 6, John Bollok, Slavish, miner, aged 53 years and single,
was fatally injured by a fall of slate, in the Acme mine. He was removed
to the Connellsville hospital, where he died on September 5.
Charles H. Keifer, American, driver, was fatally injured in Vigilant
mine, November 1, by being run over by a trip. A short time
previous to the accident the deceased, with two other drivers, William
Lashing and David Bennett, entered entry 21 to gather full trips, so
as to move them to the double parting, located on the main entry.
The latter driver gathered a trip of four cars and started out with
them; in due time the deceased started with his trip after having
been told by Lashing to whistle when he was ready for him to start.
Not hearing the signal. Lashing started down the entry to ascertain
the cause and heard Keifer cry out "Oh, My God, hurry up." Upon
reaching the latter, he (Lashing) found Keifer with one leg, which was
terribly mangled, across the rail; two cars, it is supposed, having