1900 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

174 REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF MINES. Off. Doc.
been more cautious. Dougherty was sitting on the front bumpers
of the motor to warn the engineer of any approaching draft of cars,
while the driver boss rode on the rear end of the trip of eight cars.
On nearing the automatic door on the gangway, in some maimer the
door failed to clear the motor, by which the deceased was thrown
to the track and was found underneath the derailed motor. I made
a careful examination of the place and took testimony of the witnesses,
which was so conflicting and unsatisfactory that the case was
referred to a coroner's jury for fuller investigation; an inquest was
held, and the jury rendered the following verdict:
"That Daniel Dougherty came to his death by reason of a collision
between an air motor and an automatic mine door in the Highland
No. 5 mine, on January 13th, 1900, and we do further find that
from the circumstances of the case and the evidence offered, the
collision was caused by reason of the motor having been run at a
speed incompatible with the safe operation of the door and greater
than is allowed by the anthracite mine law.
No. 7. William Krapf, outside laborer employed on the Coleraine
breaker, was smothered in a slate pocket on January 17th. There
was no eye-witness to this accident; therefore, it can only be surmised
that he, while shoveling the slate back from the chute into
the pocket, fell, and was unable to help himself.
No. 8. James McAlearney, a miner employed on the 'Milnesville
No. 7 stripping, was fatally injured on January 18th, by a piece of
rock flying from a blast. He succumbed to his injuries at the
Hazleton hospital. He and John Stratton were mining coal on the
stripping, and received word that the men at the shovels were about
to fire a round of shots. An examination of the scene, together witk
the testimony of the witnesses, showed that the deceased was responsible
for not adhering to the rule of the colliery, and the common
everyday practice of retiring to a place of safety with the rest of the
workmen when shots were being fired.
No. 9. William Dilinski, a laborer employed in Ebervale colliery,
was fatally injured on January 20th, and died at the Hazleton hospital
three days later. The deceased went up the ladder to finish
drilling a hole the miner had commenced before he should return
with the .powder, but while thus engaged he thought he heard some
pieces falling at the face of the breast. Becoming somewhat excited,
he turned to come down the ladder, when he slipped and fell
a vertical height of eighteen feet, sustaining injuries resulting as
stated.
No. 10. George Martlos, a laborer employed in Jeddo No. 4 colliery,
was fatally injured on January 31st by a fall of coal, and
died at the Hazleton hospital. The miner had fired a shot in
the bottom bench at the face of the breast and found that it did