1900 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

182 REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF MINES. Off. Doc.
of coal and slate falling upon him in the manway.
Upon examination
of the place I found that the miner had not taken the proper precaution
to dress off the rib after breaking through with the cross-headiug,
leaving the shale which fell upon him, breaking his neck. This
accident, therefore, was one that could have been averted had the
miner who drove the cross-heading properly trimmed the loose coal
off the rib, a® he should have done.
No. 33. 'Adam Kuehnhold, a patcher, employed in the mines at
Jeddo No. 4 colliery, was, on November 17th, fatally injured and died
at the hospital. He was standing beside the track while a trip
of loaded cars was passing out the gangway. It was his duty to
couple the trip on the siding for the driver, who naturally thought
that he had, as usual, coupled up three cars, so that when the third
car passed he turned backward to jump on the rear car, when he
was caught, knocked down and dragged by the fourth car of the
trip, which he had coupled up by mistake. He was taken to the
Hazleton hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate his leg,
and he died from gangrene. This was an unavoidable accident.
No. 34. Stephen Stett, a miner, employed at Hazleton No. 3 colliery,
was fatally injured by a fall of roof on November 20th, and
died at the Hazleton hospital. He had fired a shot in the top
bench, but found that the shot did not bring it down. An examination
of the place, together with the testimony of his partner, proved
that this accident could have been averted, had the victim taken the
precaution to blast down the bench, as required by the mine law,
when he found it dangerous, instead of going under it to work out
the bottom bench in such a reckless manner. He was alone responsible
for the accident.
No. 35. Paul Paoloski, laborer, employed at Hazleton colliery No.
1, was instantly killed November 29th, by a fall of coal and slate.
The miner had examined the place in the morning and found it safe.
He then called the laborer up, and started to drill a hole and then
left the laborer to finish drilling the hole, while he went to drill a
hole in the other chute near the face of the gangway. About the
time he got properly started he heard a fall and immediately dropped
the drill, ran back to the laborer and called him, but received no
answer. On going up the chute he found him dead, buried beneath
a fall of slate and coal. An examination of the place showed that
the heading was driven in twenty-one feet, and that the miner was
in a great measure responsible, having neglected to timber either
the chute or cross-heading, because they had found the coal in fault
and becoming very shaly and treacherous, which would have prevented
the accident.
No. 36. Nacio Colinear, Italian, brakeman, employed on the surface
near the No. 3 breaker at Lattimer, Pa., was fatally injured No-