1900 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

No. 11. FIRST BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. 305
any fire existing. In my examination of the mine, after the explosion,
i could find nothing of a conclusive nature that would show
that the gas ignited from burning coal as the proof was not present.
It has been suggested that a cap belonging to the battery had been
left on a ledge of coal somewhere and a piece of the roof fell and
struck it. causing a flame. It is remarkable that no person was burned
in the explosion. Patrick's injuries were confined to having been
st ruck by living debris and breathing the after-damp.
The second explosion occurred about 11.20 A. M. of the 20th of
November, which resulted in the loss of three lives, viz: Joseph
Novack, John Capitch and Silas Lear, two others. John Stich and
Emilio Cici, received serious injuries. These persons were working
in the following places: John Stich and John Capitch in F East
cross cut at the poinl marked "E." Joseph Novack in cut-through at
a point marked •