1900 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

348 REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF MINES. Off. Doc.
which was driven and connected with a man or shelter hole in the
tunnel. This makes the second opening to this mine, and what
was once a busy thoroughfare for all trains leaving Pittsburg over
the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad for probably the last fifty
years, is now a traveling way for employes.
Hempfield.—The condition has been very favorable during the
year. On the forenoon of July 2d water from a portion of old
abandoned workings broke through into the active workings of this
mine and serious injuries to the employes and probable loss of life
was averted only by the coolness and calmness of those who ,were
present at the occurrence.
JoWn Morgan and John Fightner, two miners, were at work as
usual in room 30 off No. 3 "Butt," Jamison entry. Morgan was
undercutting the coal in the "tight" or low side of the room when
suddenly his pick went through to an opening beyond, and water
began to come through. He informed Fightner that in his opinion
he had cut through to a body of water. Just then there was a
sudden rush of water. Morgan sprang to the upper side of the room,
where Fightner was standing. The water struck a loaded wagon
standing in the room, causing the water to rebound, making a
terrific spray over the entire face of the room, which extinguished
their lights. They then stood firmly upright, bracing their heads
and hands against the roof and clinging to posts, until the main
body of water had passed off, which occupied about two and onehalf
hours, after which they were rescued by their fellow workmen.
No time was lost in reaching them and also rescuing several
miners who worked near by, by means of a rope which men made
secure at different points by boldly fording the rushing waters
in numbers sufficient to overcome its force, and fastening the rope
at different points. Several of the miners passed out through the
water to a place of safety by clinging to the rope which prevented
them from being swept away by the current.
Morgan and Fightner undoubtedly owe their lives to their coolness.
The water lodged in the dip workings, where no one was at work
at the time, and raised up in the pumping shaft a distance of about
forty-five feet. It required almost four weeks to remove it by
pumps. The rise workings continued to be operated, as the water
did not affect them.
I w T as not aware of this accumulation of water in the abandoned
workings. The entrance or entrances to these workings were blocked
by falls of roof and pools of water until
they could not be traveled.
1 had made careful inquiry on former visits to this mine with reference
to dangerous accumulations of water, and was informed that