1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

No. 11. FIRST BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. 285coiupanj's No. 1 iiiiiic and across eomiji'y a total distanceof one and one-ball' miles. Ten tlionsand feet of entries havebeen driven, rooms developed and the mine brought up to a dailycapacity of 1,000 tons run-of-mine.Arnold No. 2. This is a shaft opening. No coal as yet has beenshipped.North Webster. When I last visited this mine the ventilation and(iiainage re(iuired improvement.Manown. On the twenty-second of March an explosion, resultingin the dealh of Mitro Turko, miner, and the severe burning of AlexanderDundgeon and William Wilson, driver and hoolwr-on, resjjectively,occurred at this mine. On investigating this accident, I foundthat previous to the explosion a machine man, William Wilson, andhis helper, made a hole through room No. 2 to No. 8, and when theyv.'ithdrew the machine, gas followed, and fired in one of their nakedlights. This was immediately followed by the main body of gaswhich had accumulated in room No. 3 becoming ignited, the flameo! which reached quite a distance on entries 83 and face, Dundgeonbeing at work on the former entry and Wilson on the latter near themouth of 33. At the time of the explosion, Turko was at work atthe face of his room, No. G, and before he could reach a place ofsafety he was overcome b}^ the afterdamp.TTis body was found nearthe neck of his room on some debris which had been dislodged by theforce of the explosion.The fireboss, Ernest Mover, admitted that he had not examined thethe entrance to room No. 3 on the morning of the twenty-second,but intended to return and do so later. An inquest was held anda verdict returned charging Fire Boss Meyer with criminal negligence. The case is in the hands of thr> ]»roper authorities for adjustment.Sheppler. When Inst visited the ventilation and drainage of thismine wore inndeiiuate. TTave since be(m informed that n marlcedchango for the better has been made in tliis connection.Description of P'atal Accidents.On January 5, at the Allecpiiiqia mine, George Woods, a miner, wasinstantly killed by fnll of roof coal. Wood wns (10 years of age Mudleaves a widow.George TTackanmkic, Finhnider, it londcr afiei' Tiiacliines, wns fatallyinjured at the Knob n)ine on January 14, l>y a bins! Ihrough .nrib. He died at the Gottnge TTos])ital at GonnellsAillc^ on Jnnuary10. The decea?