1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

324 REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF MINES. Off. Doc.parallel to main dip entry until we came to No. 13 "Butt" entryparallel. We traveled up this entry a short distance when we heardsome one ahead of us. On arriving at the place we found JosephMarch and John Augerer. March was still living. A short distanceabove we found Albert Pryblock, while John Wilk was found atthe face of No. 13 "Butt" entry. The bodies were removed to thesurface where medical aid was in waiting. March being still alive,was taken to his home and cared for, while the bodies of Angerer,Pryblock and Wilk were removed to the undertaker's where theywere prepared for burial.We then proceeded to ascertain, if possible, the cause of the fire,and the coal and slate which the fire caused to fall from the roofupon the stove were removed and the stove was found intact, thewick in the burner being practically level with the tube, which showedconclusively that the flame in the stove had been very small. Thosein charge of the stove stated that it had not been filled with oil duringthe day.After the stove and room had been carefully examined, the suppositionof those present w^as that the fire was caused by some person orpersons entering the said drying room with an open light(the employesall used open lights in this mine), which coming in contactwith the clothing and not being noticed by the party or parties onleaving the said room, the fire spread to the coal.A copy of the verdict of the coroner's jury is appended.Westmoreland County, ss.Inquisition indented and taken at Latrobe, in the County of Westmorelandaforesaid, on the 18th day of June, A. D. 1898, before me,J. B. Owens, coroner of the county aforesaid, upon the view of thebodies of John Angerer, Albert Pryblock and John Wilk, then andthere lying dead, upon the oaths and affirmations of John V. Toner,L. W. Fogg, John C. Stockberger, P. C. Toner, C. C. Albert andGeorge S. Owens, good and lawful men of the county aforesaid, whobeing duly sworn and affirmed diligently to inquire and true presentationmake on behalf of the said Commonwealth, when, where,how and after what manner the said deceased came to their deaths,viewed the bodies of the said deceased and having heard the evidence,hereby certify and return upon their oaths and atfirniationsaforesaid that the said John Angerer, Albert Pryblock and JohnWilk, came to their deaths by suffocation caused by the burning ofthe drying room in the mines of the Latrobe Coal Com])any. Thatthe fire originated through the carelessness of some employe or eml)loyesnot known to this jury, going through said drying room withlighted lamps on their or his head in violation of orders, and furtherwe, the coronei- and jury aforesaid, fully exonerate the Latrobe CoalCompany from all responsibility for said accident.In witness whereof, as well the said coroner, as the jurors aforesaid,