Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite coal regions of ...

10 Reports of the Inspectors of Mixes. [No. 10,
(11) less than in IStfi, hence the great cliflference in the percentage of this
item over and above that of 1816.
Accident No. 3 A miner named Natlianiel Griffiths, working in the
Diamond sliaft mine, was so seriously injured on the liead and face, by the
falling of a piece of coal from the face of his chamber, that his injuries
proved fatal the next day. The coal that fell had been partially loosened
b}' a blast prior to its falling. Mr. Griffiths was a miner of mau}^ years'
experience, having filled the position of a mine foreman for a length of time
in times gone b3^ He was also considered a very careful miner, hence it
is safe to say that in this case at least the accident was not the result of
lack of skill or care on the part of the victim or any one else.
Accident No. 4.—A miner named Patrick Maycock, working in the Pros-
pect shaft colliery, on the fifth day of March, was instantly killed by the
falling upon him of a piece of rider coal, while working in a cross-cut. The
mine boss stated after the accident had occuri'ed, that he had been warned
twice by him, to timber the place, to pi'event this rider coal from falling
upon him as it did.
Accident No. 5.—Two miners named respectively John Donahue and
Merrick Johns, working in No. 1 tunnel, Nanticoke, were killed by a large
piece of rock falling upon them. They had a third man working with
them, whose life was, fortunately, saved; he happening to be a short dis-
tance away in search of an ax at the time the stonewell, although he had
been there but a moment before that.
It appeared on investigation, that those men were in the act of standing
a prop, and finding it a trifle too long, took it down, ordered the laborer to
go and get their ax, that they might cut the prop shorter in the twinkling
;
of an e3'e, afterwards, the two men were crushed to death by the fallen
rock.
Accident No. 6.—Ellis Ward, a driver boy, of the age of sixteen years,
working in the No. 3 slope, Wanamie, on the 27th day of March, was
struck down, by a piece of coal falling upon him, killing him instantly,
while he was in the act of driving a mule by, with an empty car along the
main gangway. The piece flew or spalled from the side, being forced by
the pressure of the rider coal overlying the same, which was working. The
boss stated that he had just passed by, and had not observed anything un-
usual, or any sign of working in the said coal.
Accident No. 7 Daniel Learch, a miner, working in the Washington
colliery, on the 28th day of March, was so dangerously injured by fall of
coal, that he died of the effects of said injuries the next day. He was
working at robbing back pillars, the most dangerous work a coal miner is
required to do. He had been doing so for some time ; had been selected
to do so, because he had been considered a skillful and careful miner. On
the fatal morning, he had scarcely reached or touched the face of his work,
when the coal rushed upon him in large quantities, requiring much time