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

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 113
every case with very little trouble ; but, whatever the trouble may be, a
safe way should be provided for traveling.
Ex|)lo§iuns of Powder and Prciiialiire Dlnxt!*.
Accident No. 13.—James Orr, a miner, at No. (5 slope, Pittston, was
fatall}' injured, April 28th, so tliat he died. May 1st, by a premature ex-
plosion of a blast. He was in the act of lighting the maten to fire a blast,
when, b}^ touching it, the squib ran out into the flame of his lamp, setting
it oft', and setting the blast oft', instantly. Tliis was done so quickly- that he
barely had time to turn around. He was struck in the left thigh, fractur-
ing the thigh bone and severely lacerating the flesh. The shock brought
and after his death,
on congestion of the brain, which resulted in his death ;
it was found that he was seriously, if not fatally, injured otherwise, and
that this had baeii overlooked and neglected. This was the only fatal acci-
dent from premature blasts. No one, to ni}' knowledge, was killed by ex-
plosion of powder.
The non-fatal accidents from these causes during the year numbered
thirteen—seven from explosions of powder, and six from premature blasts.
The whole number were inevitable results of the most criminal careless-
ness. Take accident No. 154, in table No. 2, for an example. This man, it
is said, after setting fire to the match, ran to a place of safety, and waited
for a short time for the blast to explode ; but as it did not explode as soon
as he expected, he returned to it, and found the match still burning,
though there was no flame. He then stooped and commenced blowing
upon the match, and tlie blast exploded, injuring him very severely. A
man that will do such a foolhardy act as this is fit for no place but a luna-
tic asylum.
Dlastiii^ througli Pillars.
Accident N(>. 30.—John Roberts, a door bo3'at the Seneca slope, Pitts-
ton, was instantly killed, October 3d, by a blast through a pillar, which
was fired b}^ Dennis Slo}^!. His chamber was within less than two ^'ards
of being through to a gangway wdiich ran at right angle with it. When
ready to fire a blast, Sloyn sent his laborer, Robert Drummond, to warn
all on the gangway that he was about to fire. The laborer went through
an entrance into the next chamber, which was holed through to said gang-
way, but instead of going up that chamber to the gangway, Avhere he could
see that all was safe, he cried, " Fire ! " from where he stood, and some one,
', who was passing on the gangway, answered, "All right fire away." Drum-
mond then told Slo^'u to fire, which he did. The blast was fired, and broke
through the pillar, and the little boy, being at his door directly opposite,
and only five yards from where the blast broke through the pillar, and in
the act of either opening or closing his door, was instantly killed thereby.
The warning given was no warning in such a place and under such cir-
cumstnnces. The laborer should have posted himself where he could see
that no one should pass on that gangway, and he should have remained
8 Mine Rep.