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

176 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No, 10,
stantly killed at No. 1 Cross Creek colliery, April 24, by a fall of coal off
the gangway pillar. The place of the accident was said to have been examined
by David Williams and Henry Samual, who were ordered by the
mine boss to take the coal down. The decased was walking along the
gangway when the accident occurred. The necessary suggestions were
made by the inspector to secure the gangway by taking down all the coal
to the top rock, which has since been done.
Accident No. 8 on the list, John Stevenson, miner, aged 50, instantly
killed by a piece of coal falling on his head, in Crystal Ridge colliery.
May 19, 1877. The deceased, in company with another miner were work-
ing a breast, and while in the act of carrying a ladder across the breast to
blast down the six foot bench of coal, the said piece fell from the top, re-
sulting as stated.
Accident No. 9 on the list, Philip Harlam, laborer, aged 25, instantly
killed by a piece of coal from the top or six foot bench of coal, at Harleigh
colliery, May 29, 1877. The deceased and his partner were driving through
the pillar to enter an abandoned breast containing loose coal. I ordered
the place of working to be stopped, as I did not consider it safe, owing to
the breast having been worked too wide.
Accidents Nos. 9 and 10. Joseph Pearson and James Murich, ages 38
and 30 respectively. The former leaves a wife and eight children, and the
latter an aged mother to mourn their loss ;
were entombed in the Harleigh
mine disaster which occurred on the 20th of June, 1877, by the caving in
of the mines. Orders had been given to the mine boss, the day previous,
(by the inspector,) not to permit any one to work in said mines until the
cave in had taken place. For further information, see an account of an
investigation held by the inspector, accompanying this report.
Accident No. 13 on the list, Sidney Glace, miner, aged 42, killed by a
fall of coal in Slope No. 2, Upper Lehigh colliery, July 16, 1877. The
deceased was driving a counter gangway, he had fired a blast in the face
of the gangway, and, anxious to see the result, returned immediately after
the shot went off, when a lump of coal fell upon him, resulting in his im-
mediate death.
The day of the casualty was the first for him to work, after being idle
for some time, from a severe cut on the hand. This is the second death
this year caused by recklessness on the part of the sufferers themselves in
going back too soon to see the execution of the blasts, and not allowing
sufficient time for the smoke to clear away, that they might be better able
to remove the danger if any exists.
Accident No. 14 on the list, William Edwards, miner, aged 23, fatally
injured by a fall of coal at Upper Lehigh colliery No. 2, and died shortly
afterwards. The deceased was prying loose coal in the " six-foot " (or bottom
bench in the Buck Mountain vein,) when about two tons of the "nine-
foot," or top bench, fell on him, caused by a back slip, which was unob-
servable. The total thickness of the vein was ten feet, and the breast