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

184 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,
A. No, sir; excepting lately, since Mr. Lloyd, the new boss, took
charge ;
his work is the only portion left standing to:day.
Q. Do you think that if Mr. Lloyd had charge of the Harleigh mine in
the first start, would it be in good, or in a better condition, to-day ?
A. According to the work done since his accession, I believe it Avould.
Q. What was the condition of the mine before Mr. Lloyd assumed the
foremanship ?
A. Poor condition.
Q. Did 3'ou ever see the inspector in your place ?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did 3'ou ever hear tell of any instructions that the inspector gave for
the safet}^ of the mines ? If so, state what ?
A. Yes, sir ;
in regard to timbering to be done in main gangwa}^. No. 3.
Q. Was that substantially done, afterwards ?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do 3'ou think that all necessary precaution had been taken previous
to the accident ?
A. Yes, sir ; in regard to where the mine was working.
Q. Had you any conversation with any one in regard to the safety of
the men previous to the accident ?
A. No, sir ;
ing, previous to the crush.
excepting Murrish, Pierson, and Davis, on Tuesday even-
Q. Did you consider the mine safe up to the day of the disaster ?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you work on the day previous to the disaster?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What was your particular business in on that day ?
A. To make coal, so as to allow the laborer to load the empty cars on
the track.
Q. Were your laborers in on that day ?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did the laborers do their own driving on idle days, taking the cars
to and from the bottom, so far as necessary ?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. By whose authority were you doing this ?
A. By the boss' authority, John Lloyd.
Q. Did you understand that the men were forbidden to enter the mine
on Tuesday.
A. No, sir; but understood that it was forbidden to work in the lower
lift and counter.
Q. What was the reason you were not in the mine on Wednesday'', the
day of the fall ?
A. Because we believed it unsafe ; believed the concussion of air would
endanger us ; were not afraid of our workings caving in.
Q. If y^ou had been, in the mine the day it caved in, could you have got-
ten out ?