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

188 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No, 10,
Q. How many attempts did you make ?
A. I made several attempts.
Q. Do you recollect through how many waj^s these attempts could be
made ?
A. Yes sir ; four— Gartrell's hole, No. 3 counter, No. 1 gangway, and
through Ebervale.
Q. Where was the mine working or crushing the most when you were
coming out ?
A. In the counter and lower lift.
Q. If orders were issued not to go in, how did Pearson and Murrish
come to go in ?
A. They seemed to think there was no danger, and deemed themselves
as safe as if at home.
Q. Were j'^ou notified at any time not to go to work on account of danger
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you hear any one say that they were afraid to work in No. 3 ?
A. I did not.
Cross-examined by J. C Fincher, and other gentlemen:
Did not know Pierson and Murrish were there; had no authority to tell
them to quit ; thought it safe ; had a very heavy pillar at that place ; every-
thing appeared solid in their neighborhood ; the working seemed to be in
the lower gangway and counter ; I do not know that the orders were not
the indications are that the place they were
to go in that part of the mine ;
working in has all caved in ; I left the mines at about twelve o'clock.
(Signed) Harry D. Hughes.
John Lloyd, mine boss^ sworn :
Q. Did you, according to law, use all necessary precautions for the
safety of your men ?
A. I did, sir.
Q. When did the mines give the first indications of crushing ?
A. The clod on the lower lift has been crushing for the past five or six
months.
Q Do you think the Harleigh mines were ever worked practically ?
A. No, sir; not up to the time I went there.
Q. What was the condition of the mines when you took charge ?
A. Everything was out of order, the longest tail-pipe on any pump was
not more than six inches, the tracks were covered with water-ditches and
sump full of dirt ; breasts were opened from the gangways too wide to be
safe, and the top coal was broke too close to the gangway. Breasts were
worked some twenty and twenty-one yards wide, ajid the pillars all out
between six breasts, in one stretch, and the rock fallen down in sevei-al
places. Our breakers, at that time, quit at four and half-past four o'clock
daily, for the want of coal. No. 3 slope was not large enough for the car to
pass through, without cutting away about six inches off the timbers, with not