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

192 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [Xo. 10,
Q. Did you notice anj^thing unusual?
A. I (lid not.
Q. Did you not notice the oil barrel lying between the car and the pillar,
or did you notice dust or pieces of boards on the track as you went in ?
A. I did not.
Q. Where you notified to be careful owing to the crush ?
A. No, sir.
Q, Did Mr. Lloyd give you permission on Wednesday morning ?
A. No, sir ; supposed it my duty to feed the mules.
Q. What time did you come out of the mines on Wednesday, after feed-
ing the mules ?
A. About eleven o'clock, a. m., after the cave in went down to get the
mules out, but was unable to get to the stables ; it was crushing from both
sides; went back to try the No. 1 way, in company with others, but found
the way barred by a fall ; came back and reported to Lloyd ; tried a second
time, but was unable to reach the stables ; was down this morning ; indica-
tions are bad ; it is not safe to attempt to reach the mules ; have charge of
the mules ; had no orders to take the mules out (sixteen) until after the
crush ; the mules could have been brought out at No. 1 slope.
his
(Signed,) Philip X Worley.
mark.
John M. Gallagher, sworn:
Q. How long have you worked at Harleigh ?
A. About eight j^ears ; been mining five or six years ; working breasts
and gang«vays ; did not timber the gangway, because we thought it unnec-
essary ; was ordered by Lloyd to drive the breasts ten to eleven yards
wide ;
this would leave the pillar seven yards wide; began widening breasts
at from eight to nine yards from the gangwaj^ ; before Mr. Lloyd's accession
to the foremanship, I worked the breast as best I knew how ; the
bosses would visit us sometimes once a week, and sometimes once every
two weeks ; drove cross-cuts whenever needed for air and means of safety;
cross-cuts were paid by the yard and coal ; worked
last in the top lift, top
counter. No. 3, driving breasts ; was not in on Wednesday, on account of
a funeral ; was not afraid of the upper lifts crushing ; was told by Cook
that Lloyd would allow no one in the lower lifts ; went in old No, 1 gangway,
below Gartrell's hole, but could go only a short distance beyond, on
account of a fall ahead ; tried breasts below ; crept through a small hole,
expecting that I might get through the cross-cut, but was forced to retire;
do not believe the men can be gotten out ; heard some say they were
afraid of the mines caving in ; strangers woi'king in the mines, if they
seen anything drop, would come out and speak of the danger, but I thought
nothing of it ;
upper lifts.
never heard any of the older miners speali of danger in the
(Signed,) John Gallagher