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

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 21
No.
16
17
I
Liyt of Fatal Accidents, and loss of Life therefrom—Continued.
Occupation.
Miner,
Miner,
I
18 Miner,
19 Miner,
20
21
22
23
24
25
8
and 26
27
28
29
Miner,
Miner,
Slate Picker, .
Miner, ....
Miner, ....
Miner, ....
Drivers, . . .
Miner,
Miner,
Miner, .
. .
Remarks.
it down, and whilst in the act of tamping the liole, tlie coal
fell, killing tlieni instantly. Tlie lunij^ of coal weighing
about fifteen tons.
Daniel Igo, killed bj- a fall of coal. This accident is .somewhat
similar to theabove. The deceased's partner testified
in this case, that he told Igo to keep from under the coal,
or he would be either injured or killed, but he persisted in
finishing the loading of a car of coal he was engaged at. He
was not permitted to satisfy his desire, for the coal fell,
killing him instantly.
John Downey, killed by a piece of coal, whilst in the act of
barring it down.
Daniel Devitt. killed by a fall of coal.
Joseph Cojjelin, killed' by a fall of coal, caused by an unseen
slip.
John Thomas.—This man was burned to death by the exjilosion
of a keg of powder, ignited by himself. He had l)een
cautioned by the boss, only the daj- before, of the danger of
carelessly handling powder with a lighted lamp on his
head.
Andrew Foy, killed by a fall of roof; cause of accident, insufficient
propping. The top, or roof, in this place, was of a
very treacherous nature, nevertheless, with judicious use
of props, the place could have been kept reasonably safe;
but instead of having this dangerous place well secured
with projjs, the space between face and last prop stood,
was seventeen feet. Had there been only one prop stood
in the space mentioned, this accident would have been
avoided.
John McNamara, a boy, killed by falling from trestling at
breaker ;
cause of accident, disobej^ing orders on one hand,
and on the other, by the officers not enforcing such orders
when given.
Alfred Passant, killed by a fall of coal, caused by an unseen
slip.
cause of accident,
William Murdock, killed by a fall of coal ;
carelessness, or gross neglect.
Owen Cunningham, killed by a fall of coal. This accident
maybe classed with the one preceding it.
Daniel Curtin and John Roberts, lost their lives by falling
under, or being dragged by nime car. In one of these
cases, the boy was emploj-ed as a spragger, to run the cars
down a grade dipping about six degrees. The boy stated,
before he died, that while in the act of trying to sprag a
car, he slipped and fell under, the wheels catching his arm
near the shoulder, dragging him about sixty feet liefore
the wheel passed over the arm. In the other case, imfortunately
there was no evidence to show how it happened,
a.s the boy was found dead on the gangway. There is no
doubt, in my mind, but that he fell imder the car, it passing
over him, the axle striking him on the back of the
head, killing him instantly.
Josiah Holt, killed by a fall of coal. The deceased was alone
at the time the accident occurred, therefore, it is a difficult
matter to say how it happened, as there were no traces left
to show whether the coal fell from the top, or from the
face.
Martin Hennessy, killed by a fall of coal. The deceased
was a young man, working with his father, who stated,
that when the accident occurred, he was down in a crossheading,
about fifteen yards from the face, making a shot
ot powder for the purpose of blasting down the coal,
which fell, causing the death of his son. He also testified
that he told the deceased to keep from under the coal, as
it was working, and he did not consider it safe.
William Hughes, killed by a fall of roof.