Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite and bituminous ...

No. 12.] First Bituminous District. 305
mine, by a premature blast. The deceased had tamped a hole for a
blast, and having- fired the squib retreated to a safe distance ; but be-
coming- impatient he started toward the shot and when nearly opposite
it the blast fired, throwing pieces of coal against his head with the above
result.
Buford District, aged 35 years and single, was fatally injured, Novem-
ber 5th, by falling slate in room 4, entry 2, Germania mines. The de-
ceased worked with Sidne}'^ and Luther Smith, and at the time of the
accident was throwing coal out from under the slate when it fell on him
On investigating this accident I found that a shot had been fired which
knocked out a slate post that had been set, but it seems that no efi'ort
had been made to reset the post, and it was evident that if the slate was
in such a condition before the shot Avas fired as to need a post under it,
it was much more needed afterwards.
John Marchan, aged 34 and single, was instantly killed, on December
17th, by a fall of slate and coal, in Acme mines. The deceased and a
miner named Pail worked together in room No. 2, entry No. 8, and at
the time of the accident the former was "bearing-in" on a hutt. The
previous half shot in the middle had shattered the end of a butt somewhat
and made it very dangerous which was not noticed by Marchan
and Pail. From what I could learn Marchan heard the coal working
and was in the act of leaving the "bearing-in" when the coal fell on him
with the above result.
20-12-91.