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

466 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [Off. Dog .
Description of Fatal Accidents Occurring in and about the Mines
OF THE Seventh Bituminous District for the Year 1891.
Zontaii Ametica, miner, was instantly killed by fall of slate in his
room. This man's working- place was not properly timbered, the slate
being left without support for about eight feet back from the face the
whole width of the room. The danger was imminent, and if the room
had been properly timbered the accident could have been prevented.
The man was either grossly careless, or was not competent to recognize
the danger or to protect himself therefrom. The accident occured in the
Summer Hill mine, February 6.
Petro Secam, miner, was killed by fall of slate in the Beach Mount
mine February 24. This poor fellow was not a practical miner, and
was not competent to protect himself against the dangers often encoun-
tered in coal mining. It would appear that he had made an attempt to
take down the loose slate, and failing- to do so had gone under it to
work, having no idea whatever of the proper methods which should be
used in order to drop the slate safely, or to indicate that it was loose
and dangerous.
Nicholas Reider, miner, was killed by fall of slate and roof. This man
was working in a room pillar and was taking out props. The place was
not properly secured with timber in the roadway back from the face of
rib, from which cause the roof fell in the roadway for several feet outward,
so that the man had no chance to escape. Both the mine-boss and
the man himself were to blame for this neglect. Accident occured in
the Ormsby mine March 19.
Mike Dominick, miner, was killed by fall of roof in Pine Creek mine
on April 2. This man had fired a blast in the coal and went back to
work before the smoke had cleared away, when a piece of rock which
was encircled by a slip fell upon him causing instant death. The piece of
roof which fell was close to the face of coal and had been loosened by the
powder blast, and probably the man failed to examine the roof after the
blast.
Daniel Downs, miner, was fatally injured in the Pine Creek mine by
fall of roof on April 13. This man, in company with another miner,
was sent to clean away a fall of roof in the roadway of one of the rooms
and upon their arrival at the place where the roof had fallen. Downs Avent
on top of the fall to make an examination of the upper roof, and he
had scarcely reached the top of the fallen roof when a large piece of
loose rock from above fell upon him intlictiug- injuries from which he
died two days afterwards. The coroner's jury censured the mine boss be-
cause he did not accompany the men to the place and make an examination
of the roof for them, and instruct them how to secure it if found
to be unsafe.