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

482 Keports of the Inspectors of Mines. [Off. Doc.
by solid tampino: of the explosive in a hole, as in the case here spoken
of, whenever the force of the rammino- approaches the force contained
in the detonator then the explosion is sure to occur and a man can easily
exert the amount of force by the use of an iron rammer. The tamping
of dynamite should therefore be avoided, even with dirt after the explo-
sive is put in the hole, for all that is necessary, is to put a few hands full
of dirt ag-ainst the explosive very lig-htly or if practicable fill the hole
with water; if the hole however be for instance two inches in diameter
and the stick of dynamite only and one-half inches and the greatest resistance
be opposite the extreme end of the bole, and it is desired to have
the explosive compact at that point, the cartridges may be broken and
the mixture pushed into the hole by the use of a stick or something-
limber that ramming may not be necessary.
Some other accidents were caused by equal recklessness in other directions.
One described in the table of accidents is of an old miner who had
taken coal off his rib or roadside to the extent of exposing 144 square feet
of "bone coal" fully 13 inches thick, and under this, he continued to work
with his two boys without the use of a prop, notwithstanding that one side,
18 feet in length, was what is called "loose end, "and in reply to a warn-
ing given him by the track-layer just 15 or 20 minutes previous, he as-
serted that it was so safe that he could sleep under it. In this case his
oldest son was killed and he himself injured. Such carelessness as this
is criminal and but for the fact that the poor man was sufficiently pun-
ished by the loss of his son he would have been tried for the life of the
boy, and so in the face of so many accidents it is astonishing that men
do not take better care of themselves.
Of the 14 fatal accidents there were three inquests held by coronor's
juries and in each case the jury found that the unfortunates themselves
were to blame, as loss of life or even injury might have been averted if
proper precautions had been taken, and in the other 11 cases the causes
of death and the negligence of the party at fault was so evident that no
inquests were deemed necessary. The number of wives left widows by
these fatalities was 7 and the number of orphans 23. The following
tables show the cause, number and percentage of fatalities and injuries: