Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Submitted by Connie Burkett for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =============================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Archivist, Connie Burkett All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =============================================================================== Twentieth Annual Report Coal Mines in the state of West Virginia, U.S.A. For the year ending June 30, 1902. James W. Paul, Chief Mine Inspector, Charleston The Tribune Printing Company, 1903 =============================================================================== INDEX OF FATAL ACCIDENT NAMES IN THIS FILE: =============================================================================== Anderson, Lawrence Graley, Alford Propps, John A. Bailey, Irvin Grey, Hermond Reed, Armstead Bass, Fred Hunter, Oltumwa Sanders, Albert Belcher, W. T. Johnson, Joe Sandridge, Henry Bell, J. E. Johnson, Wm. Sands, Richard Berry, Andrew Kasztenek, John Smith, A. J. Blagman, James Martin, Mac Thompson, Ben Brown, T. Aden Massie, James C. Toppey, J. W. Burford, Chas. R. Mitchell, Frank Tyree, James Culp, E. K. Price, Charles Young, Charles Gay, Rufus =============================================================================== FATAL ACCIDENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1902 FAYETTE COUNTY, (Pages 104-107) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bailey, Irvin (American; age 35; Married; 3-children; $27.00 Insurance) Aug. 8,. 1901, died Aug. 11, 1901. Irvin Bailey, Sun Mine, was killed by an explosion of powder in the main entry while on his way to work. Two five pound cans of powder exploded as they were being hauled into the mine and it is supposed it was caused by an electric current from the motor in which the powder was being hauled. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hunter, Oltumwa (Afro-Am; 1-yr exp; age 23; Single; $50.00 Insurance) Aug. 16. 1901. Oltumwa Hunter, Macdonald Mine, was caught by a fall of coal. The coal had been mined in the middle and both top and bottom shot on the previous day, but the top coal did not come down with the shot. Hunter was engaged in loading the bottom coal when the top coal came down without warning. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bass, Fred (Afro-Am; 7-mos exp; age 23; Laborer; Single) Aug. 21. 1901. Fred Bass, Red Ash Mine, helping on a machine, was shoveling slack from an under-cut when the coal fell out from the face, crushing him so that he died some hours later. The fall was caused by a slip, extending from the floor to the roof. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Belcher, W. T. (American; age 49; Single) Aug. 28, 1901. W. T. Belcher, Dunloop No. 1 Mine, was caught by a fall of top coal and instantly killed. The top coal had been shot at the loose ends and came down suddenly across the entire face while Belcher was working under it. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sands, Richard (American; no-yrs exp; age 28; Married) Sept. 20, 1901, died Sept. 27, 1901. Richard Sands, Alaska Mine, was burned to death by a powder explosion. It is supposed that the explosion was caused by sparks from Sands' lamp falling into the powder keg. He was in the act of spragging the cars and had to lean over the keg to sprag. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bell, J. E. (American; Married) Oct. 6, 1901, died Oct. 12, 1901. J. E. Bell, Sun Mine, was burned by a slight explosion of gas from the effects of which he died several days later. He was employed as a water bailer and had gone in the mine to do some bailing. When he went in he was warned by the Fire Boss not to go anywhere except where his duties required him. The place where he was burned does not make water, hence he had no business there. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Thompson, Ben (American; age 19; Diver; Single) Oct. 9, 1901. Ben Thompson, Dunloop Mine No. 1, was bringing out a car loaded with mud and when at the mouth of the mine he stopped to un- hook the mule and while he was doing this another driver coming out on a loaded coal car, run by gravity, allowed his car to bump violently into the one from which the mule was being unhooked, running that car up on Thompson. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sandridge, Henry (Afro-Am; 2-wks exp; Coal loader) Oct. 15. 1901, died Oct. 16, 1901. Henry Sandridge. Eureka No. 5 Mine, was riding up the plane on the first trip on the morning of the 15th, when the cars jumped the track he jumped out and started down the in- cline when the two rear cars became uncoupled and ran away down the incline, striking him and knocking him down a steep embanltment. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tyree, James (American; 25 or 30 yrs exp; age 38; Married; 6-children) Oct. 18, 1901. James Tyree, Newlyn Mine, after firing a shot on the solid was working on the coal lift standing when the man working with him called to him and told him that the place was unsafe as there was a crack in the roof. He said he didn't think there was any danger and went on mining, when the slate fell, catching him. There were plenty of posts in the place with which he could have timbered the place. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Burford, Chas. R. (American; 10-yrs exp; age 36; Married; 5-children; $50.00) Graley, Alford (American; age 19; Laborer; Single; $50.00 Insurance) Nov. 5, 1901. Chas. R. Burford and Alford Graley, Mecca No. 5 Mine, were riding up the incline in a car when draw bar on car broke after car had landed on top of knuckle, by jerking slack back out of rope, al- lowing the cars to run back down incline. There were eight men in the cars and six got out uniniured. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Blagman, James (Afro-Am; 3-yrs exp; age 23; Laborer; Married) Nov. 23, 1901. James Blagman, Collins No. 1 Mine, was working in a room coming to crop and almost to surface, when, without any warning, a large piece of sandstone and slate fell, striking him and killing him in- stantly. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Johnson, Joe (Afro-Am; 4-yrs exp; age 22; Laborer; Single) Nov. 23, 1901. Joe Johnson, Collins No. 1 Mine, was working in a room coming to crop and almost to surface, when, without any warning, a piece of sandstone and slate fell, striking him and crushing him, from the effects of which he died five hours afterwards. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Grey, Hermond (Pole; 1-yr exp; Single) Nov. 29, 1901. Hermond Grey, Sun Mine, was loading a car of coal in entry when a slip of the roof occurred and slate fell. The roof all aro'und the slip was sound. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Johnson, Wm. (American; 1-yr exp; age 17; Laborer; Single) Dec. 23, 1901. Wm. Johnson, Thurmond Mine, was killed by a fall of slate, Johnson was working for an old miner. This man had been noti- fied to take the slate down and also instructed to use more posts, but neglected both. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Young, Charles (American; 15-mos exp; age 24; Single) Jan. 2, 1902. Charles Young, Whipple Shaft, was ascending the shaft alone in the bucket when he fell out and down the shaft. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Smith, A. J. (American; 8-yrs exp; age 57; Married; 3-children) Massie, James C. (American; 6-yrs exp; age 35; Married; 2-children) Jan. 7, 1902. A. J. Smith and James C. Massie, Eureka No. 5 Mine, were riding up incline when the link which fastens the chain in the dead eye of the rope holding the loaded cars broke about fifty feet from the knuckle at top of incline. The loaded cars ran down the plane and into the emp- ties in which these men were coming up. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kasztenek, John (Slav; 7-mos exp; age 24; Single) Jan.- 23, 1902. John Kasztenek, Derryhale Mine, was loading car with coal and had almost completed same when "kettle-bottom" fell striking him. He neglected to set the necessary timber. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gay, Rufus (American; 20-yrs exp; age 50; Track-layer; Married; 1-child; $50.00) Feb. 17, 1902. Rufus Gay, Dunloop No. 1 Mine, was laying track under loose slate that he had attempted to pull down before starting to work here, while he was working the slate fell striking him. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Martin, Mac (American; 5-yrs exp; age 23; Single) Feb. 17, 1902. Mac Martin, Rend No. 3 Mine, was killed by a fall of slate in his working place. The fall was caused by a slip at the face of the coal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Berry, Andrew (American; 20-yrs exp; Married; 5-children) March 8, 1902. Andrew Berry, Sun Mine, was loading a car of coal when the slate fell crushing him. The slate should have been taken down be- fore he commenced to work under it. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Price, Charles (American; 3-yrs exp; age 32; Single) April 2, 1902, died April 4, 1902. Charles Price, New Caperton Mine, was hauling T iron rails up hill with block when it gave way, flew back and hit him in the head. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Propps, John A. (American; sev yrs exp; Married) April 18, 1902. John A. Propps, Smokeless Mine, was drawing entry stump and had taken out too much coal without resetting the timbers when the slate fell and struck him. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Brown, T. Aden (American; 2-yrs-exp; age 22; Shaft sinker; Single) Culp, E. K. (American; 2-yrs-exp; age 50; Shaft sinker; Married) Sanders, Albert (American; 2-yrs-exp; age 24; Shaft sinker; Single) April 23, 1902. Aden T. Brown. E. K. Culp and Albert Sanders, White Oak Shaft No. 2, were killed in the following manner: Brown and Culp fell nearly 100 feet off the bucket to the platform below. Gulps falling upon Albert Sanders, killing him. All caused by Brown taking hold of bell wire and causing the bucket to turn half over, enough to throw the men out. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Toppey, J. W. (American; 6-mos exp; age 50; Married; 3-children) April 26, 1902. J. W. Toppey, Star Mine, who worked elsewhere in the mine than where the accident occurred, had just come up to this place and picked up a pick belonging to another man and had only struck a few licks then the slate fell killing him instantly. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Anderson, Lawrence (Afro-Am; 4 to 6 ys exp; age 30; Married) May 13, 1902. Lawrence Anderson, St. Clair No. 2 Mine, was killed by a fall of slate. The room in which he was working had just been driven up against a small roll or slip fault in the roof which had been laid bare, or, in other words, the coal had been taken away from under this fault the day previous and the slate which fell extended partly back from the face to where the innermost posts were. Had two or more of the posts which were in the room, unused, been set no accident would have occurred. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mitchell, Frank (American; 1-mos exp; age 21; Driver; Single) May 21, 1902. Frank Mitchell, K. & H. Mine No. Ill, was night mover of machines and took an empty car contrary to orders. Going up grade he got off and was running along beside car throwing coal at the mule and after he had gone a piece the rib is close on left side and he was caught and squeezed and neck broken. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Reed, Armstead (Afro-Am; sev yrs exp; age 24; Married) June 9, 1902. Armstead Reed, Rush Run Mine, was working in room No. 3 on 7th right entry, when roof in room fell from rib to rib. Fall extended to within 30 feet of the face where he was working. Had he re- mained at face he would have been safe, but evidently the fall gave some warning and in endeavoring to escape he was caught under the fall. =============================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other files for Fayette County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/fayette/ ===============================================================================