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. =============================================================================== Twenty-First Annual Report Coal Mines in the state of West Virginia, U.S.A. For the year ending June 30, 1903. James W. Paul, Chief Mine Inspector, Charleston The Tribune Printing Company, 1904 =============================================================================== INDEX OF FATAL ACCIDENT NAMES IN THIS FILE: =============================================================================== Ackley, W. O. Gibson, J. Bunyon Owens, John P. Barker, Massie Green, Lee Reese, Edward Bolen, Frank Hill, John Seget, Andrew Brandon, Phelix Hodges, G. W. Seget, John Carter, Tom Johnston, John Souder, James Comer, Otis Kantcsh, Paul Stewart, Lafayette Cunningham, W. D. Kaszas, Joseph Thomas, Leon Daniels, W. J. Koval, Andrew Turner, Floyd Davis, Lovell Lacy, Edgar Wachisky, E. Dawson, Willis Lineon, Allen Williams, James Evans, G. M. Miller, Frank Yezo, Joe Gary, Lucian Mulliaux, Jasper =============================================================================== FATAL ACCIDENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1903 FAYETTE COUNTY, (Pages 146-149) =============================================================================== Wachisky, E. (Hungarian; 5 years exper; age 30; Single; $50.00 Insurance) Fayette County.— Aug. 28, 1902. E. Wachisky, Collins No. 1 Mine, had put in a shot which had failed to explode and he went back and touched it with a match and before he could get away it went off in his face. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Reese, Edward (American; 4 years exper; age 23; Single) Sept. 25, 1902. Edward Reese, Sun Mine, was killed by a fall of top coal while in the act of undermining the same. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Owens, John P. (American; 15 years exper; age 33; Married; 2 children) Oct. 7, 1902. John P. Owens. Whipple Shaft Mine, was crushed by a fall of slate. It was purely an unforseen accident. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Daniels, W. J. (American; age 28; Single) Oct. 10, 1902. W. J. Daniels. Red Ash Mine, was riding up incline in empty car which they had just put on the track. The car was again derailed and turned over, Daniels being caught under the car. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hodges, G. W. (American; sev years exper; age 22; Single) Oct. 31, 1902. G. W. Hodges, Rend No. 1 Mine, was mining on top of the seam in his room and instead of pulling this top coal and slate down kept on mining until the whole thing fell on him. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Miller, Frank (Pole; 1 month exper; age 40; Single) Nov. 27, 1902. Frank Miller, Elverton or New Caperton Mine, was eating his dinner in one of the rooms immediately in front of where a shot was being put in on the opposite side of the pillar between two rooms which were being broken together. When the shot was fired, contrary to expectations, it broke clear through the pillar, hurling Miller across the room with great force. He had been warned not to go in this room. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gary, Lucian (Negro; 3 months exper; age 22; Single) Dec. 3, 1902, died Dec. 4, 1902. Lucian Gary, Star Mine, with another man was engaged in shooting coal. There were two shots in ready to be fired and by mutual agreement, Gary was to light the shot on the left side of the room which was immediately in front of the roadway, and the other man was to light the shot on the right side of the room. When the shots were lighted instead of going back down the roadway, Gary ran across the face of the room and attempted to get into a break- through on the other side. The shot exploded before he got out of the way. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Brandon, Phelix (American; sev years exper; age 24; Single) Dec. 6, 1902. Phelix Brandon, Red Ash Mine, was helping to put a de- railed motor on the track, another motor was attached to this motor and when the power was turned on the derailed motor was pulled forward in such a manner as to knock out a post. This caused a large piece of sand rock to fall on Brandon. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ackley, W. O. (American) Dec. 13, 1902. W. O. Ackley, Rend Mine, was walking along the side of the track on the outside and just as the engine got to him he stepped in front of it, whether to try and get on the engine or not knowing that it was coming is undecided. He had just been employed by this company and was going to work for the first time. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dawson, Willis (Negro; 2 weeks exper; age 15; Single) Dec. 19, 1902. Willis Dawson, Great Kanawha Gas No. 2 Mine, was engaged in taking out a pillar when he was struck by a fall of top coal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Stewart, Lafayette (American; 1 month exper; age 21; Single) Dec. 19, 1902, died Dec. 20th. Lafayette Stewart, Boomer Mine No. 3, was hauling coal to accomodate another miner. He tried to set the brake and jumped off on wrong side of car and the place being so narrow he was crushed between rib and car. He was under the influence of liquor when he left his boarding house and presumably so at the time of the accident. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Davis, Lovell (Negro; 17 years exper; age 38; Married) Jan. 6, 1903. Lovell Davis, Dunloop Mine No. 1, was making a cut in the solid coal under the top coal that had cracked and started to fall. While he was thus engaged all of the top coal came down on him. It was a case of gross negligence on the part of the miner, Davis. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hill, John (Negro; age 30; Single; $25.00 Insurance) Jan. 15, 1903. John Hill, Prudence Mine, had been filling some cart- ridges from a keg and had spilled some powder on the floor. He had some squibs and lighted one of these to see if it was all right, threw it down on the floor where it ignited the powder that he had spilled, which in turn fired the powder in the keg, burning him so that he died in a short time. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mulliaux, Jasper (American; 5 months exper; age 22; Single) Jan. 19, 1903. Jasper Mulliaux, Rush Run Mine, was riding down the incline on loaded cars, just after the cars had passed the empty cars coming up the clevis coupling the empty cars broke and the empties ran back clown on top of the loaded cars, crushing him fatally. The trip was stopped and he could have jumped off, but he probably did not see that the empties had broken loose. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Barker, Massie (American; 6 years exper; age 18; Single) Jan. 19, 1903. Massie Barker, Rush Run Mine, was coming out of mine with empty car when mule kicked him in the chest directly over the heart, killing him instantly. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Seget, John (Hungarian; 18 months exper; age 25; Single) Jan. 20, 1903, died Jan. 22nd. John Seget, Collins No. 2 Mine, was at work putting in a cut when he was struck by a kettle bottom, which fell close to the face of the coal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Seget, Andrew (Hungarian; age 30) Jan. 20, 1903, died Feb. 6th. Andrew Seget, Collins Mine No. 2, was working with his brother, John Seget, putting in a cut when he was struck by a kettle bottom which fell close up to the face of the room. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kaszas, Joseph (Hungarian; 1 year exper; age 25; Single; $50.00 Insurance) Jan. 31, 1903. Joseph Kaszas, Collins No. 1 Mine, was working in his room when he was buried by a fall of slate. The accident was due to insufficient timbering. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gibson, J. Bunyon (American; 10 years exper; age 43; Married; 4 children) Feb. 18, 1903. J. Bunyon Gibson, Cresent No. 1 Mine, was coming out of mine on his way home and in order to cross a pool of water was walk- ing on top of the rail, when he slipped and fell across a live wire which was used to run the electric machines and which was strung on posts about 19 inches back from the rail and about three feet from the floor. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Johnston, John (Negro; 2 days exper) March 6, 1903. John Johnston, Cliff Top Mine, was working in his room when he was killed by a fall of draw slate. This slate should either have been taken down or timbered. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cunningham, W. D. (American; age 22; Married) March 19, 1903. W. D. Cunningham, Turkey Knob Mine, was shovel- ing coal into a car a kettle bottom fell, striking him on the head and killed him instantly. It was an entirely unforseen accident, as the place was well timbered. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Carter, Tom (Negro; sev years exper; age 30; Married) April 15, 1903. Tom Carter, Collins Mine No. 2, was at work with his brother putting in a cut when a large piece of top coal fell, breaking Tom Carter's neck. They had sounded the top just before putting in cut and everything seemed all right. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Green, Lee (Negro; 1 year exper; age 14; Single) April 18, 1903. Lee Green, Ballinger Mine No. 1, slipped accidentally off front end of car and was run over. Accident taking place on mine tram road. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Evans, G. M. (Welsh; age 22; Married; $500.00 Insurance) April 22, 1903. G. M. Evans, Stuart Shaft Mine, was struck by a piece of slate, which became detached from the wall of shaft and falling about 40 feet, struck the deceased. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lineon, Allen (American; age 25; Married; 2 children; $50.00 Insurance) May 16, 1903, died May 17th. Allen Lineon, Rend B. No. 1 Mine, was making an undercut in the middle of seam when the top coal fell on him, crushing him. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Comer, Otis (American; 1 day exper; age 22; Single) May 21, 1903. Otis Comer, Derryhale Mine, was riding in empty car into miners' places when car jumped track, knocking out prop and caus- ing the slate to fall on deceased. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Koval, Andrew (Hungarian; 5 years exper; age 42; Married) May 28, 1903. Andrew Koval, Collins No. 2 Mine, was walking into work on main entry and met loaded trip coming out, although he had plenty of time and room to step out of way he did not seem to hear or see the approach of trip and was run down. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Williams, James (Negro; 20 years exper; age 32; Married; 1 child) June 2, 1903. James Williams, Prudence Mine, was killed by a fall of slate. The place was timbered to within 6 feet of the face at all points. It is supposed he was trying to take down a piece of loose slate when it fell on him. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bolen, Frank (American; 1 year exper; age 18; Single) June 8, 1903. Frank Bolen, Rend No. 2, Mine, was mining at face of coal and was caught by a fall of draw slate. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Souder, James (American; 3 years exper; age 15; Single) June 10, 1903. James Souder, Gauley Mountain Mine, was employed as assistant on coal train operated from the different openings to what is known as the tunnel where a rope haulage is used to pull the trains through. Souder was in the act of uncoupling a car while a running switch was being made for the purpose of sorting the cars, when he lost his balance, falling directly in front of the moving train which passed over him. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lacy, Edgar (American; 6 months exper; age 20; Single) June 12, 1903. Edgar Lacy. Scarbro Mine, was working for a couple of men as machine loader and at the time was shoveling coal when slate about 18 inches thick and 10 feet square fell, catching him underneath. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kantcsh, Paul (Hungarian; sev years exper; age 30; Single; $50.00 Insurance) Yezo, Joe (Hungarian; sev years exper; age 30; Single; $50.00 Insurance) June 19, 1903. Paul Kantcsh and Joe Yezo, Collins No. 2 Mine, were working with several other men taking down slate in order to raise the roadway to even up the grade. The entry at the point where this was being done was heavily timbered and the slate was hanging on these timbers in large long pieces. Several sets of timbers had been taken out and the slate immediately above the timbers had already fallen. The Mine Boss and the men working here carefully examined the slate above that which had already fallen and declared it safe. They then pro- ceeded to blast with dynamite the large pieces of slate on the floor. The Mine Boss and these two men (Kantcsh and Yezo) got on top of this broken slate and commenced to clear the top lumps away when a large piece of slate fell, killing Kantcsh and Yezo instantly. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Thomas, Leon (American; 5 years exper; age 25; Married; 1 child) June 19, 1903. Leon Thomas, Ballinger No. 1 Mine, was coming around tramroad from his work. He was sitting on side of car with feet hanging over. In lifting his feet to clear side of road he overbalanced himself and fell between cars and was run over . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Turner, Floyd (Negro; age 20; Single) June 25, 1903. Floyd Turner, Greenwood Mine, was reaching under some loose slate with his shovel to get the loose coal when the slate fell and caught him on the back. =============================================================================== 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/ ===============================================================================