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-Fourth Annual Report Coal Mines in the state of West Virginia, U.S.A. for the year ending June 30, 1906 James W. Paul, Chief Mine Inspector, Charleston Charleston: The Tribune Printing Company, 1907. INDEX OF FATAL ACCIDENT NAMES IN THIS FILE: Bridgeman, Melvin Hagins, Will Pancake, Isaac Bridgeman, Pete McArdl, Pat Saunders, Claude Bridgeman, Phillip McArdle, James Snyder, Benj. Bridgemn, Ed. McArdle, Steve Snyder, Charlie, Chapman, Moses McLaughlin, James Snyder, Isaac Combs, H. S. McLaughlin, Pat Sovine, A. N. Crabtree, Harvey Miller, G. W. Spraddling, Thornton Cremeans, John Miskell, Charles Thompson, Henry Fritzgerald, William Miskell, James Vass, J. W. Gowens, John Neal, G. P. Waterson, John Gowens, Robert =============================================================================== Fatal Accidents, for the year ending June 30th, 1906. Kanawha County, pages 218-219. =============================================================================== Cremeans, John (American; age 32; Married) July 17, 1905. John Cremeans, Cabin Creek Mine, fell from front of car on track and was dragged and arm run over. He was dropping car down to tipple. The chain of brake broke, allowing him to fall off. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hagins, Will (Negro; age 22; Single) October 12, 1905; died October 26, 1905. Will Hagins, Red Warrior Mine, was a driver and in some way fell betwen his mule and car, and the car, running upon him, broke his back. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fritzgerald, William (Negro; 6 yrs exper; age 30; Single) November 7, 1905. William Fritzgerald, Republic No. 2 Mine, was driving on straight track and fell in front of car, car running on him. There was no apparent reason why he should have fallen off the car. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chapman, Moses (American; Single) Combs, H. S. (American; Married with children) Vass, J. W. (American; Married with children) Gowens, John (American; Single) Gowens, Robert (American; age 14; Single) Waterson, John (American; Married) Crabtree, Harvey (American; Married with children) December 4, 1905. Moses Chapman, H. S. Combs, J. W. Vass, John Gowens, Robert Gowens, John Waterson and Harvey Crabtree, Horton Mine, were overcome by gases from mine fire. A detailed description of this accident will be found elsewhere in this report. (pgs 190-195) (Pages 190-195) SEVEN LIVES LOST — HORTON MINE FIRE. December 4, 1905, 2 P. M. Chelyan, Kanawha County, December 30, 1905. Mr. James W. Paul, Chief Mine Inspector, Charleston, W. Va. Dear Sir: At your request, I hereby submit to you a brief report of the disaster which occured December 4, 1905, at the Horton Mines, on Cabin Creek and in the Sixth Mining District, belonging to the Cardiff Coal Company, resulting in the death of J. H. Crabtree, Mose Chapman, S. F. Combs, William Vass, John Gowens, Robert Gowens and John Waterson, all white. These men were in their working places, between one and two o'clock P. M., when the cross timbers in the air course caught fire from the fur- nace, which was used to ventilate the mine; the fire soon extended to the furnace stack and the wind was very high and drove the smoke into the mine; and, while fighting the fire, some men left the trap door open between the first and second right entries, and this gave the smoke a short course to the outside, and this mine has only one opening except the air course, and the men were forced to come through the smoke to reach the outside; but when they reached the point where the door was left open the smoke seemed to have been very thick and they suffocated before they could reach pure air. Their bodies were found between 75 and 300 feet inside the mine. So far as I could learn, these men were not warned of the danger. The furnace was such as is used throughout this district, and when I inspected this mine, November 7, 1905, it seemed to be in very good con- dition. Hoping that this will be satisfactory, I remain your truly, BONNER H. HILL, Mine Inspector 6th District. - - - - - - - - - - - - - TESTIMONY TAKEN BY BONNER H. HILL, DISTRICT MINE INSPECTOR, IN REGARD TO THE DISASTER WHICH OCCURRED AT THE HORTON MINES OF THE CARDIFF COAL COMPANY ON THE 4TH OF DECEMBER, 1905: After being duly sworn by Bonner H. Hill, District Mine Inspector, R. A. Hemmings deposes and says: "Between one and two o'clock, James Crabtree, coal trimmer on the cars under the tipple, came to my place of work, on third left entry, No. 2 room, and asked for the dinner buckets of the miners. I asked him what he wanted with them, and he said that they wanted to carry water to put out the fire that had caught from the furnace. I said, 'You had better gather up powder kegs and cut the heads out of them and leave the dinner buckets.' He then went on out with two dinner buckets and I went to my work. I dug and loaded two more cars, when I smelled a peculiar smell, which was found to be coal smoke. I then started for the main entrance of the mine, and when I struck the body of smoke my lamp went out. There were men in front of me whose names are H. S. Combs, John Waterson, J. Harvey Crabtree, Mose Chapman, Robert and John Gowens, and who were making for the main entrance also. I instructed them to get down and crawl. They paid no attention to me, and I was crawling at that time. I crawled on within 40 feet of the entrance of the mine, and in doing so I crawled over five bodies, who were groaning and asking for help, but I was unable to help them. I was exhausted when I reached this point and hollowed for help, and Howard, my son, and Will Wilburn came to my rescue, and I was taken to the outside, when I recovered. I then told them where there were some men lying, and they went back and found Thomas Gowens and brought him outside, and he recovered also. All the above names mentioned except Thomas Gowens were suffocated in the smoke. The drum-runner, Charles Basham, was supposed to look after the furnace, which was within about 60 feet of the drum house. The furnace was such as is used through all this mining region. The stack was built with wood. But so far as being the neglect of any one, I could not say." (Signed) R. A. HEMMINGS. After being duly sworn by Bonner H. Hill, District Mine Inspector, Thomas Gowens deposes and says: "My son, Robert, was 14 years of age last June, 1905. His occupation was helping me in mines as a miner. I worked in what is known as the third left entry, in room. My son John came into my place and asked me how many more cars I was going to load, and afterwards returned to his place of work, but returned to my place in about two or three minutes and said, 'Oh, Pa, get your things and lets get out of here,' and I grabbed my things and started. My son Robert grabbed my bucket and started with me. My older son, John, took Robert and told me to go on. The above is all the notice I had of the furnace being on fire and smoke coming back in the mine." his (Signed) THOMAS (X) GOWENS. mark After being duly sworn by Bonner H. Hill, District Mine Inspector, A. W. Wilburn deposes and says: "My occupation was mining, driving fourth and fifth left headings. Charles Basham came to my place and asked me to come and help get .a box of water to put out the fire that had caught from the furnace. When r realized the condition of the matter I said to Howard Hem- mings, 'You had better go in and tell the men that they had better come outside the mine as quick as possible.' Howard made the attempt, but could not penetrate the mine for the smoke, and when Howard failed, I made the attempt myself, but failed also. J. Harvey Crabtree and Mose Chapman, who were suffocated by the smoke, were working for me as laborers, and heard Basham ask me to come and help him get the water to put out the fire." (Signed) A. W. WILBURN. After being duly sworn by Bonner H. Hill, District Mine Inspector, James Crabtree deposes and says: "My occupation is laborer on the tipple. It was about two o'clock when Mr. Thomas, the tipple boss, told me to go to the mine on the north side of the hollow and help put some fire out which had caught from the furnace. As soon as I reached the mine, Jess Hicks told me to go in the mine and get the miners' dinner buckets. I first went to R. A. Hemmings' place of work and asked him for his bucket, and he said, "Get powder kegs and cut out the heads out of them.' I told him that the furnace was on fire, but did not tell him there was any danger. I then went to where J. Harvey Crabtree and Most Chapman were at work and asked them for their buckets, which I got and brought outside. I told them the furnace was on fire, but did not tell them to come outside the mine or warn them of any danger. After coming outside the mine, Mr. Thomas and I went down the hill to the tipple. They then 'phoned in about five minutes for us to come back up the hill and help to get the men out of the mine, and when we reached the drum house the smoke was coming out of the bank mouth so bad it was impossible for any one to go inside." (Signed) JAMBS CRABTREE. After being duly sworn by Bonner H. Hill, District Mine Inspector, H. L. Hemmings deposes and says: "My occupation at this time was driver. Some time between one and two o'clock P. M., Charles F. Basham, the drum runner, informed me that the furnace had been on fire and there was danger of its catching again, and at two o'clock he again said to me that it was on fire, and asked me to help him get a car of coal over the knuckle to pull some men up the hill to help put the fire out; but just at this time two men came up and I went in the mines and got a loaded car from my father, R. A. Hemmings. While in my father's room, James Crabtree came in and asked for his dinner buckets to carry water to put the fire out, but my father told him to get powder kegs and cut the heads out to use instead of the buckets. He asked father and I where his brother, J. Harvey Crabtree, and Mose Chapman worked, and we told him, but whether he went to their places I do not know. I took the car of coal to drum house and then went and hauled a box of water which Will Wilburn had dipped up, and when we had switched it to where we could, get it to the fire I suggested that some one had better go in the mines and notify the miners to come out. I made an effort to go get them, but failed, owing to the smoke, which at this time was very thick. After seeing that I could not reach them, I helped to fight the fire until I heard my father call for help, and then Will Wilburn and myself helped him to get out of the mine. We also got Thomas Gowens out, who had also fallen. "I was not in any of the miners' working places except my father's after the fire caught, neither do I know whether they were warned of the danger or not. I did not see Gus Means, the mine foreman, until it was impossible to get in the mines. If he made any attempt to warn the men of the danger I do not know it." (Signed) H. L. HEMMINGS. After being duly sworn by Bonner H. Hill, District Mine Inspector, C. F. Basham deposes and says: "My work consisted of running the sheaves and firing the furnace. "I was asked by Mr. Clark, the Superintendent, and Mr. Gus Means, the mine foreman, to fire the furnace very heavy, as the men would be shooting and much smoke in the mines. I informed them that it was not safe with a big fire, for the timbers would catch fire on the left side of the furnace. "About one or two o'clock p. m., Z. Comets came out from the furnace and informed me that the timbers were on fire and that I had better do something to put it out. I immediately called Mr. Thomas, the tipple boss, and asked him to send me some help to fight the fire, and in a few minutes James Crabtree and Charles Young came up the hill, and a few minutes later Jess Hicks, Will Whitney and Mr. Thomas came. Jess Hicks said to James Crabtree, "Go in the mines, and get some dinner buckets from the miners.' He went and got four buckets, but whose they were I do not know, neither do I know whether he informed any of the miners of the danger. ' "Jess Hicks and James Crabtree went through the first right trap door and back towards the furnace, but the smoke drove them back, and as they came back they left the door open. Mr. Thomas and I tried to pry the furnace stack over, but could not, and about this time, Gus Means, the mine foreman, came up and asked me where the driver was, and I informed him that he was inside the mines after a car. He then said, 'You go in the mines and have him haul a box of water.' I went and called to him and he said, 'Go dip it up and I will come and get it in a few minutes.' I went and called Will Wilburn to help me dip the water, and he came and dipped it, and in about five minutes the driver came and got it and took it outside. "As we approached the drum house I noticed the smoke coming through the first right door, and when we reached the outside, I said to the mine foreman, 'You had better send some one to notify the miners that the smoke is going in the mine on them,' and Howard Hemmings attempted to go in to notify them, but the smoke was too thick for him to get in. It was only a short time until Mr. Hemmings hollowed for help, and we got him out, and I assisted in getting the others out." (Signed) CHARLES F. BASHAM. State of West Virginia. Kanawha County, to-wit.: This day personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority, in and for the said County and State, R. A. Hemmings, who being by me first duly sworn, deposed and said as follows: "I was working in No. 2, in third left entry, mining coal, at Horton Mines on yesterday, the 4th day of December, 1905, and soon after dinner, between 1 and 2 o'clock p. m., James Crabtree, a coal trimmer under tipple, came into my place and asked for my dinner bucket and said the timbers were on fire at the furnace, and with the suggestion to him that he take empty powder cans and cut out tops and use them instead of the men's dinner buckets. He left the mine and I thought nothing of it, but went ahead and dug and loaded two cars more of coal. I then smelled smoke and knew that it was coal smoke. I then started immediately for the entrance. Combs, two Gowens boys, Chapman, Crabtree and Waterson and J. W. Vass were in front of me, going toward entrance. When I overtook them they were all walking upright and I told them to get down and crawl, but they paid no attention to me or my directions, and soon they began to fall. I passed, on my hands and knees, over five of them, and crawled to within 40 feet of the entrance, when I lost control of myself and hollowed. My son and Will Wilburn came in and rescued me. Mr. Gowens (old gent.) was also rescued alive. I heard no other warning than above detailed. Charles Basham, the drum runner, builds the fire in the ventilating furnace, which is situated about 75 feet from the drum house. "The seven men died from suffocation produced by coal smoke. "The mine is now burning in the air shaft. I do not know of any one whose fault it was that the fire caught. "There was a wooden flue, but it is such as is commonly used by mines throughout West Virginia." And further deponent saith not. R. A. HEMMINGS. Taken, sworn to and subscribed before me this 5th day of December, 1905. F. L. BEARDSLEY, Notary Public. A true copy from record. Teste: F. L. BEARDSLEY, Coroner Kanawha County, W. Va. This mine was provided with two openings, one of which was used for the mine cars and a traveling way for the employes, and the other for a return air course, which latter was provided at its outlet with a furnace and stack, and was free and unobstructed, as required. by law, for the travel of the employes. The law fails to delegate to any official or employe the duty of directing the withdrawal of the employes in the event of a mine fire, or any other unforseen danger occurring in a non-gaseous mine, and in this respect the law, unfortunately, is lacking. From the evidence herewith furnished it appears that some of the inside employes had been made aware of the fire in the air course, but they continued at work until they were literally smoked out. Respectfully, JAMES W. PAUL, Chief Mine Inspector. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thompson, Henry (American; 8 years exper; age 19; Single) December 20, 1905. Henry Thompson, United Mine, a driver, was making a fast run and the car jumped the track, knocking out post which lit down some loose slate. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Miller, G. W. (American; 20 yrs exper; age 60; Married; 3 children) January 1, 1906. G. W. Miller, Greenbrier No. 3 Mine, is supposed to have gone back on a shot which had not gone off. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Spraddling, Thornton (American; 6 years exper; age 21; Married) January 5, 1906. Thornton Spraddling. Morton No. 1 Mine, was taking down a piece of slate and knocked out a post while standing under the slate. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Neal, G. P. (American; 2 years exper; age 25; Married) Sovine, A. N. (American; 1 year exper; age 28; Married; 1 child) McLaughlin, Pat (American; 1-1/2 years exper; age 50; Married; 5 children) McLaughlin, James (American; age 15; Single) McArdle, Steve (American; 3 months exper; age 33; Married; 5 children) McArdle, Pat (American; 2 months exper; age 35; Married) McArdle, James (American; 2 months exper; age 37; Married; 1 child) Miskell, Charles (American; 2 months exper; age 16; Single) Miskell, James (American; 2 months exper; age 17; Single) Pancake, Isaac (American; 3 months exper; age 33; Single) Saunders, Claude (American; 1 month exper; age 37; Single) Bridgeman, Ed. (American; 2 years exper; age 24; Single) Bridgeman, Phillip (American; 1-1/2 years exper; age 28; Single) Bridgeman, Melvin (American; 2 years exper; age 30; Single) Bridgeman, Pete (American; 2 years exper; age 33; Married) Snyder, Isaac (American; 1 year exper; age 32; Married; 4 children) Snyder, Charlie (American; 1-1/2 years exper; age 25; Single) Snyder, Benj. (American; 2 years exper; age 28; Married; 1 child) January 18, 1906. G. P. Neal, A. N. Sovine, Pat McLaughlin, James McLaughlin. Steve McArdle, Pat McArdle, James McArdle, Charles Miskell, James Miskell, Isaac Pancake, Claude Saunders, Ed. Bridgeman, Phillip Bridgeman, Melvin Bridgeman, Pete Bridgeman, Isaac Snyder, Charlie Snyder, Benj. Snyder, Detroit Mine, were killed by an explosion of dust. A detailed description of this accident will be found elsewhere in this report. (on Pages 199-202) (Pages 199-202) EIGHTEEN LIVES LOST — DETROIT MINE EXPLOSION. Kanawha County, January 18, 1906. The most destructive mine disaster within the history of coal mining in Kanawha County occurred in the Detroit Mine, on Paint Creek, at 12:28 noon, on January 18, 1906, resulting the the death of eighteen persons, native born of West Virginia. The Detroit Mine was developed in the (Clarion) Eagle, or No. 1 Gas Coal Bed, which, in this mine, had an average thickness of forty inches, and the coal has a composition approximately as follows: Moisture ........................................... .81% Volatile Matter .................................... 32.26 Fixed Carbon ....................................... 60.77 Ash ............................................. 6.16 _________ Total ........................................... 100.00% Sulphur ............................................ .87 The Detroit Mine had been opened during the latter part of 1903 and had been operated by the Detroit & Kanawha Coal Company up to January 15, 1906. The mine is opened by a drift in the side of the mountain about 300 feet above the valley, and the product of the mine was conveyed to the tipple below by an incline 500 feet long. The mine was developed on the double entry system and was ventilated by an exhaust fan of the Thayer pattern. The workings of the mine ex- tended over three and one-half acres. No part of the mine was advanced beyond 1350 from the entrance to the mine, and the ventilation was good, there being no explosive gas evolved from the coal or adjacent strata necessitating the use of brattices within rooms. Open lights were used throughout the mine. The coal was won by the miners blasting it from the solid. Only in one place within the mine was the coal found to be undercut. The District Mine Inspector had cautioned the miners of the danger of this practice 15 days prior to the explosion. On January 3, 1906, the District Inspector visited this mine and found all conditions good excepting the presence of dry coal dust throughout the mine, and in reference to this he personally told the superintendent and mine boss of its danger and gave a written certificate requesting the mine to be made wet throughout and to be kept wet. The superintendent of the mine promised to provide temporary means for wetting the mine until he could secure a regular water car for that purpose, but no water had been taken into the mine for this purpose at the, time of the disastrous explosion, on the 18th of January- Evidence of explosive gas has at no time been found to generate within this mine. DETAILS OF EXPLOSION. The explosion originated in room No. 3, on the first left or butt heading air course, about 900 feet from the main entrance to the mine. From all evidence obtainable it appears that the miner working in No. 3- room had been at work all the forenoon and suceeded in getting very little coal broken down, that he had repeatedly shot the coal in the solid and filled his room with powder smoke, and his supply of "squibs" having exhausted, he came out with a driver at noon and borrowed some squibs and returned and fired a shot in the corner of his room, which blew out and inflamed the smoke and dust in his room, which exploded. It appears that in room No. 2, adjoining, a shot had been fired simul- taneously with the shot in room No. 3, and which had also blown out. The explosion extended throughout all parts of the mine, being carried by the fine, dry coal dust prevalent within the mine. The path of the explosive force was direct against the direction of the ventilating current, which in this mine was one continuous current. All persons within the mine were killed, some by concussion and burns and others by suffocation. Fortunately, at the time of the explosion, a number of the employes were on the outside of the mine for their noon lunch. It had been the practice of fully 95 per cent, of the miners to shoot the coal from the solid, without any attempt to undermine or shear the coal. Aside from the rooms 2 and 3 there was no other place in the mine where a shot had been fired just prior to the explosion. A number of holes were found already drilled, and very little loose coal was found in any of the working places. The evidence at the investigation was conclusive that the ventilation of the mine was good, and this being so, the explosive elements were fur- nished a sufficiency of oxygen to create a most violent explosion. The map exhibited gives the workings of the mine, showing the location of the bodies, direction of air current and force of the explosion. The force of this explosion was very great, characteristic of a dust explosion; two animals, a mule and a pony, were blown from the drift mouth to the bottom of the incline, a distance of 450 feet, a mine timber six feet long by eight inches in diameter was blown a distance of 600 feet from the drift mouth. The cloud of dust emitted from the drift mouth made the atmosphere of the village below quite dark, and the shock was sufficient to stop pendulum clocks some distance from the mine. No mine accident within the State has ever had a more thorough investi- gation by the State authorities than the Detroit disaster. The Coroner of Kanawha County, with a jury and the assistance of the Department of Mines, conducted an exhaustive investigation, which re- sulted in the jury holding for the Grand Jury three persons under the following verdict: State of West Virginia, Kanawha County, to-wit.: An Inquisition taken at Detroit, in the County and State aforesaid, on the 19th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th days of January, 1906, and on the 1st and 17th days of February, 1906, at Pratt, in said County, before F. L. Beards- ley, Coroner of said County, upon a view of the bodies of Edward Bridge- man, Philip Bridgeman, Melvin Bridgeman, Peter Bridgeman, James Mc- Ardle, Pat McArdle, Steve McArdle, James Miskell, Charley Miskell, Claude Saunders, Patrick McLaughlin, James McLaughlin, Ben Snyder, Charles Snyder, Ike Snyder, A. N. Sovine, G. P. Neal and Issac Pancake, there lying dead. The jurors sworn to inquire where, how and by what means the said named parties came to their death, upon their oath do say: That the above named Edward Bridgeman, Philip Bridgeman, Melvin Bridgeman, Peter Bridgeman, James McArdle, Pat McArdle, Steve Mc- Ardle, James Miskell, Charles Miskell, Claude Saunders, Patrick Mc- Laughlin, James McLaughlin, Ben Snyder, Charles Snyder, Ike Snyder, A. N. Sovine, G. P. Neal and Isaac Pancake came to their deaths as the- result of an explosion in the Detroit & Kanawha Coal Company's mines, at Detroit, West Virginia, on January the 18th, 1906, about 12:28 o'clock p. m:; that the jury believe from the evidence that said explosion was due to and caused by the ignition of the coal dust in said mines by a shot, or shots, fired from the "solid" put off in rooms number two and three, second left entry of said mines, and that the explosion killed the said parties by reason of burns and concussions; that said explosion was of terrific force and affected the whole of the mine; that the jury believe from the evidence that said explosion was caused by the carelessness and negligence of duty of the mine superintendent of said mines, J. E. Miner, and the mine boss of said mines, R. F. Townsend, and that said Miner and Townsend are guilty of involuntary manslaughter of the dead persons aforesaid; and the jury further believe from the evidence that the Mine Inspector, Bonner H. Hill, is, by reason of his neglect of duty, also guilty of invol- untary manslaughter of the dead persons aforesaid; and the jury do further find from the evidence that said mines, located at Detroit, Kan- awha County, West Virginia, owned and possessed and run by Detroit and Kanawha Coal Company, a corporation; and that said corporation, so run, has been grossly negligent in the operation of said mines on said 18th day of January, 1906, and for a long time prior thereto, to-wit.: since the 3rd day of January, 1906. And we, the jury, do further find from the evidence that shooting coal from the "solid" is not expedient nor safe and should be prohibited by law; and we, the jury, do further recommend that all Mine Inspectors should be vested with the power and authority to close any mine or mines under his supervision, forthwith, and without applying to the Courts for an injunction or other process, in the event that he shall deem said mine or mines to be dangerous, until the danger thereto has been removed. In testimony thereof we have hereunto set our hands this 17th day of February, 1906. F. L. BEARDSLEY, Coroner. SEBASTIAN BELCHER, JOS. W. DILEY, D. M. JARRETT, MELL TUCKER, R. R. HUDDLESTON, W. R. MERRITT, Jury. Following the findings of the Coroner's Jury; the Judge of the Circuit Court, Hon. Sam. C. Burdett, called a special Grand Jury, which jury ex- onerated Inspector B. H. Hill, but indicted for involuntary manslaughter Mr. John E. Miner and R. F. Townsend, superintendent and mine boss, respectively, for the Detroit & Kanawha Coal Company. Upon trial before a jury the defense asserted and testified that on the 15th of January, three days prior to the explosion, the Detroit Mine had changed ownership and that at the time of the explosion the defendants were not in charge of the mine, that their authority had been superceeded by the representatives of the new ownership. Upon these presentations Mr. Miner was acquitted and the indictment against Mr. Townsend was nollied, upon motion of the Prosecutor. Respectfully, JAMES W. PAUL, Chief Mine Inspector. September 29, 1906. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Snodgrass, Elmar (American; 20 years exper; age 35; Married; 4 children) January 31, 1906; died February 16, 1906. Elmar Snodgrass, Black Band Mine, was riding on a mine car loaded with rails and was caught between the rails and roof and rolled. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Holsteine, Mathew (American; 25 years exper; age 58; Married; 4 children) March 12, 1906. Mathew Holsteine. Climax Mine, went back 60 feet from the face and fired shot on the solid on the left rib. and draw slate fell on him from the space where coal was shot from. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cousins, Henry (Negro; Many years exper; age 50; Married; 3 children) April 23, 1906; died April 24, 1906. Henry Cousins, Hugheston No. 2 Mine, was working at the face of his working place and had gone two cuts under the draw slate by setting a post or two under it, and he was knocking out these posts to let the slate come down when the slate caught him. He had been warned by the mine boss and superintendent not half an hour before the accident of the danger. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lazori, Mike (Italian; 1 day exper; age 25; Single) June 11, 1906; died June 13, 1906. Mike Lazori, Raccoon Mine, began working in this mine on the morning of the accident. He borrowed enough powder to do him until noon, at which time he went to the maga- zine and got a keg of powder and took it into the mine without letting any of the officials see him. Powder exploded from some cause. Another man was burned non-fatally. =============================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other files for Kanawha County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/kanawha/ ===============================================================================