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: =============================================================================== Ammiel, August Koch, Karl Preston, Charles Cowan, Joseph Lajkun, John Ricer, A. G. Hall, Asa H. Lapinsky, Ignatus Tarquinia, M. Liborio Hoover, Robert H. Orban, Joseph Williams, Moses Keating, John Paulick, John Zubric, John Ketchler, Wendall Pignauelli, Biogio =============================================================================== FATAL ACCIDENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1903 MARION COUNTY, (Pages 145-146) =============================================================================== Lajkun, John (Slav; 2 days exper; age 18; Single) Marion County. — July 22, 1902. John Lajkun, Montana Mine, had fired a shot in a cross-cut and started to shoveling without sounding the roof, when a pot of slate fell, crushing him. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pignauelli, Biogio (Italian; 1-1/4 years exper; age 43; Married; 6-children) Sept. 9, 1902. Biogio Pignauelli, Chiefton Mine, was squaring up his place when a large piece of slate gave way crushing him to the floor. He failed to examine the roof, taking it for granted that it was safe. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Williams, Moses (Welsh; lifetime exper; age 41; Married) Koch, Karl (German; several yrs exper; age 30; Married) Ammiel, August (German; several yrs exper; age 32; Single) Tarquinia, M. Liborio (Italian; age 40) Keating, John (American; 1 year exper; age 35; Single) Hoover, Robert H. (American; age 25; Single) Sept. 22, 1902. Moses Williams, Karl Koch, August Ammiel, Liborio Tarquinia, John Keating and Robert H. Hoover, Stafford Shaft Mine, were killed by an explosion of gas. A full description of this accident will be found in the preceding part of this chapter. (Page 123) THE FULL DESCRIPTION FROM PAGE 123 follows: Explosion in the Stafford Shaft Mine Belonging to the New Central Coal Company in Marion County, W. Va., on September 22, 1902. An explosion of gas occurred in this mine on the morning of September 22nd, 1902, near the face of No. 2 north heading resulting in the death of six persons. The bodies of those found after the explosion are indicated on the map by letters. At A was found Liborio Tarquinia; B, August Ammiel; C, Karl Koch; D, John Keating; E, R. H. Hoover; F, Andrew Ammiel; G, J. J. Wilson; I, Moses Williams; L, J. J. Sanford and Arthur Wil- burt. Picked up near the main shaft was George Strompiskie. George F. Jenkins found his way to the surface up the air shaft. J. J. Wilson and Moses Williams worked at the face marked L; Andrew Ammiel worked at face of No. 1 West Butt entry. The X within a circle on the map indicates the place where the shot was discharged and Y indicates the location of the electric battery which was used to discharge the shot. From the evidence submitted at the inquest it appears that the door nearest the No. 2 West Butt heading had been left open allowing the air current to pass through the door and depriving the heading beyond the door of a moving current which permitted the gas to accumulate. State of West Virginia, County of Marion, to-wit: An inquisition at Stafford Mine of The New Central Coal Company, in said County, on the 22nd and 24th days of September, 1902, before A. T. Manning, Coroner of^ said County, upon view of the bodies of Moses Williams, Karl Koch, August Ammiel and Liborio Tarquinia, there lying lead, and John Keating, who died on September 23rd, 1902, (and Robert H. Hoover, who died on September 25th, 1902). The jurors sworn to inquire when, how and by what means the said Moses Williams, Karl Koch, August Ammiel, Liborio Tarquinia came to their deaths on the 22nd day of September, 1902, at about 9 o'clock a. m., and John Keating on September 23rd, 1902, (and Robert H. Hoover on September 25th, 1902), as the result of an accident which occurred in the mine of The New Central Coal Company, in Pawpaw District, Marion County, West Virginia, caused by an explosion produced by a miner firing a shot, which explosion was occasioned by the neglect of some miner or person working in said mine leaving open the door leading from heading No. 2 into No. 2 West Butt, and thereby diverting the air from its proper course along No. 2 heading at said door for a short space of time, and lessening the air at the point where said shot was fired. We further find that said Company was not in anywise negligent; but that its mine was in first-class condition in every particular. In testimony whereof the said Coroner and Jurors hereunto set their hands this the 24th day of September, 1902. T. A. Fleming, Coroner E. R. Neely Reuben Anderson A. R. Neely A. S. Pricharo J. R. Floyd J. G. Floyd - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hall, Asa H. (American; 5 years exper; age 57; Married; 3-children) Sept. 27, 1902. Asa H. Hall, New England Mine, was helping to raise a smokestack when the rope broke and the stack fell on him. He had been warned not to go under the stack. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ketchler, Wendall (German; 1-1/2 months exper; age 45; Married) Nov. 5, 1902. Wendall Ketchler, Middleton Mine, was engaged cutting a break-through, when a piece of loose slate fell. The Mine Boss had ordered him to take this slate down. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Preston, Charles (Negro; 13 months exper; age 22; Single) Dec. 4, 1902. Charles Preston, Federal Shaft No. 1 Mine, fell in front of mine car while endeavoring to set brake and was crushed to death by the car. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Paulick, John (Austrian; 8 months exper; age 29; Married; 1-child) Dec. 12, 1902. John Paulick, New England Mine, was shoveling coal at the face of his room when a large kettle bottom fell crushing him. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Zubric, John (Hungarian; 7 years exper; age 50; Married; 2 children) Jan. 26, 1903, died Jan. 29th. John Zubric, Montana Mine, was mining on a pillar which had a powder crack running back in the coal, caused from a shot when the room was driven. When Zubric reached the powder crack the coal started to falling and crushed him before he could get out of the way. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ricer, A. G. (American; 10 years exper; age 49; Married) March 3, 1903. A. G. Ricer, Monongah No. 2 Mine, was struck by a fall of draw slate. He knew the roof was in bad condition but was waiting until he had finished loading a car of coal to take down the slate. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lapinsky, Ignatus (Pole; 9 years exxper; age 55; Married; 4 children) March 27, 1903. Ignatus Lapinsky, West Fairmont Shaft, was caught by a fall of slate. He was sounding the slate with his pick when it fell. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Orban, Joseph (Hungarian; 1 week exper; age 45; Married; 5 children) April 10, 1903. Joseph Orban, Montana Mine, was helping two other men move a loaded car in order to take down slate and while doing so the slate fell and brought down three props with it, crushing Orban. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cowan, Joseph (Hungarian; 1 year exper; age 45; Married; 2 children) May 19, 1903. Joseph Cowan, Montana Mine, was working under a piece of draw slate which he and his partner had tried to take down with bars when the slate fell without warning, crushing him. A prop should have been put under this slate. =============================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other files for Marion County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/marion/ ===============================================================================