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: Gilbert, William A. Kondor, Frank Skeens, Daniel W. Gillispie, William Pat, Tony Thornburg, John Hairston, George H. Rice, Will Vargo, Mike =============================================================================== Fatal Accidents, for the year ending June 30th, 1906. Mingo County, pages 220-221. =============================================================================== Skeens, Daniel W. (American; 1 year exper; age 28; Married) August 15, 1905; died September 2, 1905. Daniel W. Skeens, Red Jacket Mine, was sitting down about 19 feet from his work, eating his lunch, when a piece of slate fell on him. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Vargo, Mike (Hungarian; 2 years exper; age 40; Married; 3 children; $50 Ins.) December 4, 1905. Mike Vargo, Red Jacket Mine, had made a cut about 6 feet and was shoveling the cuttings out of his way when the coal fell on him. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rice, Will (American; 8 years exper; age 23; Single; $1,000 Insurance) January 17, 1906; died January 19, 1906. Will Rice, Maritime Mine, was riding on motor from drift mouth to head house, a distance of about one mile, when about half way the motor cut loose from loads to pick up more cars. He stepped from motor in front of loaded trip in motion, two cars passing over him. Mr. Rice was mine foreman of this mine. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hairston, George H. (Negro; 3 years exper; age 24; Single) Thornburg, John (American; 1 year exper; age 48; Married; 4 children) Gillispie, William (American; 3 years exper; age 37; Married; 2 children) February 1, 1906. George H. Hairston, John Thornburg and William Gillispie, Bait Knob section of Red Jacket Mine, killed and two others non-fatally injured by an explosion of dust, A detailed account of this explosion will be found elsewhere in this report. (Pages 202-203) (Pages 202-203) THREE LIVES LOST. DUST EXPLOSION IN THE BALD KNOB MINE NUMBER TWO. At Red Jacket, Mingo County, February 1, 1906, 5:Jf0 P. M. Red Jacket, W. Va., February 2, 1906. Mr. J. W. Paul, Chief Mine Inspector, Charleston, W. Va. Dear Sir: I wish to report the disaster which took place February 1, 1906, at Bald Knob, a part of the Red Jacket Mine, owned by the Red Jacket Cons. Coal & Coal Co., resulting in the death of John Thornburg, William Gillispie, each white, and George Hairston, colored. I was in this mine about three hours before the explosion and found the conditions all good. But a few rooms were dry and had some dust, while others were damp and some with standing water, but in no wise would it be considered a dusty mine. This section of the mine was ventilated by a furnace and had an outlet of 10,640 cubic feet and 5000 in heading. I think the cause was due to a very heavy charge of powder being placed about two feet on the solid, which caused a "windy shot." Leonard Hall fired the shots, but escaped with some bad burns on his face, hands and body. John Thornburg and William Gillispie were suffocated by afterdamp and did not have a burn or scratch. George Hairston was killed by con- cussion and was not scorched. Jake Hairston was on the outside, about 100 feet from mine entrance, and his leg was broken by flying debris. I enclose a copy of the verdict of Coroner's Jury with all the evidence I could get that was of any importance. I also mail you a blue print of the mine today under separate cover. Hoping this will be satisfactory, I remain yours truly, BONNER H. HILL, Inspector 6th District. CORONER'S VERDICT. State of West Virginia. County of Mingo, to-wit.: An Inquisition taken at Red Jacket Mine, No. 2, in the County of Mingo, on the 2nd day of February, 1906, before Guy White, Justice of the said County, upon the view of the bodies of George H. Hairston, William Gillispie and John Thornburg there lying dead. The jurors sworn to in- quire when, how and by what means the said George H. Hairston, William Gillispie and John Thornburg came to their death, upon their oath do say: That they came to their death by a blown-out shot caused by improper boring and shooting by Leonard Hall and his brother, Ernest Hall, in room No. 2, and entry No. 2, in the Bald Knob section of Red Jacket Mine, on the first day of February, 1906, which mine in every other respect was in a very safe condition. In testimony whereof, the said Justice, and Jurors hereto set their hands. | T. G. BURGESS, | E L. SPRIEGAL, | Z. D. HOLBROOK, JURORS... | J. W. PALMER, | TROY BROWN, | W. T. CARNS. GUY WHITE, J. P. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gilbert, William A. (American; 2 years exper; age 36; Married; 3 children) February 10, 1906. William A. Gilbert, Red Jacket Mine, was lying on top of a gathering locomotive, coming out after finishing his shift for the night, and his hand struck the trolley wire, causing almost instant death. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pat, Tony (Italian; 4 years exper; age 29; Married; 2 children) February 23, 1906. Tony Pat, Red Jacket Mine, went out of his place over into his brother's place and sat down. The place where he was sitting had been robbed out and was taking some weight, causing the slate to tear loose and fall, catching him and breaking his back. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kondor, Frank (Hungarian; 3 years exper; age 23; Single; $50 Insurance) March 8, 1906. Frank Kondor, Grapevine Mine, riding up incline in empty car and a lump of coal fell off loaded car, coming down and struck him in the head. =============================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other files for Mingo County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/mingo/ ===============================================================================