REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF MINES

FIRST DISTRICT - POTTSVILLE, SCHULYKILL, CO.

For the Year 1880

FATAL CAUSALITIES

This information was transcribed by Shirley Ryan at sryan@enter.net. Shirley has the names of non-fatal injured, and will do look-ups. Please contact Shirley at sryan@enter.net, if you'd like her to do a look-up for a non-fatal injury. The information concerning the death's of the persons listed below is all we have. Please do not e-mail us for further information concerning the death, we unfortunately do not have more information to pass on.

(Information presented in the following order: Date; Name of Injured Fatally; Occupation; age; Martial Status; Orphans; Name of Colliery; Remarks)

Jan. 21 Luke McGERITY - Miner - 45 - Married - 5 - Eagle Hill Shaft -In the act of firing a shot, a piece of coal fell, fracturing his skull, causing his death on the 28^th inst.

Feb. 09 Patrick BRENNAN - Miner - 30 - Single - 0 - Eagle Hill Shaft - Explosion of gas. Deceased went into a chute with naked light , igniting gas and fatally burning him.

Mar. 15 Joseph DIX - Drivboy - 15 - Single - 0 - Wadesville - Fell from front end of empty wagon on which he was riding and dragged underneath, injuring him internally.

Apr. 02 John OWENS - Engineer - 55 - Married - 2 - Gate Vein - Supposed to have fallen off wagon that was being hoisted, receiving injuries causing immediate death.

Apr. 21 Thomas RHOADES - Miner - 54 - Married - 3 - Phoenix Park No.2 - Fall of slate in breast. Deceased had been ordered by inside boss to place a prop to prevent fall, but as the next day was to be an idle one he concluded to defer obeying order until then, with the above fatal result.

Apr. 28 John WILLIAMS - Miner - 56 - Widower - 5 - Lower Rausch Creek - Premature explosion of blast, inflicting injuries from which he died on the 30^th.

May 10 Patrick ROONEY - Boy - 15 - Single - 0 - Wadesville - Drowned in sump. Upon descending the shaft with his father to go to work in the mine is supposed to have lost his way and walked into sump.

May 17 Edward MURPHY - Miner - 46 - Married - 9 - Thomaston - Fall of top coal. Deceased and "butty" John HORAN, had drilled a hole and were tamping it preparatory to firing a shot, when without any previous indication (having sounded the top and considered it safe before commencing work) of danger, a large mass of top coal fell, burying both beneath it. Murphy was instantly killed, and HORAN seriously injured.

May 26 William MORGAN - Miner - 50 - Married - 6 - Richardson - Explosion of gas. Died from injuries May 30^th.

Jul. 13 John BONZWITZ - Miner - 53 - Married - 9 - Lincoln - Fall of slate. Was engaged robbing pillar in breast 64, east side gangway No.2 slope, and while endavoring to prevent fall it occurred, causing instantaneous death.

Jul. 28 Joseph BRIGGS - Bottom Man - 19 - Single - 0 - Swatara - Deceased and two other men were pushing a loaded wage in back switchor slope bottom. While a loaded wagon was being hoisted on the slope, when loaded wagon was about being landed on top of slope, the rope broke, the wagon descending to bottom. Coal from wagon struck deceased, breaking his leg, the inflammation of which caused death on August 5^th.

Sep. 13 Thomas J. WILLIAMS - Miner - not given - Married - 6 - Pottsville - Fall of slate and coal, receiving injuries from which he died on September 19^th.

Sep. 13 William MORGAN - Miner - not given - Married - 1 - Lower Rausch Creek - Explosion of gas. Deceased and Isiah MORGAN, was working in breast 73 west. Deceased had fired a shot which ignited gas, causing explosion. From evidence given at inquest it appeared that the fire boss had examined this breast about six o'clock in the morning, and found no gas as high as he could reach. The breast was worked up about 19 yards, and from 15 to 25 feet high. It also appeared in evidence that the superintendent of the colliery had cautioned these men on the Saturday previous to the accident to fire no shots, as it was dangerous and unnecessary, as small feeders of gas existed. W. MORGAN died from injuries on September 26^th.

Nov. 13 Griffeth LEWIS - Laborer - 23 - Single - Wadesville - Fall of slate at face of gangway.

Nov. 25 Richard SPARNELL - Miner - 26 - Married - Richardson - Explosion of gas. Deceased was driving a chute in which considerable gas had accumulated during the night. He went to work in the morning without consulting fire boss. George MARTIN, his butty, coming into chute with naked light ignited gas, burning both, and from the effects of which SPARNELL died on November 28th.