A series of newspaper articles and other memorabilia describing the mining disaster at East Brookside Colliery near Tower City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, that occurred on August 2, 1913, in which 20 men died as the result of two explosions that occurred in the mine.
Today’s post features the proceedings of the second day of the Coroners Inquest into the deaths of the 20 men as reported in the West Schuylkill Herald, Tower City, August 22, 1913, the local, weekly newspaper most closely connected to the immediate vicinity of the disaster. The text of the article, composed from the notes of the stenographer Helen Lang, employed by the Herald, presents a rare look into an inquest held for a mining disaster of the time.
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No One To Blame For Mine Accident
The inquest to inquire into the death of 18 men, Farley and Fessler not having been found when the inquest was started, who lost their lives in an explosion at East Brookside Saturday, August 2 [1913] was concluded on Tuesday evening when jury rendered the following verdict:
We find that the said 18 men came to their deaths as the result of an explosion of gas in fire boss Daniel Farley‘s district, out from the evidence we fail to find that it was caused by negligence of the company or contributory negligence on the part of anyone.
The first session of the inquest was last Tuesday afternoon, August 12 [1913], in the Star Theatre, Tower City.
The second session of the inquest was held Monday afternoon, August 18 [1913] at the same place. In this session there were twice as many in the audience than there was at the first session. In the audience there were men of all walks of life. Several members of the executive committee of the mine workers, Messrs. Nash, Harris and Henry, mine inspectors, Curran Brennan and Price, were present, as well as were Attorney Whelan, of the company, Superintendent Kaercher, Division Engineer M. J. Doyle, Charles Portland and others of the mine officials. The same stenographers that attended the first meeting were present at this one.
Coroner Moore and Dr. Phillips arrived at 1:15 and immediately opened. The hall at the time was more than three-quarters full. Dr. Moore in opening the meeting stated that if anyone in the audience had any questions to ask or if they had any theories, they should present them to the coroner first and they would then decide whether they would ask the witness or not. The coroner stated that he preferred the questions in writing in order that there would be no confusion or argument.
Owing to considerable street talk about mine inspector Price questioning witnesses at the first hearing, he took little part at this time. Inspectors Curran and Brennan did considerable questioning and brought out a number of important facts.
After the first session of the inquest an impression prevailed amongst the people of this community that the mine inspectors and company officials, including the new bosses, were trying to make the people believe that there was no explosion of gas. This point was cleared up at the last session when the mine inspector and several foremen testified that from the condition of the dead bodies of the men, there must have been an explosion of gas, but there was nothing in the mine to show that such an explosion had taken place. No testimony was produced to show what caused the explosion, as there as none alive to tell the story.
Dr. Stutzman Testifies
The first witness, Dr. R. H. Stutzman, who is located in Tower City, was called to the accident at 12:20 o’clock, when Mr. Behney’s girl came to his home and told his wife there was an accident. He took a number of bandages and one of the first aid men accompanied him. They went up to the colliery and into the slope and after they came out and went back to the office. They were there about 15 minutes when they tone of the men up. His name was Luckie.
His Skin Burned Off
He had cuts on the head and arms and was lacerated all over the body, his hair being also burned as well as his clothing. This was about 2 o’clock. Luckie was the only man he treated. The clothing all being burned the victim’s flesh was hanging from his body in strips five or six inches long.
Dr. Fegley came from Tremont and went in to treat Lorenz, who was in the mine. He took a pulmotor and helmet along. When he reached the bottom they had taken him around another way I saw him on the train before they took him to Pottsville. The gangway was full of debris, the rails were covered in spots. There was no fire. Went in as far as the tunnel; I asked the man I treated, how he felt; he said he felt badly and asked for water. He talked in broken English. The conversation took place in the office. I did not ask him how it occurred and did not hear anyone else.
Dead Bodies Lying Around
When we went into the mine there were dead bodies lying all around and after we came up there were three or four brought up. I saw one of the Hand boys. Had black curly hair, that’s how I knew him. I saw Mr. farrell in the wash house, he was badly burned. He was asked about the differences between gas burns and other burns and he said that gas burns and scald burns were somewhat alike only gas burns didn’t have any blisters. He had seen a number of people burned with gas but would not like to say it was gas. He said he had formed an opinion that nothing else could cause it. He couldn’t detect any odor of smoke.
G. W. Schrope, formerly fire boss, recently appointed assistant foreman, a resident of Tower City, testified that he was not at work on the day of the explosion but was there the day before in No.3 vein in the fifth lift, found the workings in good condition. Went in four and five veins. He found no gas in the gangway nor in the heading and veins. He said he had gone through all the various turns and chambers. Farley’s district was next to his. He then described the interior workings, what sections he visited and what sections he controlled as fire boss. He said he had not been in the breast where the explosion occurred but had been in the gangway. He was in the mine since the accident but he did not see any of the dead men except Farley and Fessler. He said he had been in No. 5 vein after the explosion and found no evidence of fire. He examined the timbers and saw no signs. Where Farley was found the bark was dry and not scorched. Price asked him if any work had been done in No. 5 vein and he replied, no live work has been done for four or six months. He said he found the veins in fine condition, in the breasts from 62 to 72 and saw no signs of any workings running. There was no sign of gas in any of these breasts. He found a set of tools belonging to James Boyer in one of those breasts all in good condition. They had not been disturbed by the explosion. He said he formerly worked in that section of the mine about five years ago, he said he had talked to McGinley, Farley, Fessler, and Murphy of conditions and they never spoke to him of finding gas in excessive amounts.
At this point a man in the audience protested against Mine Inspector Price asking questions of the witness about what other men said of the gas. He said this man is familiar with the mine and should answer of his own knowledge.
Coroner Moore said that he thought that Mr. Price wanted to get the opinion of the men who are dead and that Schrope would testify of his own knowledge also. He said, “I think the questions are fair ones.” The interrogator said, “It may be a fair question, but I don’t think it is altogether right. Leave the man tell what he knows.”
Mr. Moore then asked the witness if they used safety lamps in the affected workings and he was answered in the affirmative. The witness and the fire bosses visit places that are worked out at least once a week.
Frank Kilrain, at this point, said that he had worked on that section for a number of years and he said it was impossible for anyone to tell what way the breasts are worked between 63 and 75. He said even the men who work there didn’t know. He said he worked within 50 feet where the explosion occurred. Several in the audience told him to come down front and Kilrain who had been seated in the rear of the house came down to the front of the house. He was told that he would be called as the next witness.
The examination of Schrope was continued. He said sometimes the breasts run and they are the shut up to keep good ventilation in the headings. He said the headings on last Thursday were in good condition and that there was no indication that there had been any interference with the current of air before the accident. He was asked what caused the fail in the gangway is all the workings were in good condition. He said he thought it was a collapse of a pillar between the gangway and the heading.
Dr. Hawk Called
Dr. Hawk, of Tower City, was called to the stand in order that he might get away to attend to other engagements, and in the meantime, G. W. Schrope was excused.
Dr. Hawk said that the first evidence tends to show there was fire in the mines and furthermore, that the relief corps did not cause it, by telling what Schoffstall, whom he treated, had told him. Dr. Hawk’s testimony was as follows: “I was notified of the accident and went to the colliery; no one knew the extent of the accident, but they had a list of nineteen or twenty men whom they said were in; Schoffstall and a foreigner were up at the time and they took Schoffstall to home in Orwin, and I went over to fix him up.
An Explosion of Gas
He saw flames coming along the gangway, and I asked him why he wasn’t killed like the rest of them, and he said, ” I was behind Murphy and that saved me.” He (Schoffstall) was burned all over his body. H did not know how it occurred . Dr. Hawk said that the Italian he saw was turned he saw was burned from head to foot. He did not say anything about the accident, but saw several others, McGinley, Murphy and Behney, before they were washed. The men whom I saw did not have any clothing on, Behney having only a shoe on. We looked for their tags, but couldn’t find the because they had no clothing on.
Schoffstall said when they got in the gangway, he did not say whether or not in the gangway or tunnel, it threw him around a good bit. He saw the fire coming and it threw him around a good bit.
Knew Fire and Explosion
He was asked the question as to whether he knew the difference between a fire and an explosion. He said “yes.” They were burned; I could tell it from their condition. I had to use my scissors to cut shreds of skin off Schoffstall.
This concluded Dr. Hawk’s testimony and Schrope took the stand again.
Shrope Resumes Stand
Upon Dr. Hawk being excused, Schrope again took the stand and was asked if he was in the worked-out portion of the tunnel. He said there was no way to get up; Farley was found in No. 74 chute and Fessler was found 11 feet away. The heading in 69 were in fine condition. When asked if these places were worked, he said no.
He was contradicted right away by one of the men in the audience who called up. “They were worked, and he knows it, because I timbered it.”
Coroner notified him to until he was called.
Schrope was asked what caused the explosion in 72, He said he did hot know. He was asked if he knew what the mines at the colliery had a bad name, and he said yes, but he had never known anybody to quit because it was unsafe.
Three Inches Between Brookside Bottom and Hades
Juror Henry said, “From what I heard about town, there was only three inches between the bottom of the Brookside slope and a hotter place.”
Schrope said he had to warn the men about violations but they had never told him about the company’s negligence.
Kilrain Brought To The Stand
Frank Kilrain, of Tower City, who had asked questions from the audience, was the next witness called.
He said he hadn’t worked at the colliery for about six months and was at home when the accident occurred. He said that although he had not been in the mines since the explosion, he believed that the explosion in the tunnel locked the breasts and caused the gas to pour down through the gangway. He said that when he was working there at different times encountered gas in the monkeys. He told Farrell, now dead, of the conditions there, and Farrell told him that it would be attended to, Dr. Moore asked him if he had any information from any of the miners with reference to the cause of the explosion. He said no, he was giving his own opinion.
Dr. Moore said the government expert had an opinion when he first came there that it was a dynamite explosion, but he had changed it since.
Kilrain then resumed. He said he knew there was gas in the section of the mine where the explosion took place, and there was no way to get it out. He said that the breasts were of such a character that it was impossible to go up in them, but the coal was loaded into the cars after it had fallen from above. He said it would be impossible for anybody to go up in the breasts where the coal runs free.
He said he usually went to work with Daniel Farley, and Farley always said, “Frank, be careful.”
He said when James Boyer fired a shot, he always put up a sail to keep the gas away.
In answer to questions, he said there was no gas in the gangway, but there was in the monkeys.
Mine Inspector Brennan said, “You went up with Farley and he told you to be careful.”
In his report he says that all these workings were in good condition. If he told you that there was gas there, he didn’t put it in his report.
Kilrain replied that Farley only reported on sections where he could go and inspect and it was impossible for him to go up in the breasts.
Kilrain, in answer to a questions, said that probably the gangways and the monkeys were in good condition when these reports were made. He said that in the breasts he saw a vacancy where large bodies of gas could accommodate. In the monkeys the gas was sometimes so thick that they created it on their hands and knees to try to get it out. He said there was a very poor current of air in monkeys.
Here the report of Farley showed that five and six lift and four and five veins were all right the day before the explosion. Kilrain said, “Yes, that is right, but that doesn’t include the breasts.” He said that he and Farley had found the monkeys filled with gas when he worked there and that they were unable to get it out. He says that the breast were worked from below also and Farley had notified him to be careful.
Worked Since 8 Years Old
Charles M. Fegley, the next witness, said that he worked at the East Brookside since he was 8 years of age and was there the day of the accident after it happened. I went up and went down the shaft with the men. Hen I got down I asked for volunteers and Mr. Price said to me, “You go along with us, you’re the man we want.” I went with him and we found the air was good and the telephone was working. We went to No. 3 gangway and found no disturbance until we got into the air hole. Price said to me, “You go up and see how the door is.” The door was open and I left it that way to let the air go through. When we got in we tested the lamps and found there was no air there. I told Price and he said, “We only have to die once.” After we went on a few feet beyond that Price said, “Do you hear anybody moaning?” I said, “I don’t think so.” Price halloed then and we heard Lorenz moan.
Lorenz said, “Is that you Charley?” I said yes. Price said, “Where is Jack?” He said, “I am all bewildered, I don’t know which is in or out. I crawled some distance but stopped, I was afraid I would crawl into danger” Price said, Charley, you’re younger than I am and I can get help” I went out but did not go back at once because I was tired. I then went over 100 breast; that is about 3000 feet. Lorenz was burned in the face and so was Farrell.” What do you think was the cause.
It Was Either Powder or Gas
I had fired gas and it leaves a mark on the timber, but found no evidence of fire. I’m sure it was either gas or powder, I don’t know which and don’t know how it was set on fire. McGinley and the Italians were over 100 feet apart, while Lorenz and the others were over 900 feet apart. From that layout it would take three explosions to cause the damage.
His son Charles Fegley, a first aid corps man who was in the mine stated that the men were all scattered and it would have taken a dozen powder explosions to have killed them.
Chester Fegley said that he had worked there for six months in No. 4 vein, and described how he went down with the First Aid Corps, with the fire bosses from the West Brookside colliery, Messers Leonard, Nealy, Kopp, Hecklery and Kaercher. Fegley said that the men were badly burned and there was little of their clothing left on them. He said he never heard of of gas in the gangways except when the breasts were being driven.
Gas In Gangway
On the Wednesday before the accident he was told by Farley that there was a bad squeeze in the double set of timber in No. 5 vein. He said, “Tell Jack,” meaning Farrell, “there is something working hard on those timbers for about 40 or 50 sets.” He said that he had been told by the tender boss, Koppenhaver, that there was gas in the gangway when the breasts were being driven. He said he didn’t know whether the fall in the gangway, where Farley and Fessler were found dead, was at the same spot where the “bad squeeze” was reported Wednesday.
Snyder Testifies To Gas Outburst
Rudolph Snyder, who was on the stand last Tuesday, was recalled today for further questioning, Snyder’s testimony today threw more light on the inquiry than that of last week. He testified that there had been an outburst of gas within 60 feet of where Farley was found some time ago. The outburst was not an extensive one at the time, but a big body of gas formed in the workings. He also testified that powder would not have caused the damage, although confronted with the evidence of the doctors about the burns, refused to state that it was a gas explosion. He stated that there was 10,000 feet of air passing through the gangway, and didn’t know what would cause the explosion if gas didn’t do it, and he saw no evidence of fire in the mine. The fall would have left the gas in and the men in the tunnel were working with naked lamps. The place where the outburst of gas occurred some time ago had been made secure and safe.
Mr. Snyder said he went from 62 to 72 and found the headings intact, showing no evidence of an explosion. He was asked if the manways were closed and if gas could be pushed down; if he had considered the volume of air from one heading to another, was sufficient to carry away the gas.
Gas Seven Years Ago
He answered that it depended on how much gas there might be. He said it might be forced down into the gangway. He said there was an accumulation of gas in that section about seven years ago, and he considered it sufficiently dangerous to require the use of safety lamps. He said when he went into the mines he found everything closed but the main heading. As inside foreman, he considered it advisable to work with safety lamps at all times in both tunnel and gangway.
Juror Henry, here said to Mr. Snyder, “Some people said we were the dumbest men in the valley who could be selected as jurors. Most of us are novices, but we want to find out all we can. We are not here to punish or reward anyone; we just want to find out the causes.”
Mr. Jones, also a member of the jury assented to these remarks and added, “And to show them we are not the dumbest.”
Mr. Snyder said that he didn’t see any sign of fire in the mine, but from the evidence of witnesses he didn’t think it could have been anything else other than an explosion of gas.
Was Not a Dust Explosion
Mr. Davies arose in the audience and asked Mr. Snyder, “Do you think it was a dust explosion?” “No,” replied Snyder.
“Then what was it?” “I don’t know.”
“But I don’t see what it could have been.”
Daniel Mahoney who had several times during the hearing interrupted, was questioned, arose and turning to the audience side, “Now you men from over along the side, ask this man some of the questions you have been asking outside. Now is the time for you to tell what you know.”
Joseph Lapke arose in the audience and asked Mr. Snyder it there had ever been an explosion in that gangway before. He replied, “No.”
“Yes, there was,” said Lapke, when Dooley of Reinerton was burnt.” Snyder said, “that’s right.”
Mines Full of Gas
Joseph Lepko took the stand and told about working in East Brookside and stated that the place was full of gas every morning and that fire boss Snyder told him to get it out the best way he could. There was an explosion at that time at 68 or 70. A boy went by and said there was a fire and I went in and said, “What’s the matter?” I met the repairmen and said, “Are you burned?” They said, “No, only scorched.” There was an explosion but no signs of fire. The men were using safety lamps at the time. This was about five years ago.
Snyder then took the stand in his own behalf and he said that he helped Lepko to get the gas out but never told him to get it out the best way he can. Snyder said the fire boss is supposed to get the gas out but he had to get the men to help him. Lepko at this time jumped to his feet and told the Coroner that he had the first time yet to see Snyder help him get gas out that if he didn’t get gas out himself he would have to travel the country.
Charles Hand on Stand
Charles Hand, a brother of the two men who lost their lives was the next witness.
Charles Hand, who had charge of the safety lamps said that the men who went into the mine that day had safety lamps and that the lamps recovered were battered up. He said he delivered the lamps to the men every day without being locked. He said he had never been instructed to lock them. He is acquainted with the law relative to the use of these lamps and he didn’t consider it necessary to use safety lamps in all parts of this mine.
Were Two Explosions
Albert G. Dubbs, hoisting engineer, stated that Lorenz came on the train a little after ten o’clock and that he and Farrell then went down the slope. About 45 minutes later Behney phoned up that there had been an explosion and that he and the Hand boys were coming up for safety lamps. A couple of minutes later Schoffstall phoned over “seven of us are going down, Murphy, McGinley, myself, the two Hands and Koppenhaver. About ten minutes later Hillary Zimmerman phoned up there there had been another explosion and the shock had thrown him ten feet. Other men went down, found Schoffstall and brought him up badly burned. His clothing was on but was burnt. Farley was black and had the appearance of being burned. The explosion occurred 1550 feet down.
Zimmerman went down about 1850 feet.
Mine Inspector Price
At the request of Juror Henry, Mine Inspector Price was sworn and asked whether conditions in East Brookside made it advisable to use safety lamps at all times. He said, “No.” He inspected the place July 30 and found the tender slope, No. 3 plane and 4 and 5 veins and found no indication of gas. He used a naked lamp all through his trip. Near the tunnel met Farley. Farley said there was no work of any kind being done which would require an inspection for air. He examined the books from the fire bosses. H also said he had a report from the mine foreman to the effect that there was no gas in East Brookside for a year. He said that if gas was in any part of the mine where the men did not go it was not necessary to inspect that. In his opinion there was an accumulation of gas after a fall which killed Farley and Fessler and one of the men in the tunnel.
Inspector Price Testifies
Mr. Price stated that he had made an inspection of the mine Wednesday preceding the tragic Saturday and that he had gone through the mine with a naked lamp. He considered it safe or he would not have risked his own life by carrying a naked lamp into dangerous places. He said he talked with Farley with reference to conditions in his district, it was in that district that the explosion occurred, and he had been assured everything was all right and there was no new work being done which necessitated any inspection of an unusual character.
He said he examined the books of the fire bosses and found nothing unusual. He also testified that he had a copy of a report by Mine Foreman Farrell in which a sworn statement was made that there had been no gas of a dangerous nature in the mine for a period of one year. He said that gas in parts of the mine which were not being worked did not require inspection because the men never worked in such places. He said this did not come under any provision of the law.
The explosion which occurred in this mine August 2 was an unusual circumstance which could not be foreseen by any. These men who came to their deaths were better able to see it than anyone and yet that they walked to their death indicated that they had no fear of anything of this kind happening.
He was asked it there had been an explosion of gas at the East Brookside since he had been inspector and he said there had been, about a year ago when Daniel Tobias and Schoffstall were burned. He said this was over a mile from the scene of this recent explosion.
In reply to another question he said that he considered East Brookside a safe mine as far as gas was concerned and did not consider the use of safety lamps at all times necessary. He replied to Martin Nash‘s question that he knew very well that the men went to work in this mine without safety lamps. He said he had never received a complaint against East Brookside as long as he had been an inspector.
Coroner Moore: What would be your advice in this mine now as a result of the explosion?
Price: We must make a study of it and endeavor to ascertain what caused it and how it might have been prevented or how we can present such things in the future. Seven of these men who were killed were the peers of any mining men in the anthracite region and yet they walked to the deaths and were caught like rats in a trap. It has been an unusual condition which has puzzled everyone.
He said that he believed that after the first disturbance if all the men had remained where they were in the mine, there would have been no one killed with the possible exception of Farley and Fessig who were probably killed in the fall of stuff in the gangway. If those men had remained in the stack in the tunnel they would have been perfectly safe.
Mr. Mahanoy who had been asking numerous questions during the afternoon asked Price if he would have remained still. Price replied that he certainly would not have remained still but would probably have done what the others had done.
Price was asked what caused the explosion in his mind, without hesitation he said it undoubtedly was an explosion of gas although it puzzled everyone for the failure of the fire to scorch the timbers. He said there could have been no other cause than gas.
Mr. Nash asked if he had ever directed the use of safety lamps and he replied that he had not and that he had not found it necessary to make any change at East Brookside for eight years. There were no new conditions developed which required any change to be made he said.
Got Out Farley and Fessler
Joseph Batdorf, one of the men who worked to get Farley and Fessig out were on the stand and testified that he not find the men but that he helped to get them out. Farley was burnt to the waist. His fingers were also badly burned. He did not know whether on the legs or not as he had trousers on.
Harry Thompers, of Reinerton, testified that he worked at East Brookside in the No. 5 vein as a timber man but on the Thursday before the accident had gone to Lincoln to work. He saw gas in the No. 68 chute on a number of occasions and in the gangway. They had always walked under it. This was in Farley’s district and Farley knew about it. He used noting but a safety lamp because the gas was there at all times. He once saw Farley open his safety lamp in this section and light his carbide lamp, an occurrence which Farley had warned him positively against. The gas was traveling in the heading at the time. This was about a month before the accident.
At the conclusion of the inquest the jury decided to hold another session on Tuesday evening at five o’clock for the purpose of reaching a verdict. After an hour’s deliberation the verdict given above was reached and the inquest was concluded.
W. J. Henry, a justice of the peace of Tower City, was foreman of the jury. The remainder of the jury was composed of William Elliott, retired mine boss of Tower City; Henry Warfield, hotel keeper, of Orwin; George Kline, miner, of Reinerton; Rev. C. Radcliff, pastor of the Methodist Church of Tower City; and W. F. Jones, merchant of Tower City.
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News article from Newspapers.com.
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