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 Coroners Inquest into the deaths of the 20 men as reported in the West Schuylkill Herald, Tower City, August 15, 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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CORONERS INQUEST ADJOURNS UNTIL MONDAY
The Coroners Inquest to determine the death of 20 men at East Brookside, Saturday, August 2, and fix the blame if their [sic] was anyone responsible , was held Tuesday afternoon in the Star Theatre, Tower City.
The inquest was conducted by Coroner Dr. George Moore and Deputy Coroner Dr. E. F. Philips. Mine inspectors C. J. Price and M. Brennan and Baird Halberstat, were also on the stage and assisted at the examination. Others on the stage were reporters of the Pottsville papers; Miss Helen Lang, stenographer for the Herald; Miss Ada Canford, stenographer for Coroner Moore; and Joseph Price, clerk for Mine Inspector C. J. Price. There were a number of miners and mining experts present.
The jury is composed of:
William Elliot, retired mine boss, Tower City;
Henry Warfield, hotel keeper, Orwin;
George Kline, miner, Reinerton;
W. J. Henry, justice of the peace, Tower City;
Rev. C. E. Radcliff, Methodist Episcopal Church, Tower City;
W. F. Jones, merchant, Tower City.
The first witness called was M. J. Doyle, mining engineer of the P. & R. Co. & I. Company, who explained the location of the accident from a large map of the Brookside workings.
Mr. Price – Mr. Doyle, is than an accurate and repairing for ventilation.map?
Mr. Doyle – Yes, sir.
In No. 5 vein west of the tunnel at the top of No. 1 gangway, how much work has been done in the last six months? He replied, none. Stated about 56 cars had been taken out; said the only men working were men for timbering.
Coroner Moore – Is some of the timber down? Mr. Doyle replied: No, all intact. Was asked where was the failing. Referred to the map and showed the jurors.
Mr. Price – From your experience, Mr. Doyle, is there any likelihood of a tunnel running south of No. 6 vein striking gas? Mr. Doyle replied, No. Sir, it is not probable that there was a feeder of gas in the tunnel.
Juror Jones – How long is it since the breast was driven? About several years. The fire boss examined the workings.
When asked if there was a system of ventilation with a return air current, replied, yes; said it not likely that a man walking along the gangway would come in contact with gas.
Mr. Doyle stated that he has charge of the district for nine years. He knew Lorenz and Farrell and always found them competent, “Excellent.” He knew all the fire bossed and said they were all qualified. In answer to a question by William Jones, juryman, he said the employees were forbidden in the gangway with naked lamps. He never heard of any violation. They knew there was gas in the gangway and took all possible precautions at all times. He said he did not go down into the mines immediately after the accident but went down later. He was then excused, temporarily.
Portland On Stand
Charles A. Portland, the contractor from Pottsville, who had charge of the driving of the tunnel, was next sworn. He said they had been working on the tunnel about 8 months, which was being driven from No. 4 and No. 5 veins to the shaft. It would have been about 1000 feet long when completed. He said he had not been in the tunnel for about eight or ten days before the accident. John Christopher was his foreman in charge of the work. He said he had never encountered any gas in the tunnel. His foreman and charge man had charge of all explosions. He said they were both experienced in this work. Explosives were kept in the gangway, about 900 feet from the face of the tunnel. It was considered to be in a safe place and at a safe distance from the tunnel. He said he had so instructed his foreman. Christopher, he said had been with him for nine or ten years.
Portland was asked if he worked with naked or safety lamps, and he stated that he used carbide lamps, a variety of the naked lamp. He had never encountered gas in the tunnel and was never warned by the fire bosses about it because they were usually finished with their usual work when he got to the colliery.
A Boss for Portland
John Christopher of Tower City stated that he was chief boss for Portland and had charge of his men at the Brookside colliery. He had been working for Portland at Brookside since January 14 and had been working around the company since 1907. He had driven tunnels for Portland at the Oneda and Shenandoah City collieries. He handled all of the explosives getting them from one of the outside houses at the powder house. The last supply of dynamite before the accident he got 175 pounds of dynamite, fuses and caps, ant two spools of wire, took them down the slope and put them in a tool box in the gangway, about 75 to 100 feet away from the works and locked the box. That was about ten o’clock on the morn of the fatal day. He did not find any gas in the the tunnel the day before the explosion. There was some gas down there but the place where it had been was closed off and the men did not go there because the fire boss had told them not to. They did not work on Friday because the shots were fired early and the mucker boss did not come out. He stayed there until twelve o’clock, until the blacksmith had finished.
Nine Portland Men Working
Christopher says they kept the tool boxes about 100 feet from the tunnel which marked the danger point for naked lamps. He said there were nine men working, six muckers and one blacksmith and helper, and the boss. They kept the dynamite at least 700 feet from the face of the tunnel. He was asked if sometimes they didn’t take more dynamite than they needed in order to save a walk so far. He said they did not. The greatest amount of dynamite he ever took into the tunnel about one time was about 250 pounds. On the Friday before the explosion they took 175 pounds, and he estimated that they had at least 25 pounds down there before that. He said he was not in the tunnel since Friday. The tunnel was well aired and took about two and a half hours for the air to purify after an explosion. They never encountered any gas and considered the ventilation good. He said if they went in sooner than two and a half hours they could smell the dynamite and the dynamite fumes would make them sick. He always found the advice of the fire bosses accurate, with one exception when they were told that they could work, but when they went in they found the smell of dynamite had not left the tunnel. He has a miner’s certificate. He doesn’t know is any rocks were hauled out that Saturday morning.
Foreman McDonald Called
The next witness was A. F. McDonald, of Tremont, assistant outside foreman of East Brookside since July 9. His duties were, among other things, to give out supplies. He did not give out any Saturday morning, but Friday morning he gave the Portland men seven bundles of dynamite, fuse and wire. He never gave out supplied unless they had an order for them, and never gave explosives to last more than one day.
Portland Called
At this point Charles Portland was asked how much dynamite they usually used in a day and he replied about 150 pounds, but as they had reached a wider part of the tunnel they needed more than that for Friday’s work. It usually takes about 10 hours to prepare holes and prepare charges, although sometimes it takes 16 hours. They always do their blasting in the night time as it is prohibited in the daytime when the men are working inside. Mr. Portland was here excused and the examination of Mr. McDonald continued.
Mr. McDonald said he was not in the mines the day of the explosion. He was attending his regular duties when some workmen said there was an explosion in No. 5.
Thought Explosion Impossible
“That’s impossible,” I said; “I then ran to the tender slope and there saw Murphy, McGinley and Schoffstall sitting on the car.” Murphy said, “Don’t take all day to get the safety lamps.” I saw afterwards that he meant Hand and Behney who came with the lamps and got in the car. I said, “Now be careful boys.” “We certainly will,” said McGinley. After they went down I sent word to West Brookside for the First Aid Corps and equipment, and then went to the water hoist to telephone the doctors, It was then that the second explosion occurred. The five men who went down the tender slope, all had safety lamps.
I didn’t know that Lorenz and Farrell were down in the mines. Lorenz came to work as usual that morning although his train seemed to be a little late. At 10:40 he bid me “Good morning,” and I then suppose he went down int the mines. The first explosion occurred at about 11:32 or 11:34. I asked if Lorenz and Farrell were down and was told that they were. I didn’t go down myself but I helped to carry Schoffstall when they brought him up. He was delirious and said, “Where am I? What happened? Who did it?” The next man brought up was a foreigner and the the next 13 or 14 were covered with canvas. I couldn’t see who they were. Lorenz and Farrell were brought up the shaft. I didn’t notice how badly Schoffstall was hurt.
Found Fans Working
After I heard of the first explosion I went to the fan house and found it was working all right, and then went back, and when I heard of the second one, started towards the fan again. I met one of the fellows and he said it was all right and I told him to go back and make sure.
Mr. McDonald was asked about the company’s provisions for injury and stated that all preparations were made even before the extent of the explosion was known. The company had a large supply of First Aid equipment and this was all gotten ready.
Drs. Phillips, Stutzman and Hawk were present when the second man was brought up. Mr. McDonald was Schoffstall and helped to carry him part of the way. Every effort was made to care for the injured.
Charges Company Negligence
The most sensational part of the afternoon’s testimony was brought out when Charles Hand of Reiner City testified that the company did not observe the rules requiring safety lamps to be locked. Mr. Hand stated that he was lamp man at East Brookside and that on the day of the accident only the fire bosses got lamps and they took their own and nobody else except the rescue party got lamps. Some of the lamps were returned, he did not know how many, but none of them were locked. Mr. Jones, the juror, who has had almost 60 years of mining experience and who has taken a leading part in the investigation said to Mr. Hand, “Isn’t there a lock and key for the safety lamp?
Mr. Hand said, “Yes, but they don’t use them at that colliery. All I do is keep the lamps cleaned and filled.”
Mr. Jones: — “Were there any bottoms pf the lamps missing?” (If the bottoms were missing this would indicate that the lamps had been tampered with).
Mr. Hand: — The bottoms were all there, but they were not locked. If they were locked, they cannot be opened.
Mr. Jones: — “Isn’t it true that these lamps can be opened with a horseshoe nail and thus opened by a miner if he wanted to open them? Aren’t you competent to tell if a lamp has been used properly or not? It is common talk that at William Penn and at Tower City there are violations of the law at the colliery and that is what we want to get at. I am not referring to individuals. What did you do all that day? The witness failed to answer these questions satisfactorily.
Mr. Hand: — Well, there were some boards on the fan loose, on the fan, and I went and told the boss. I also told him that there was an explosion. I felt the shock of the second explosion and saw the smoke coming up.
Mr. Price: — Did you do anything else?
Hand: — I told the shaft man to go down and gave him a safety lamp. Mr. Morgans, the shaft man, and two laborers went down.
Price: — There was no hesitancy on the part of the men to go down? Wasn’t it possible that the men on the inside might have unlocked their lamps?
Hand: — Yes sir, there were keys in the possession of Murphy, McGinley and Schoffstall.
Price: — Where did the rescue party get their lamps?
Hand: — At the top of the slope.
Price: — Where did Mr. Lorenz get his lamp?
Hand: — Lorenz came to the house with a carbide lamp and got Farrell’s safety lamp. Farrell had left his there before that. I don’t know how long he (Lorenz) was down before the explosion.
Mr. Hand was here excused to be called later.
Carried Schoffstall Out
Daniel Morgans, the shaft man, was the next witness called. He had heard of the the explosion in the blacksmith shop and went down. He heard Schoffstall calling for help when he got to the bottom and had to make two attempts to get past the air shaft on account of falling rock and reached Schoffstall and carried him out. He said the air was good when he went down and there was no sign of fire of any kind or else he would not have stayed there. He found Schoffstall covered with blood and blackened and his clothes badly torn. He helped carry him out and then assisted in bringing two dead men out. He didn’t know who they were but said they were all black. One of them had a broken leg which dangled along the ground. We used carbide lamps to work in the shaft but used safeties when we went down into the mines. Schoffstall asked me, “What happened.” I said, “I don’t know.” I didn’t see him afterwards. We found Schoffstall in the gangway alongside the air hole. The witness was then excused.
Joseph Mendig, of Sheridan, employed as shaft man at the East Brookside, was up in the blacksmith shop when the explosion occurred and the engineer came and told him that there was an explosion. “We got safety lamps and went down the slope. We found Schoffstall hollering in the gangway and we brought him up. We went down and got two more and brought them up. They were black and covered with blood and their hair was burned. The dead bodies had no clothing on them. We found the air good but it was so filled with dust that we could hardly see. We did not smell any gas. I didn’t go to the tunnel, only as far as the air hole. I had often been in the gangway before and never found any gas. The stuff was falling from the roof when we went into the gangway and here and there the timbers were knocked down. At one place the coal was piled almost four feet high and another place there was only about three feet between the fall an the roof.”
Mendley [sic] talked with a pleasing Italian accent and was questioned frequently by Mine Inspector Price, the members of the jury, and Coroner Moore.
William Dubbs of Tower City
Works at East Brookside and is a member of the First Aid Corps. He was not at work on Saturday morning but was at home. Dr. Stutzman told him there was an accident and they got equipment together and went to East Brookside in the doctor’s auto. He said they helped fix up the dead and put temporary dressings on the injured. The bodies of the dead men were badly burned and the skin came off when they washed them. Other members of the corps were Albert Dubbs, a brother, Chester Fegley and Charles Reiner.
Rescuers Wore Safety Lamps
Daniel Grim, one of the rescue party and a member of the Brookside First Aid Corps, said he was at his home in Tower City when he got word of the explosion. He left the table and got a ride up to Reiner City and then walked up to the colliery where he went to the lamp house, gave his name, and got a lamp. He was one of the rescue party that went down and all of them had safety lamps. When he got to the bottom of the slope, he helped them put a man on a wagon that was at the bottom and had him brought out. Then went out to the tunnel and met some men with helmets coming out. The air was good and he helped take the helmet off one of the men. He remained down there rendering assistance until seven men had been brought up. He went into the tunnel where Mr. Lorenz was and helped wrap him up and saw men go in after Farrell. “I assisted to carry Farrell’s body out. He was so heavy that when we got out part way we put him on a wagon and pushed him the rest of the way. I did not see how badly Mr. Lorenz was hurt because he had a shirt over his face.”
Dr. Price: — “Did anybody go in without a helmet?”
Grim: — No sir, I didn’t seen anybody.
Price: — For information to the jury, myself and Mr. Fegley went in after Mr. Lorenz and told us that Farrell was in. We went in to Farrell and found he was dead. We went in to Farrell and found he was dead.
Lorenz Called for Water
Grim: — “I don’t know how long it took us to get Mr. Lorenz out. We found it was tiring us to carry him and told the rescue party several times to stop and rest. He asked for water once and said he was so warm.
E. E. Kaercher, Division Superintendent, testified as follows:
Questioned by Coroner Moore: — Do you live in Pottsville? Yes sir. Division Superintendent? Yes sir. You heard of accident August 2, what time? About 12:15 p.m. I left Pottsville 12:30 and arrived at Brookside at 1:30. When I arrived they had 2 men up, Schoffstall and another man. You were familiar with the men, Murphy, Farrell and other fire bosses? Yes sir. They were competent men? Yes sir, very competent and occupied their positions for many years. Do you know anything about the accident, as far as the location of the men? Did you go down to get them out? I got a safety lamp and spoke to Drs. Hawk, Phillips and Stutzman to go in and give all the air they could to the injured men. Then I went down into the tunnel where the accident occurred. Yes sir, I went to the mouth of the tunnel, No. 4 vein and crossed six bodies, and Price and Fegley met me there. I could not get into the tunnel any further any further on account of bad air. Then Price stated that he was going into the gangway and would return about 3 o’clock. I organized men there and told them to take up the six bodies as quickly as possible. It was almost 3 o’clock when Fegley came and called for help. I then organized 12 to 15 men and placed one man at the mouth of the tunnel to prevent anybody from going in. Before I left them to help Mr. Price I had sent two men into the tunnel with Drager helmets. It was about 100 feet inside of No. 5 vein that they came across the bodies of the men. It looked as though everything was dead in that section. The that had the helmets on came back and reported that they were dead. I ordered that no one should go in to change conditions until we came back. We went to No. 5 and met Mr. Price and assisted him in putting Lorenz on the stretcher and started him out to the surface. Then six or seven of us went in after Farrell.
Did you talk to Lorenz? I asked him how he felt and he said very good. Then I asked him who was with him and he said John meaning Farrel. Price and myself and two helmet men went inside after Farrel. We got almost to 63 or 64 breast and the air was not very strong., the ventilation was broken. Then we sent two helmet men 100 feet and they came back and Price and I gave our lights to other fellows and put Farrel’s body on a stretcher and carried him out. Then we came back at the tunnel. Nobody had been in there since we left. Price and I started in and at No. 5 vein we found seven bodies. We did not use the helmets. We first examined the air and went through the tunnel, then we came back and took the other bodies away, it was between 5 and 6 o’clock when the last of the bodies were taken out. When you got to the base of the tunnel in what condition did you find it? Well aired, was good as it is here, there did not appear to be any disturbance. It was perfectly clear, some of the shovels were stuck in the muck as though to load it in a wagon. It seemed as though they heard something and left the shovels in that position.
Have you air compressors? Yes sir, about 110 pound pressure. Was the air pipe broken? No sir, it was intact. I think it was just as safe there as here. How long did you know Lorenz? Many years. I associated with him as division engineer of this district for nine years and also as superintendent for 23 years. How long was he about Tower City? 30 to 35 years. He was first boss in No. 4 slope and then was foreman at Kalmia and then went into the St. Clair district, then to Trevorton and came back home about 33 years ago. Then, as a man officially, from your knowledge of veins in this vicinity, how do you consider him? He was very competent in every respect, both inside and outside. How about your inside foreman Farrel? I knew him for a number of years. I knew him as assistant foreman for some years. Since Dolan died I appointed him as inside Foreman. If when you started Saturday morning August 2nd and came in on the train with Mr. Lorenz, would you have any hesitancy in going over the same route with him? No sir! I covered about the same ground as he did. Did you have confidence enough in Farrel and Lorenz that your life was safe in their hands? Yes sir, I certainly did have. Is there any set rules of the company by which you would be compelled to enter the the mines at this time? No sir, but I went in to look after the safety of my men and do what I could. Inspector quoted the following: The record should be made by fire bosses of the old workings. Do you keep such a record? We do, fire bosses keep records of every days examination. Have you records of McGinley, Murphy and Farley?
Superintendent Kaercher offers record book in their own handwriting kept by Murphy, McGinley and Farley. These fire bosses every day make records as they find the mines as they go along in the morning. Reading from a record book, he said, I have Farley’s record book dated August 1, 1913, examining place about fifth and sixth lift and 5th vein and found them all right. Signed by D. E. Farley.
This probably occurred in Farley’s district? Yes sir! In Farley’s district! Lorenz and Farrell were on their tour of inspection. Was the colliery in operation that day? No sir, it was idle, only men driving tunnel from 5th lift into the shaft. They did not have any knowledge of gas? No sir! there was no knowledge according to the records for over a year.
By Mr. Henry: On the day of the accident there was a notice, “No one allowed to go down the slope with naked lamps? We have a number of mine fires and we put up such a notice as a matter of precaution. We used the safety lamp for the purpose of preventing a mine fire. In the gangway amine fires we use safeties. There cannot be fire there because there was plenty of air in No. 5.
Juror Mr. Jones asks: Is it possible that if the Italians stayed at the face of the tunnel they would have escaped with their lives? Certainly. You have driven tunnels connected with No. 4 and 5 veins and did you ever strike anything unusual in connection? Not at all! You drove the tunnel from the bottom of the shaft? Yes sir! Didn’t find any gas? No sir! There were no symptoms reported to you? No sir! If there should of been I would have notified Superintendent Lorenz of the foreman.
Coroner Moore stated: Can you give the jury any further points? No sir! There are no witnesses living, everyone dead. Not one of the organization that was concerned that were in the mines are living.
Juror Jones: There is no possible way of knowing the condition of that gangway after the first explosion? No sir, all the evidence is after the second. You found no fire whatever? None sir. Is it not possible, when a body of gas explodes from feeders to make enough gas to cause another explosion inside of twenty minutes? Yes! when the ventilation has been deranged by the first explosion. We have been down in the mines since, between these two points and, found everything in excellent order. Gangways and airways are in good shape as far as we could get into these two points where the ventilation has been destroyed. Juror Jones: Was there ever any statement made to you in the records of the negligence of the miners? No sir! never any report to me, as those duties are placed in the hands of the foreman and assistants.
Mr. Kaercher further testified that about 175 pounds of dynamite in original boxes and nearly 25 pound in sticks were found in the gangway in the box used by contractor Portland. Another box containing fuse, wire, carbide and other materials was found nearby. The storage boxes were badly broken by the fall but none of the dynamite had exploded.
Randolph J. Schneider Called
You live in Tower City? No sir, Lincoln! Mr. Schneider you have been appointed inside foreman of East Brookside. Have you made any examination of the colliery? Yes sir! Will you describe to the jury how much of an examination you have made as to the condition of the veins. I examined everything west of No. 4 and 5 from 72 west and everything is safe west of that. Is there any point in East Brookside colliery today that is not accessible on account of an accident caused through gas? Not to my knowledge, that is as far as it could be examined. You are familiar with the workings where this explosion occurred? Yes sir! Is there anything there to make you believe that this terrible accident might have been avoided? That is something I could not answer. Mine Inspector Brennan said to Schneider: There has been a question brought to my notice that there might be a body of gas in the top of those worked out breasts? There might have been. You have traveled over these breasts? Yes sir! And do you think any person there could have come into contact prior to the explosion, no matter how much coal was moved from those breasts? I think not. Was the passage way there in good condition and properly timbered? There is no possibility of coming in contact with gas no matter in what condition? No sir! Not to my knowledge. In what condition are they? First class, timber good all the way. In what condition are the batteries along here? The battery doors were open and the chutes were all filled with coal and batteries in good condition. the you are not afraid to handle that job? No sir!
Juror Henry asked Schneider “If there was no explosion of dynamite, what is your opinion of the cause of the explosion of gas? That is one question that I cannot answer! Is there anything else that would cause the explosion of gas outside of the naked lamps? As far as I have traveled I saw no cause for an explosion of gas.
Juror Jones asked: In all workings is it possible that a fall of rock would cause such an explosion? Not in my opinion.
Price asked: Would such a fall create an awful wind? Yes sir.
Juror Rev. Radcliff: What kind of evidence would you look for in such an explosion? The timber would be burned onthe inner bark. I found a piece of paper at 72 breast.
Moore asked: Did you find anything else? Yes sir! A rope on top of 72 breast with a brush on over a foot long. No evidence of being burned? No sir, the brush was not singed. If the hair were burned off the men could that hair get off them in any other way than by such an explosion? I cannot give such evidence but if these men were out of 77 of between, there certainly must have been fire between the two points. But that is the only evidence of that. I don’t know what kind of explosion. Did you see any of the men? No sir! And did you see Farrell’s clothing? I saw him when he was on the stretcher. Did you see Mr. Lorenz coat? Yes sir, part of it. Was it burned? No sir!
At the conclusion of this testimony Coroner Moore arose and stated that as there was considerable evidence for the jury to receive and an there might be something in the testimony which they would like to have explained more fully, he would adjourn the session until Monday afternoon at 1 o’clock when the inquest would reconvene at the same place. before adjourning he stepped to the front of the stage and inquired if there was anyone in the audience that could give any additional testimony that would throw any light on the cause of the accident. He also said if anyone wished to give testimony they would be given an opportunity at the Monday’s session. Someone in the audience arose and stated that the witnesses could not be heard all over the theatre. Mr. Henry, one of the jurors and who is owner of the theatre , arose and stated that he gave the theatre free of charge in order that the hearing should be as public as possible. He also stated that at the next session stated that at the next session he would clear the stage and place plenty of seats on it in order that all who are interested may be close to the witnesses and jury.
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