ACCIDENTS IN COAL MINES.

It is not very pleasant to have to note such an increase of casualties as have occurred during the past year as compared with the report of 1890. That report shows 28 non-fatal and 10 fatal accidents, while this report for 1891 shows 50 accidents of all kinds, 18 of which proved fatal, an increase over 1890 of 8 fatal and 4 non-fatal. An examination of the table reveals the fact that 34 of these accidents, or 60.8 per cent, were caused by falling roof or coal, 7 by blasting, 2 by coupling cars, 2 by cages and the remainder from different causes; a detailed statement of the more important accidents will be found herein.

The Commissioner of Labor for the State of Illinois has compiled a statistical table from the Mine Inspector's reports, showing the number of casualties in and about mines of said State during the past eight years which, gives an average of 64.5 per cent of the accidents as having been caused by falling roof or sides.

While the accidents from falling roof and coal, in our State, seem large, yet it compares favorably with the report of Illinois, which shows nearly 4 per cent more accidents from this cause than our report.

TABLE VII-Showing Accidents in Coal Mines, by counties.

Hamilton Coal Co Caldwell Coal Co

Adair county.
Pennsylvania Coal Co.

Barton county.
The Wear Coal Co

Frank Dooley

Arm fractured by falling roof..
Head scalped by falling roof

The following general remarks on accidents refer more especially to those of a serious nature occurring during past year:

BATES COUNTY.

L. W. Brooks, a colored boy, 14 years of age, was instantly killed by a fall of slate in mine No. 5, owned and operated by the Keith & Perry Coal Co. The accident occurred March 31, in a room on the west side of shaft. It had not been driven in more than 25 feet from the entry, and was not more than 10 feet wide.

It seems from the evidence collected, that the room had been standing idle for some time prior to the accident; George W. Brooks, father of deceased, was to have commenced work in it as soon as a switch could be laid in the room. He was employed taking up the bottom in the mouth of the room preparatory to laying the switch. But before commencing his work he had set the drilling machine and started the unfortunate boy drilling a shot-hole in coal at face of room.

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He stated to us that he examined the roof, and thought it was all right, before starting the boy to work. Deceased had just about completed the shot hole when the mass of slate, weighing one-half ton or more, fell upon him with the result as stated above.

After making a careful examination of the place, and taking testimony of the parties who were present at the time, I am of the opinion that it was an accident which might have been avoided, had the boy's father made a more thorough examination of the room and used proper judgment in timbering it.

Following is the verdict of coroner's jury:

After having heard the evidence, and upon full inquiry concerning the facts and a careful examination of said body, do find that deceased came to his death from being caught under a fall of white top, while drilling a hole for the purpose of blasting coal, and that according to the evidence given in the case, the accident could have been avoided should proper care have been taken by Geo. W. Brooks (father of the boy).

Given under our hands at mine shaft No. 5, in the county of Bates aforesaid, this first day of April, 1891.

W. S. Beavers, foreman; A. C. Harding, S. S. Allen, Robert Brown, I. C. Reffert, George Ellis.

January 9.-Webster Blankenship, a young man 17 years of age, was instantly killed, and his father, Z. Blankenship, lost three fingers by fall of slate in mine No. 13, owned and operated by Rich Hill Coal and Mining Co.

Deceased and his father were working in a room together, and had fired a shot at noon (it is the custom in this mine to fire shots at noon), and on returning to work at 1 o'clock, the siate fell with the result as stated above.