Area History:Register of Fatal Casualities, Pottsville District, Schuylkill County, Year ending Dec 31, 1880 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Shirley Ryan USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ______________________________________________________________________ Report of the Inspectors of Mines for the Year 1880 FIRST DISTRICT, OR POTTSVILLE REGISTER OF FATAL CASUALTIES Transcribed by Shirley E. Ryan Date, Name of Person Injured Fatally, Occupation, Age/ Married/ Single and No. of Children Name of Colliery 1880 Jan. 21 LUKE MCGERITY, miner, 45, married, 5, Eagle Hill Shaft Remarks: In the act of firing a shot, a piece of coal fell, fracturing his skull, causing death on 28th inst. Feb. 9 PATRICK BRENNAN, miner, 30, single, Eagle Hill Shaft Remarks: Explosion of gas. Deceased went into chute with naked light, igniting gas and fatally burning him. Mar 15 JOSEPH DIX, driverboy, 15, Wadesville Remarks: Fell from front end of empty wagon on which he was riding and dragged underneath, injuring him internally. Apr 2 JOHN OWENS, engineer, 55, married, 2, Gate Vein Remarks: 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 Remarks: 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 above fatal result. Apr. 28 JOHN WILLIAMS, miner, 56, widower, 5, Lower Rausch Creek Remarks: Prermature explosion of blast, inflicting injuries from which he died on 30th. May 10 PATRICK ROONEY, boy, 14, Wadesville Remarks: Drowned in sump. Upon descending 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 Remarks: 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 severely injured. May 26 WILLIAM MORGAN, miner, 50, maried, 6, Richardson Remarks: Explosion of gas. Died from injuries on May 30. July 13 JOHN BONZWITZ, miner, 53, married, 9, Lincoln Remarks: Fall of slate. Was engaged robbing pillar in breast 64, east side gangway No. 2 slope, and while endeavoring to prevent fall it occurred, causing instantaneous death. July 28 JOSEPH BRIGGS, bottom man, 19, single, swatara Remarks: Deceased and two other men were pushing a loaded wagon in back switch or 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. Sept 13 THOMAS J. WILLIAMS, miner, married, 6, Pottsville Remarks: Fall of slate and coal, receiving injuries from which he died on September 19. Sept 13. WILLIAM MORGAN, miner, married, 1, Lower Rausch Creek Remarks: Explosion of gas. Deceased and ISAIAH 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 yeads, and from 15 to 25 feet high. It also appeared in evidence that the superintendent of colliery had cautioned these men on the Saturday previous to accident to fire no shots, as it was dangerous and unnecessary, as small feeders of gas existed. MORGAN died from injuries on September 26. Nov 13. GRIFFETH LEWIS, laborer, 23, single, Wadesville Remarks: fall of slate at face of gangway. Nov 25. RICHARDS PARNELL, miner, 26, married, 1, Richardson Remarks: 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, buring both, and from effects of which SPARNELL died on November 28.