Pit Workers in the Old Days #10 (5) (Accident at Kamimio Coal Pit, in Which Executive Officers were Killed)
1958 - 1963

Mukashi no Yamabito #10 (5) (Kamimio Tanko Shokuin no Junshoku Jiko)
[Pit Workers in the Old Days #10 (5) (Accident at Kamimio Coal Pit, in Which Executive Officers Were Killed)]
21.1 x 30.3 cm Ink Painting

Text on the Right
Though it is impossible to name each of the victims of disasters in coal pits, I think I must record this accident because it was a terrible shock to me.
Mining Section Chief (saiko shunin/konai shunin: chief underground foreman) Mr. Suzuki and Deputy Mining Section Chief (shunin-ho/omawari gemba) Mr. Kumai met with an unexpected accident which happened around 11:00 p.m. on July 7, 1915 at Kamimio Coal Pit. They died in the line of duty while they were patrolling the slope with steel pipelines (paipu/tekkan oroshi) of the pit. Mr. Kumai was badly scalded and killed on the spot and Mr. Suzuki died on July 16th without coming out of a coma (under treatment at general manager Mr. Aiba's house). The spot was in the hellish slope, where the atmospheric temperature reached 122 degrees Fahrenheit or more and even repairing specialists could not work for more than thirty minutes straight, though they let the cold wind in by opening a small door at a lower point.
(Note: The critical description of the above accident needs many sentences and the rest is omitted.)

Text at the Top Left
The whole pit talked about the affair, supposing that the two victims wandered around for their lives because of the heat after their lanterns went out, though there were several emergency doors or breakable planked walls along the way.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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