Tank's Poetry
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united states mine rescue association
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Tank's Poetry |
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From the Google News Archives:  (news links open in a separate window)
Successful Rescue Four men who miraculously escaped death after being trapped underground were hospitalized. The first of four men rescued reached the surface on his own feet, leaning on the shoulders of his rescuers, some four hours after the blast. He was Artie Humphreys of Craigsville. Three others, two of them horribly burned, were brought out on stretchers. Source document 
(From Bureau of Mines report, by W. R. Park, F. H. Henderson, and A. Charlesworth) The disaster was caused when a large quantity of methane, released from formations in the roof by large falls or emitted from heaving bottom in the active workings or in the worked-out and abandoned areas adjacent to active workings in the 15 left section, accumulated in the active working areas and was ignited. Gas accumulated in these working areas when the ventilating current was short-circuited outby the active workings by the removal of stoppings from crosscuts between the 15 left entries. The explosion originated in the No. 2 (belt) entry of 15 left entries when an explosive mixture of methane and air was ignited by an electric arc or spark from a power conductor. Statements by survivors of the explosion indicated that there was a second explosion immediately after the initial blast occurred. A short circuit in the electrical system was found in No. 2 entry near No. 17 crosscut, where the feeder wires were down and the positive and return wires were in contact. It is believed that this short circuit occurred after the initial explosion, because the forces of the explosion dislodged the power wires from the J hooks and insulators at this location. It is possible that an arc or spark from this short circuit could have ignited methane and caused a second explosion. Coal or wood fires were not found in the explosion area. Coal dust in the face regions entered into the explosion slightly and aided in its propagation. The explosion resulted in the loss of production from the entire mine from October 28 until November 10, when 3 working sections resumed operation. Permanent ventilation was restored in the affected 15 left section November 13, 1958, and this section was rock dusted, the permissible-type electric face equipment was restored to permissible condition, and the section resumed coal-producing operations November 17, 1958. Explosion Hits Nicholas Mine Raleigh Register, Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia October 28, 1958 The sheriff's office of this Nicholas County seat town said early reports did not specify the number of men at work at the time, but unofficial word was that about 20 had been trapped underground. The sheriff's office said that figure "sounds about accurate." The scene of the reported disaster is about 60 miles east of Charleston. The Oglebay-Norton operation, formerly the Richwood Sewell Coal Co., employs about 125 men. The operation is located about 11 miles from Richwood and 21 miles from Summersville, although the company's address is listed as Summersville. 13 Bodies Removed from Nicholas Pit Raleigh Register, Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia October 29, 1958 Four other men who miraculously escaped death after being trapped underground were hospitalized in Richwood. Tuesday's blast centered a mile and a half deep in the Burton mine of the Oglebay-Norton Company, a Cleveland-based mining, marketing, ore and shipping concern between here and Richwood. Fifty-four men were at work underground, but 37 were working on the surface-side of the explosion and scurried to safety without injury. The Burton operation is a slope mine, bored into the side of Curtin Mountain. It is located in a barely accessible hollow on the banks of the small Gauley River in Nicholas County. The first of four men rescued reached the surface on his own feet, leaning on the shoulders of his rescuers, some four hours after the blast. He was Artie Humphreys of Craigsville. Three others, two of them horribly burned, were brought out on stretchers. In critical condition were Paul Davis, Craigsville, and William Tucker, Persinger, less seriously burned was Okey Donaldson, Summersville. State Mines Director, Crawford L. Wilson, said all the evidence indicated a gas ignition. What ignited the gas remains to be determined, probably at the inquest. The mine was listed as gassy. There was no ensuing fire, a benevolent circumstance which probably spared the lives of the four survivors. Old time mining men marveled at the escape of Humphreys and the others. They had taken refuge in passages least affected by the blast. "It was like putting a cork in your ear and pulling it right back," Harless said. Another member of the group of 37 who were first out of the mine was Herbert Harris of Craigsville. He said the blast was so forceful that some of his colleagues were bowled off their feet. Officials last night were unable to estimate the area covered by the explosion. They said it centered in what is called Room 17 of No. 3 Entry, off the North Main. The Burton mine employs 113 men on two shifts and produces from 1,200 to 1,400 tons of coal a day. The tipple is on the opposite side of the Gauley River from the mine mouth, and coal is shipped on the Baltimore & Ohio Railway. There are no houses or other settlement about the mine operation. The nearest town is the village of Craigsville, some six miles away by country road. Craigsville is on W. Va. 20, between Summersville and Richwood. List Of Dead Raleigh Register, Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia October 29, 1958 Summersville (AP) -- The 13 miners killed in yesterday's mine explosion at the Oglebay-Norton Company left 49 dependents, including widows and children. The revised list of dead follows:
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