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West Kentucky Coal Company
West Kentucky No. 10 Mine Explosion

Providence, Webster County, Kentucky
November 30, 1942
No. Killed - 6



See also: West Kentucky No. 7 Mine Explosion, Aug. 4, 1917
West Kentucky No. 9 Mine Explosion, June 8, 1925
West Kentucky No. 7 Mine Explosion, Aug. 3, 1927
West Kentucky No. 10 Mine Fire, Mar. 12, 1934

Successful Rescue

Following the West Kentucky No. 10 explosion, the rescue party headed by District Mine Inspector James Fugate brought out nine trapped miners after an undisclosed period.  They were unable to reach six other victims in time to save their lives.

Six Miners Die in Mine Blast
Tipton Tribune, Indiana
December 1, 1942

Providence, Ky., Dec. 1. -- Sparks from an electric motor were blamed today for setting off an explosion in the West Kentucky Coal Company, Mine No. 10 in which six miners perished.

The dead were brought to the surface by a rescue party last night several hours after the blast.

They were:
  • Tinker Taylor, foreman
  • Sam Kirkwood
  • John Lenour
  • Riley Webb
  • Candy Gee
  • Santial Brody
The rescue party headed by District Mine Inspector James Fugate, which previously had brought out nine other trapped miners, was unable to reach the six victims in time to save their lives.

As the blast was confined to a small area, more than 200 other workmen in the mine at the time of the explosion were able to reach safety uninjured.

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