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| Successful Mine Rescues in September |
| 1869 |
Warrensburg Mine Fire, Carbon Hill, Missouri — The Warrensburg Coal Mine at Carbon Hill caught fire in the main shaft while fifteen men were in the mine. Seven of the men succeeded in getting out by clinging to the ropes of an ascending car, although they were badly burned; but the remainder were forced to remain in the mine until the fire was extinguished, when they were rescued in a more or less injured condition, the foreman, Mr. Halvey, probably fatally. Source document 
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| 1878 |
Fairlawn and Pine Brook Mine Inundations, Scranton, Pennsylvania — During a fierce rainstorm, flooding the streams causing considerable havoc along their banks. An obstruction in Pine Brook, a small stream flowing through the Seventh Ward, caused it to flood the flats near the mouth of Fairlawn Colliery, and rise nearly 20 feet above the usual level. The embankment dividing the brook from the colliery was swept away, and the imprisoned volume of water poured in a wild torrent down the slope into the mine, where about 50 men and boys were at work. The rush of the water cut a great gap in the surrounding embankment and carried with it lumber and debris of all kinds. The miners were panic-stricken by the appearance of the sweeping torrent, which threatened them with death, and they rushed about in terror. At last they ascertained that an opening led to the adjacent Pine Brook Mine, of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, and so they made their way in that direction through the rising water. They found the Pine Brook mine also flooding but reached a mule-way that led out by means of a narrow slope, and so came to the surface in safety. A still more exciting scene was going on in the chambers of the Pine Brook Mine, which, being lower than the Fairlawn, invited the rush of the flood. The men were working at the lowest point, and about 400 feet from the foot of the shaft, when the current came upon them with a roar that struck dismay to every heart and made stout men who had met many a danger before cry like children. The railroad was raised to the surface of the water. One brave miner named John B. Davis sought to save an old man and two boys, and nobly aided them up the incline that the torrent ran down. At last one of the boys, a mule-driver, named Frank Fasold, was swept from his grasp, and carried off in the darkness. He perished. Davis nobly endeavored to save him but in vain. He clung to his other charges, however, and brought them out safely, all escaping through the mule-way. A number of narrow escapes were recorded, but Fasold's was the only life lost. Several families living near the scene narrowly escaped the dangers of the flood, which entered their dwellings, and some were rescued in boats. The banks of the stream were lined with dead goats, hogs, and other animals. The storm also did considerable damage to a number of roads and bridges in that neighborhood. Source document
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| 1892 |
Norrie Mine No. 8 Shaft Cave-in, Ironwood, Michigan — Abraham Thompson was rescued alive from the fated Norrie mine at 10 a.m., a day later. He was uninjured but was so fearfully scared by his — thirty hour — imprisonment that he could scarcely speak. He was in a "room" by himself and didn't know where the other ten men were.
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| 1894 |
Northwest Colliery Cave-in, Carbondale, Pennsylvania — The four miners who were entombed in the Northwest Colliery of Simpson & Watkins, near Carbondale, were rescued 57 hours after having been buried alive. The rescued men were Thomas Mitchell, John J. Fanning, Andrew Clopposky and George Barney. Their experience was one of the most remarkable in the history of the coal regions. As the rescuer's pick made a hole through the wall the men inside cried, "Give us some water, for the love of God! We are dying!" The rescuers had everything ready to aid the men and passed in a little weak tea and whisky, cautioning them to drink moderately, fearing ill effects after their long abstinence. After wetting their parched throats with the liquid, for they could not swallow at first, the men begged for food, but this was refused them, and the rescuers continued to break through until the hole bad been sufficiently enlarged to enable one of them to crawl through and into the little chamber where the entombed men were lying. Considering that they had been without food or water and with impure air for nearly sixty hours, the men were in good condition and, after being fed and resting at the bottom of the shaft for some time, they regained considerate strength and were able to talk. Source document
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| 1895 |
Hillside Company Mine Lost Person, Avoca, Pennsylvania — William Sanderson, aged 14 years, had been working three days in the Slope of the Hillside Company's mine at Avoca, when he was sent in the mine to notify the men that there would be no more work for the day. In trying to make his way to where the men were, he entered one of the former workings and lost his way. He traveled all night and was found the next morning by a searching party after an undisclosed period. His clothes were all torn in his attempt to climb out. The searching party was headed by superintendent Thomas H. Evans, who worked energetically all night and prevented work in the mine until the boy was found. Source document
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| 1897 |
Williamson County Mine Explosion, Johnston City, Illinois — Fifteen wounded miners, two of whom later died, were rescued from the smoke and flames after an undisclosed period.
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| 1899 |
Michael Oroko was rescued from a mine breech near Shenandoah, Pennsylvania after an undisclosed period. The breech was sixty feet deep with perpendicular sides thwarting his ability to climb out. His plight was discovered by a miner returning home from work. Oroko was almost dead when taken out suffering from hunger, thirst, and exposure. He was forced to stand in knee-deep water the entire time he was confined. Source document
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| 1902 |
Stafford Mine Explosion, Stafford, West Virginia — Six badly wounded miners were rescued after an undisclosed period and placed under the care of Mine Superintendent Stewart. Several others were also hurt in the incident. The most serious cases were sent to the hospital.
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| Big Four Mine Explosion, Algoma, West Virginia — H. F. Frankenfeld, a mine boss, and Geo. Gaspie, a Hungarian miner, succeeded in crawling over fallen coal and slate after the explosion to the lights of the rescuing party and were taken out alive although burned and nearly suffocated by the gas and smoke inhaled.
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| 1904 |
Unnamed Anthracite Coal Mine Cave-in, Kingston, Pennsylvania — William Watkins, 24, coal miner, rescued Brinley R. Davis, 22, mine car tender; Rees J. Williams, 19, driver, and Joseph Winchent, 45, coal miner, in a mine, Kingston, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1904. Watkins successively took the men from the place of an explosion, where there was imminent danger of the roof falling, to a position of safety. William Watkins was bestowed the Carnegie Hero Award for his efforts.
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| 1905 |
Joe Oinesky was trapped under a fall of coal for 14 hours in the North End Coal Company's mine near Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was finally released after forty carloads of coal and rock were dug from around him. Remarkably he was saved from injury by the fact that two big slabs of rock formed a sort of tent over him. Source document
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| Kirtley Mine Cave-in, Georgetown, Colorado — After men worked continuously for 44 hours, John O'Day was rescued from a perilous position in the Kirtley mine at Georgetown, Colorado, where he had been confined without light, food or water. O'Day seemed none the worse for his long confinement. He wanted to walk to town but a carriage conveyed him to his hotel in Georgetown. This was the second experience of entombment for O'Day. He was confined once before for 36 hours. Source document
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| 1907 |
Unnamed Mine Rescue, Duluth, Minnesota — Paul Meliege was rescued from an unnamed mine near Duluth, Minnesota after an undisclosed period. He was 265 feet underground when he was caught in a sinking depression taking him down another 115 feet. When dragged out, Meliege fainted from exhaustion. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where it was said he would recover. Source document
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| California Winery Construction Cave-in, Winnehaven, California — After being buried for four hours beneath an immense cave-in on the side of a hill at Winnehaven, near Point Richmond, three workmen were dug out of their earthy prison in a terrible state of injury and exhaustion. Their names were E. Steele, C. Duggan, and P. O'Brien. The former was so badly crushed that he would probably die. The legs and arms of the others were broken, and they were bruised. They would recover, although they may be crippled for life. The men were engaged in blasting away part of a hill where the California Wine association was to build a winery and failed to reach a place of safety after lighting a fuse. The explosion tore away the side of the hill and buried the three men under a great mass of earth and rocks. When rescued they were more dead than alive. September 13, 1907 occurred on a Friday. Source document
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| 1908 |
Chauncey Colliery Cave-in, Avondale, Pennsylvania — After being entombed in a mine working for over ten hours, Andrew Harris, a miner, was rescued from under the debris in the Chauncey colliery, at Avondale. Harris was shut in by a fall of roof, and the miners had little hope of his being alive. Soon however, faint tappings from behind the debris told of his existence, and gangs of men were called to work on the fall. They worked without interruption till they could hear the voice of Harris directing them the way nearest to him. He was considerably exhausted when the last shovel of rock and coal was cleared off, but in a short time he felt as well as usual. Source document
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| 1911 |
Shakespeare Placer Mine Rescue, Dome Creek, Alaska — The fourteen miners entombed in the Shakespeare Placer gold mine cave-in at Dome Creek, Alaska were freed after 84 hours. The Keystone drill hole was enlarged by thawing until it was large enough to permit the body of a man to pass. Then the imprisoned miners were pulled up one after another 174 feet to the surface.
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| Morning Star Mine Cave-in, Leadville, Colorado — Fred Caski, Andrew Perle, and Nat Jacobson, the miners who were imprisoned in the Morning Star mine for sixty hours as the result of a cave-in were rescued. Their rescue was effected through a hole made in the obstruction in the shaft. Source document
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| 1912 |
Boston Colliery Water Rescue, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania — While repairing a sluiceway at the Boston colliery of the Delaware and Hudson Company, James Lawson was nearly drowned when the pumps of the mines began to work, sending great quantities of water into the sluiceway. As he attempted to make his escape, Lawson became fastened in the woodwork and water was creeping gradually up about him. The force of the pump was terrific, and as it reached its highest speed, Lawson was hurled from his fastening and carried away in the overflow water. He was almost dead when rescued, but first-aid work restored him to consciousness. Source document
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| Bolan-Darnell Mine Explosion & Fire, Craig, Oklahoma — Imprisoned for sixteen hours in the burning Bolan-Darnell mine at Craig, Oklahoma, Frank Spanevelli was taken out alive. He was badly burned but would recover. The body of Antonio Piatza was found not far from the cave-in where Spanevelli was found. They were the only two men in the mine when it caught fire after an explosion. Source document
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| Central Coal Mine No. 42 Cave-in, Wier, Kansas — Antonio Mullain, a miner who was imprisoned in the Central Coal Company's mine No. 42 was rescued following an undisclosed period after the rescue party had dug through twenty feet of solid coal. Mullain's worst injury was a broken leg. Source document
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| Mocanaqua Colliery Explosion, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania — Five employees were seriously burned by an explosion of gas at the Mocanaqua Colliery. Details of the accident were meagre, and repeated telephone calls to the company's office failed to elicit the character or identity of the man's injuries. The men were removed from the colliery in ambulances, and it was said two of them were on their way to the Nanticoke Hospital. Two victims reached the City Hospital, Walter Doeoznski, 27, and William Blakeslee. The company did not announce the names of the others. Source document
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| 1913 |
Valley Crystal Ice and Storage Co. Lost Person, Charleroi, Pennsylvania — Fred Lambert, aged 23, became lost in the coal mine of the Valley Crystal Ice and Storage Company and wandered a day and night in the mine without sleep or anything to eat before by accident he stumbled into the right entry to find himself in the arms of friends who had gone to search for him. Source document
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| 1914 |
Cave-in at Centennial Gold Mine, Eureka, Utah — Twelve men were imprisoned. One man was rescued by company men, who, in seven hours, drove a drift 15 feet in country rock without shooting. Source document 1  Source document 2
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| Rockwood Mine Explosion, Rockwood, Tennessee — The explosion killed one miner, and another miner was overcome while trying to escape. An apparatus crew of four company men several hours later advanced 1,000 feet, rescued this miner, and carried him to fresh air, where he quickly revived.
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| Alderson Mine Cave-in, Placerville, California — William Williams, a miner, who was buried alive by a cave-in at the Alderson Mine, was dug out safe and sound after having been imprisoned for 12 hours. He had plenty of air to breathe at all times and was not cramped for space in which to stretch his limbs. A hole large enough for a man to crawl through was dug through fifteen feet of gravel and Williams crawled to liberty by means of it. Source document
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| 1915 |
Rahn Colliery Explosion, Coaldale, PA — On September 27, an explosion caused a rush of water and coal which cut off and entombed 11 men. Two of the men were rescued 12 hours after the disaster, but the others were not reached until October 3, after an imprisonment of 6 days and 5 hours. Three hundred men working 3 shifts per day drove the tunnel to reach the trapped miners. Source document 1 Source document 2
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| Logan Coal Company Mine Explosion, Hanna City, Illinois — Seventy-five miners who were imprisoned by a fall of rock caused by the explosion were rescued after several hours of desperate work. Immediately following the explosion, fire broke out in the mine a mile from the shaft and 250 feet below ground where the accident occurred, and for two hours it was feared the entombed would be burned to death. Deceased in the accident were Martin Perrit and Frank Robinson who were shot firers in the act of setting off a charge when the explosion occurred. Source document
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| Archbald Colliery Roof Fall, Archbald, Pennsylvania — Twenty-seven hours of imprisonment behind hundreds of tons of rock ended for four miners in the Archbald Coal Company's colliery who had been trapped by an extensive fall of roof. One-half slice of bread was all the food the four men had in more than thirty hours. They divided that before their matches gave out. A little cold coffee in their dinner buckets was all they had to drink, and that, too, they divided. But they are hardy men and strong and used to exposure. And when they were hauled to the surface over a 3,000-foot slope that tops the vein they were penned in, they leaped from the mine cars and half ran to the company's office. Source document
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| 1916 |
Jacob Dixon and William Gammell became enclosed by a rush of coal in the Good Spring Colliery of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company near Tremont, Pennsylvania. After five hours, Dixon succeeded in getting into a blind heading where he was rescued. They were engaged in the hazardous work of "robbing pillars." No further news could be found regarding the rescue of William Gammell. His survival was unlikely. Source document
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| 1917 |
Empire Mine Asphyxiations, Grass Valley, California — James Harris. Nick Fungus and a third miner named Eldridge were rescued after an undisclosed period from the workings of the Empire Mine, where they had been overcome by gas when a large rock fell on the air pipe valve, cutting off their supply of fresh air. All three were removed to their homes and it was believed they would recover. Source document
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| 1918 |
Coon Hollow Mine Explosion, Pikeville, Kentucky — Seven miners trapped in the Coon Hollow Coal Company's mine near Pikeville were rescued after an undisclosed period. They were imprisoned behind a wall of fire caused by a gas explosion. Source document
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| Vindicator Mine Cave-in, Victor, Colorado — J. Anderson, a machine drill miner, employed at the Hull City property of the Vindicator mine, was caught by a cave-in of rocks while working at a station on the sixth level. Rescue work was immediately started, and after three hours of labor, communication was established with Anderson, who was uninjured save for minor contusions. An air pipe was forced through the debris, and the rescue party got Anderson out. Source document
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| 1919 |
Abandoned Rudisill Mine Shaft Fall of Person, Charlotte, North Carolina — After his fall to the bottom and being trapped all night and half a day, Miles Pegram was pulled from the 36-foot Rudisill gold mine shaft. Nearby residents who heard his calls went to his rescue and sent ropes down and hauled him to the top. He was not injured. Mr. Pegram was in the vicinity of the old mine, when he stepped into some honeysuckle vines and fell. Before he could recover, he had plunged into the hole and went to the bottom. At police headquarters it was said the entrance to the shaft was so hidden by the growth of vines that it was not surprising than an accident had come. Source document
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| 1920 |
William Penn Colliery Cave-in, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania — Martin Becker was rescued from his entrapment after an undisclosed period from a cave-in at the William Penn Colliery in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. Felix Mack, a co-worker of Becker, was probably responsible for saving the life of a driver who was bringing a trip of cars into the gangway. Mack saw the fall was coming and flagged off the driver. Source document
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| 1921 |
Coalbrook Mine Cave-in, Carbondale, Pennsylvania — Peter Sufjack and Stanley Falosky, two of the four miners entombed for twenty-four hours in the Coalbrook mine of the Hudson Coal Company at Carbondale were rescued alive at noon today. William Morcum and Dominick Alving, the other two miners were rescued alive earlier in the day. Source document
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| 1922 |
Seven miners were imprisoned for an undisclosed period following the Lake Creek Mine Explosion in Johnston City, Illinois, but were taken from the shaft by rescue teams hastily called. The seven men had taken refuge in another entry and by doing this prevented the gas from killing them.
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| Issaquah Mine Cave-in, Seattle, Washington — After being buried alive for 10 hours in the Issaquah mine, Mike Pedlock was back at work none the worse for his experience. While working in a coal chute, Pedlock was caught by an avalanche of coal that burled the entrance to the chute forty feet deep. Although sure that he had been killed by the slide, his comrades worked unceasingly to rescue him. About dark they broke through the wall and found Pedlock. A crevice in the chute had admitted plenty of air, and hunger was the only inconvenience he had suffered. Source document
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| 1923 |
Turkey Run Colliery Cave-in, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania — Joseph Bartinsavage, a contract miner at Turkey Run Colliery, had a narrow escape from being buried alive when he was closed in behind a heavy fall of coal and rock for almost six hours. Fellow workmen, at the risk of their lives, owing to the top continually caving in, finally rescued him, only slightly injured. Source document
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| 1924 |
William Penn Colliery Rescue, Mount Carmel, PA — Anthony Stervis, 41, was found nearly frozen in an abandoned breast of the William Penn mine after he went missing for nearly a day. From what could be learned, Stervis, who was a night shift employee at the mine, had attended a funeral the day before where he was said to have taken several drinks of hootch. When found, he was completely naked and suffering from exposure. An examining physician said he was suffering from the cold, had several minor cuts, and appeared to be in a semi-demented condition. Source document
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| 1926 |
Tahona No. 29 Mine Explosion, Tahona, Oklahoma — After about 3 hours, George Adams saved himself and three workmen, including Sam Cox. Cox was burned and was bleeding about the body. Adams dragged him through the debris to the surface and then returned for the two other men. At another location, Lee Carter was almost overcome by gas fumes when a rescue party carried him to safety.
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| G. Pabst Iron Mine Rescue, Ironwood, Michigan — 43 miners were rescued after nearly — 6 days — of imprisonment more than 700 feet underground in the G. Pabst iron mine near Ironwood, Michigan. The hero of the disaster was Captain Thomas Trewartha, their 67-year-old mine boss who displayed courage and kept the men cheerful throughout their ordeal. On June 23, 1927, Thomas Trewartha was given the Joseph A. Holmes medal for heroism at the banquet of the Lake Superior Mining section of the National Safety council. Source document 1 Source document 2
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| 1927 |
Brindle Mine Asphyxiation, Latrobe, Pennsylvania — N. Mack Morley lay for 6 hours in the Brindle mine before he was finally rescued. Fastened together with a rope so that if one of their number was overcome by the treacherous blackdamp the others could drag him, three members of a rescue crew, succeeded in getting through the pocket of gas which for hours had baffled their efforts to rescue Morley. Working as quickly as possible, the first man in the chain passed his arms under the prostrated man and he was dragged to safety. The successful rescue attempt had been preceded by a number of futile efforts to reach the miner. The chain of men which finally succeeded in making the rescue was composed of: Kermit Topper, Andy Hefflefinger, and Floyd Hefflefinger, with the latter in the lead. Morley was unconscious when rescued. He was placed in Gosnell's ambulance and rushed to the Latrobe hospital. Source document
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| Clarence Lozier Mine Cave-in, New Derry, Pennsylvania — Benjamin Rosman, a miner employed at the Clarence Lozier mine at New Derry suffered a fracture of his right leg and had an artificial leg smashed off near the hip when he and his brother William Rosman were caught under a ton of rock which fell from the roof. William suffered a fracture of the right ankle. Both men were brought to the Latrobe hospital after an undisclosed period. Benjamin had just raised his pick into the air to test the roof when the huge rock fell without warning, pinning both men beneath it. Source document
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| Mather Mine Lost Person, Mather, Pennsylvania — Earnest Grewshock, aged 44, was rescued by a searching party after being lost for 18 hours in the Mather mine. He appeared none the worse for his experience when brought to the surface. Source document
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| 1929 |
Terrible Edith Mine Fire, Murray, Idaho — Three miners were rescued from the Terrible Edith silver-lead mine. They had been trapped for several hours by fire which swept the mine portal. Rescuers from the Hecla Mine reached the imprisoned men who were crouched behind a barricade. Source document
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| Calaveras Copper Mine Cave-in, Copperopolis, California — Tons of rock loosened in a cave-in on the 1450-foot level of the Calaveras Copper Company at Copperopolis trapped five men. An hour later, one miner had been rescued, crushed badly but alive. J. Davis, shift boss, began immediate rescue operations, and sent word to Angles camp for physicians and other medical assistance. Miners returning to the top works in the 1450-foot level, report hearing screams and groans of one of the trapped men. Others, they fear, were killed. Source document
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| Buck Mountain Colliery Cave-in, Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania — Buried alive in a sitting position for twelve hours, Edward Warning, a miner, spent the time while waiting for what seemed certain death for himself in a futile struggle to keep alive one of his mates, the foreman of a crew of six men, trapped by a cave-in here yesterday. After a frantic struggle rescuers finally reached the buried men. Warning and another worker, Edward Mokaitis, were still alive, but William Wolfgang and three others were dead. Warning was working beside Wolfgang, the foreman, when the cave-in occurred as the men were setting tunnel supports in the south side of the Buck Mountain colliery workings of the Lehigh Valley Company. A fallen timber held Warning down, but he was kept free of the clay by the collar of the timbers set. During the hours in which the rescuers were digging, Warning could reach Wolfgang, who was almost buried, with more earth sliding on him. Warning managed to keep clay brushed away from the foreman's nose and mouth to permit him to breathe, but after hours of this struggle in their tomb Wolfgang died from internal injuries. It was some time after Wolfgang died that the rescuers reached the buried men, but before that time they had heard the voice of the miner trying to encourage the man under the earth beside him. Warning, who was 42, was in the Locust Mountain Hospital on the road to recovery. Mokaitis, the other man rescued, was caught only by the tail end of the fall, suffering a dislocated shoulder and head injuries. He was at Ashland Hospital. Source document
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| Aladdin Divide Mine Cave-in, Chico, California — Charles Ernest Richards was rescued from a cave-in in the Aladdin Divide Mine near Chico. From his bed in the Enloe Hospital, Mr. Richards yesterday expressed his intention of returning to the project whereby only a few inches he escaped meeting death with Jess C. Burton, a fellow employe, beneath a mass of love rock. Held a prisoner for at least half an hour when a huge boulder pinned his arm and leg down. Mr. Richards related how he lay in the tunnel, 400 feet from the portal and hundreds of feet below the mountain side, fearing that each moment would bring another cave-in that would crush the life from him as the first one had his fellow worker. So hoarse from continually crying out for help that he could hardly talk above a whisper. For what seemed to him a matter of hours, but which later proved to be about half an hour, he lay in the shaft, hoping that each moment would bring rescuers. His cries for help were not heard until Emil Shultz, a fellow employe, heard him. Source document
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| 1930 |
Red Ash Colliery Cave-in, Plymouth, Pennsylvania — Nine men were trapped yesterday at the Plymouth Red Ash Colliery by a cave-in and excitement ran high as reports of loss of life spread. A crowd outside the slope waited anxiously for news from the inside until officials calmed their fears with the prediction that there were probably no fatalities. The entombed men were released uninjured after being imprisoned a few hours. Excellent rescue facilities were responsible for the quick delivery. New forces of men were put to work after the rescue clearing away the debris. Timber men following them restored damaged props. Source document
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| 1931 |
Aukstock Carter, 30, was rescued after an undisclosed period following a cave-in in an unnamed coal mine near Charleston, West Virginia. His rescue came after company physician, Dr. W. B. Davis, amputated his right arm. Source document
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| 1932 |
Unnamed Mine Cave-in, Redding, California — Happy Holbrook, 42, a miner, was released from a 40-ton rock trap which kept him imprisoned for more than 12 hours while a crew of men worked frantically to release him. Holbrook suffered no serious injury from the accident, with the exception of a severely pinched leg. While excavating at the mine, a large quantity of dirt gave way, causing the heavy rock to pin him down. He was fed during the work of releasing him, and chatted cheerfully with the rescue crew. Source document
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| 1933 |
Truesdale Colliery Inundation, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania — After a 14-hour entrapment, four miners dug through cave-ins and waded through neck-deep water to reach rescue from the flooded Truesdale Colliery. Source document
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| 1934 |
Independent Anthracite Mine Cave-in, Turkey Run, Pennsylvania — John Birchess, 22, was rescued after being trapped for four hours in a coal hole near Turkey Run. He was covered almost to the neck, suffering injuries of the left chest, left hip, both knees and legs. He was removed to the Locust Mountain Hospital, where his condition was said to be serious. Birchess was working an "independent" mine hole with his partner when he was caught by a fall of dirt and rock. Source document
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| Independent Anthracite Mine Cave-in, Wiggans, Pennsylvania — Michael Mensick, 32, of Shenandoah, was at work in an independent mine operation near Wiggans when he was buried
under a rush of rock and debris. Fellow workmen quickly effected rescue of the unfortunate miner, but not before he had suffered severe head and chest injuries. He was taken to the Locust Mountain state hospital, at Shenandoah, for treatment. Source document
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| 1936 |
Macbeth Mine Explosion, Logan, West Virginia — An explosion of gas and dust resulted in the death of 10 men, and the injury of one man by afterdamp. This man was rescued after an undisclosed period and revived. The explosion was restricted to 12 and 13 Right entries. Gas had accumulated near the face of room 14, 13 Right entry, when a door was left open. An arc from a splice in the cable of a cable-reel locomotive ignited the gas, and dust propagated the explosion. Its spread was stopped by rock dust placed in the entries some months earlier and by a pool of water on 12 right. Cause of Explosion: Ignition of gas by a cable reel locomotive.
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| 1937 |
Jermyn Mine Cave-in, Scranton, Pennsylvania — John Wannish, 28, was rescued after being entombed in the
Jermyn Mine of the Hudson Coal Company for an undisclosed period. Four other workers trapped with Wannish were brought to the surface the night before. Suffering from head injuries, Wannish was taken to Carbondale Hospital. Source document
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| Bootleg Anthracite Mine Cave-in, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania — Two miners entombed overnight in a mine air hole on the mountainside four miles south of Tamaqua, were rescued. William Lucas, 24, and Kenneth Lutz, 23, protesting that they were "all right," were rushed to a hospital for observation immediately after a rescue squad dug through the last of tons of rock to reach them. Lutz and Lucas, accompanied by a third miner whose name was not learned went out to the mountain hoping to find a vein of coal. Lutz and Lucas entered an air hole on the mountain, the third man, who remained on the surface, gave the alarm after a cave-in closed the entrance to the hole. Source document
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| Bootleg Anthracite Mine Cave-in, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania — Entombed 7 hours his first day in a bootleg coal hole operated by his three sons, Steven Koperna, 57, was rescued alive from his underground prison near Pine Knot Colliery in the Heckscherville Valley. Koperna was walled in when the workings collapsed. He was reported slightly injured, taken immediately to the Good Samaritan Hospital in Pottsville, to be treated for shock and exposure. Koperna said: From the time I was trapped until I was rescued, I prayed to God to save me and I promised Him I would never work another day in a bootleg coal hole. Now that I'm rescued alive, I thank God for my rescue and I'm going to keep my promise." Source document
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| Bootleg Anthracite Mine Cave-in, Grier City, Pennsylvania — Gus Sincavage was rescued after an undisclosed period after being caught under a fall of coal and rock while working in a bootleg mine in Grier City. He was taken to the Locust Mountain Hospital for treatment. Source document
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| Gowen Colliery Cave-in, Hazleton, Pennsylvania — Michael Kowalsky, a miner at the Gowen colliery of the Buck Mountain Coal Company, was rescued alive yesterday after being buried under a fall of coal for two hours. Hospital attaches said that he walked from an automobile into the Hazleton Hospital. He escaped with abrasions of the face, nose and legs. Source document
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| Badger mine Fall of Ground, Butte, Montana — William E. Church was rescued by fellow-workmen after being trapped for 15 hours by a fall of ground in the Badger mine. Church, with three companions, had been working on a sill over a fill stope, when the ground gave way. Church dropped 18 feet. His companions could hear his cries for help but could not see him. They gave reassurance as they worked. Church was protected by the timbers from rock and earth pressure. He was not injured. Source document
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| 1938 |
Oneida No. 1 Colliery Cave-in, Oneida, Pennsylvania — Andrew Kakley, 66, was rescued uninjured three hours after he was trapped behind a fall of coal and rock in the No. 13 east slope of No. 1 Colliery at Oneida, operated by the Maurie F. Coal Company. He was working with John Polegra and Steve Roble, both of whom were able to crawl to safety through an air hole. Their exit, however, which was on a steep pitch, was too much for the older member of the trio to navigate. Kakley was rescued by Andrew Mehalick. Source document
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| Phelps Dodge Mine Cave-in, Bisbee, Arizona — Thomas A. Hightower, 50, was recovering in Copper Queen Hospital after having been entombed for twelve hours by the collapse of timbers in the 900-foot level of the Phelps Dodge Mine. Hightower was working alone in the shaft, timbering a tunnel when a supporting wall gave way. Rescue crews dug him out unconscious. Source document
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| 1939 |
Bootleg Anthracite Mine Cave-in, Sheppton, Pennsylvania — Faust Bertie, 37, of Sheppton, was caught by a fall of coal and rock in an independent coal hole about 4 miles west of Sheppton, and was rescued a half hour later. He was given first aid treatment and then directed to enter the State Hospital for observation. His injuries were not regarded as serious. Bertie's plight was discovered by Adolph Ferrari, of Sheppton, who was walking by and heard the victim's moans. Help was immediately summoned and the rescue was affected by 4 more miners. Source document
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| Wanamie Colliery Cave-in, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania — Five mine workers caught behind a fall of roof yesterday in the Wanamie colliery, of the Glen Alden Coal Company, tapped an alarm by way of pipes and were rescued uninjured. The fall cut off the gangway of a slope and the five men were trapped back of the fall. The alarm signals given on water pipes were heard on the surface and within a short time a rescuing force started the work of clearing away the fall. While the rescuers worked, they kept up conversation with the trapped men, who were rescued after having been imprisoned about four hours. The trapped men were: Edward Makowski, assistant mine foreman; Stanley Symolzak, miner; his son, Edward, laborer; Edward McCloskev, miner; and Edward Wozniak, laborer. Source document
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| Bootleg Anthracite Mine Cave-in, Shamokin, Pennsylvania — Leon Landau, 38, was rescued alive after being entombed 10 hours in a narrow rock hole of the small mine he operated with Clarence Haertter. Following his rescue. Landau was taken to Shamokin Hospital, where surgeons said his right side was partially paralyzed. He was also suffering from shock. Surgeons said the injured man's condition was ''fair,'' and that barring the unexpected, he had a good chance for recovery. Source document
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| Unnamed Anthracite Mine Cave-in, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania — Rescue crews freed six miners two hours after they were trapped behind a rock fall deep in an anthracite mine. None was seriously injured. Source document
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| 1940 |
Bootleg Anthracite Mine Cave-in, Branchdale, Pennsylvania — Two Pine Grove miners were rescued alive after being trapped 15 hours in a bootleg mine operation near Branchdale. James Kimmerling, 50, and Rep Batz, 32, were found uninjured but suffering greatly from cold and shock after they had been trapped in cramped quarters following the fall of many tons of coal. The two miners were working in a gangway 20 feet in from the bottom of a shaft when the bottom fell out of their working place when it was driven into old workings. As the bottom dropped, the mine collapsed. Kimmerling and Batz stepped to a narrow ledge and clung there while rescuers worked 15 long hours to remove debris, place timber and reopen the workings to reach the trapped who aided by directing activities of the rescuers. Miners who assisted in timbering the old workings and driving a new tunnel to reach the men marveled they escaped with their lives. Source document
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| Silver King's Alliance Mine Cave-in, Park City, Utah — Nine miners from Park City were rescued unhurt from a cave-in in the Silver King's Alliance shaft. Everybody that was trapped was rescued alive, and all were unhurt. Apparently, they suffered little discomfort, except the mental anguish of being trapped underground. Sandwiches and coffee were lowered to them during the day through a narrow cut by rescuers. The men were 21 hours underground. The cave-in occurred when a waste chute collapsed between the 800 and 900-foot levels. Source document
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| 1941 |
Bootleg Anthracite Mine Cave-in, Brady, Pennsylvania — A crew of independent miners labored four hours before freeing Charles Madden, who was trapped in a bootleg coal mine near Brady, Pennsylvania. The accident victim at first was thought to be seriously injured, but after being examined at Shamokin Hospital was allowed to return to his home. He sustained bruises of the legs. Fellow workmen said Madden was trapped by a fall of rock and that he was covered to the waist. Working carefully, a rescue crew succeeding in extricating Madden without causing further falls. Source document
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| 1942 |
Edy Creek Colliery Cave-in, Olyphant, Pennsylvania — Peter Partonova, 24, was rescued from behind a 50-foot wall of rock 700 feet below the earth's surface. He was confined there for 15 hours. Partonova was working in a chamber a mile and a half from the base of the Edy Creek Colliery shaft when the rock roof collapsed. Partonova shouted directions to a rescue squad of 25 men all through the night. He was without food, but had water and lights, which were dimming as he was released. He was transported to the Mid-Valley Hospital where he was being treated for shock. Source document
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| 1943 |
Rescuers freed six miners after an undisclosed period following an explosion at the Three Point Coal Company mine in southeast Kentucky. Twelve miners perished in the accident; 3 directly by the explosion and 9 others found huddled together, overcome by gases. The six rescued miners had traveled one mile further into the mine where they constructed a barricade. Source document
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| Primrose Colliery Explosion, Primrose, Pennsylvania — After an undisclosed period following the explosion, nine injured men were removed from the mine and taken to a hospital in nearby Pottsville. Most of them were suffering from burns, bruises and shock. Only one of these, James Connelly, was believed to be in serious condition.
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| 1947 |
Well Cave-in Rescue, Warner, New Hampshire — Norman Wood, 23-year-old war veteran, was
rescued from an 18-foot well after being buried up to his waist for 22 hours by a cave-in. Trapped while working in the well, Woods was pinned at the bottom of the pit and held prisoner for all the day and night before. When finally rescued by 300 volunteer workers, Woods was taken 18 miles to the Margaret Pillsbury hospital in Concord, where he was determined to be in fair condition. Source document
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| 1951 |
Vesta No. 5 Mine Roof Fall, Vestaburg, Pennsylvania — Though he was almost completely buried from a fall of slate in the Vesta No. 5 mine of the Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, Harry Layhew, 28, only suffered a back injury. Fellow workmen dug him out of the slate after an undisclosed period and transferred him to the Brownsville hospital. He was admitted there after treatment but his condition was not listed as serious. Source document
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| 1955 |
Pioneer Mine Cave-in, Ely, Minnesota — A cave-in occurred in one of the deepest underground iron mines in the world entombing Albert Marolt, 41, and Tokvo Hill, 55. The miners were rescued from the Oliver Mining Company's Pioneer Mine after being trapped for 20 hours. Also missing in the mine was Joe Glinsek. Workers said there was no chance he was still alive. Source document
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| 1957 |
Marianna No. 58 Mine Explosion, Marianna, Pennsylvania — Six miners were rescued from the exploded and burning mine after more than 8 hours. Shortly after noon, telephone lines were dropped to the men at the foot of the portal shaft. The miners said they all were burned, one so badly he could take liquids only through a straw. Blankets, first aid equipment and oxygen tanks were then lowered by rope. The first of the trapped miners was brought to the surface in a makeshift oil drum elevator at 2:10 p.m. At half-hour intervals, five other survivors were lifted to safety in the drums.
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| International Salt Mine Hoist Accident, Detroit, Michigan — A safety saving device was credited with saving the lives of six men who fell 200 feet down a mine shaft when a hoist cable snapped. The device was a set of clamps installed in the 1,200-foot shaft of the International Salt Company mine in the downriver area near the Ford Rouge plant. A cage carrying the men back to the surface plunged downward again when a cable snapped. The safety clamps stopped the fall at the 900-foot level but it took five hours to complete the rescue. None of the workers were injured, despite their harrowing experience. Source document
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| 1961 |
Independent Anthracite Mine Cave-in, Aristes, Pennsylvania — Robert Hampton, Jr., 35, was rescued by fellow workers after being buried more than 3 hours under a fall of rock and coal in an independent mine on Aristes Mountain. Hampton was trapped under the fall while dressing down the top. Within several minutes of the fall, they uncovered Hampton's face enabling him to breathe. Hampton was first taken to his home and then a brother, Wilham, drove him to Ashland Hospital. Hospital attaches said he sustained multiple contusions and abrasions of the body. His condition was described as good. Source document
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| 1962 |
Williamson Coal Mine Fall of Person, Valley View, Pennsylvania — William Klinger, 36, was listed in guarded condition in Geisinger Medical Center where he was admitted with a fractured skull, leg, ribs and possible internal injuries. Klinger suffered the injuries in a 40-foot fall down a mine shaft at the Williamson Coal Company in Valley View, Pennsylvania. Source document
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| 1963 |
Abandoned Spring Hill Mine Entrapment, Grizzly Gulch, Montana — Two Helena teenagers were rescued when they became trapped in an abandoned 100-foot-deep glory hole left from a surface mining operation in a gulch above Helena. They were stranded about 2 hours. Dean White, 16, and Bob Safford, 14, had climbed to the bottom of the pit and got about half-way up and could climb no further. Safford said another youth, Bob Olson, had gone down into the hole with them but was still at the bottom and was able to climb out a different way to get help. Two other youths arrived before the rescue party and pulled White out with a rope. The rescuers described the so-called glory hole, at least 50 feet in diameter, as studded with hanging rocks and ledges all the way down. It was located at the old Spring Hill Mine, about six miles south of Helena in Grizzly Gulch. Safford was the son of State Veterinarian Dr. John Safford. The youth said he and his companions had been out exploring. Source document
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| 1964 |
Nuclear Test Site Entrapment, Mercury, Nevada — The last of four men trapped in an 1,800-foot-deep
test hole was hoisted to the surface. All were in good condition. They had been lowered fresh food and other supplies throughout their three and one-half-day ordeal at the Nevada nuclear test site. Last to come up was George R. Cooper, of Tucson. Arizona. The others, rescued earlier were Floyd Shaw, Leland Roeder, and Art Luhnow. They were stranded when a thick cable, being installed to link instruments in the underground nuclear blast chamber fell into a spaghetti-like tangle — Jamming the shaft. Workmen, toiling around the clock finally cleared the cable, restored the elevator to operating condition, and began bringing up the quartet. Source document
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| 1968 |
Somerset Mine Roof Fall, Somerset, Colorado — John W. Southerland was rescued following a roof fall in the United States Steel Corporation's Somerset Mine. Southerland said he was trapped among the rocks for about 45 minutes before two fellow workers, Chuck Woodburn and Jim Pavisik, dug him out. Four others were killed in the accident.
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| 1970 |
Richard Owens was rescued 10 hours after being trapped in mud and rock up to his neck in the Ranchers Exploration and Development Corporation's Tungsten Mine. The mine is located in Vance County in north-central North Carolina, near the Virginia border. Source document
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| 1971 |
Abandoned Mine Cave-in, Shawnee, Ohio — Two youths trapped in an abandoned mine shaft for more than two hours Were rescued by a special mine rescue team headed by State Mine Inspector Ralph Dean of Glouster. The youths were identified as Alan Foley, 14, and Kenneth Eugene Gottke, 17, both of Shawnee. They were trapped in an old truck mine on the Dave Lewis property some 300 feet deep in the shaft and 100 feet to the south of the main shaft in a small chamber. When the pair had gone further into the mine to retrieve equipment, there was a huge rumble and the whole front of the mine shaft caved in. — Rescuers uncovered some heavy rocks from the small slit entrance and were able to talk to the youths and to urge them to crawl "with precaution" toward them. Gottke sustained a minor cut on the left forearm and Foley received a bump on the head. Source document
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| 1975 |
Abandoned Mine Fall of Person, Dallas, Georgia — Gary Holcomb, 22, was riding through woods in Paulding County when he went over a small bluff and found himself heading straight down into a 65-foot-deep abandoned Coppermine shaft. Rescue workers who spent two hours Monday pulling Holcomb from the mine shaft, said, "I don't see how it didn't kill him." Holcomb suffered a broken arm, a severe burn on his ankle, cuts, and bruises. Source document
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| 1977 |
Abandoned Mine Fall of Person, Prosperity, Missouri — A rural Joplin youth emerged with only minor bruises after a 60-foot tumble down an abandoned mine shaft. Kevin Rumble, 15, spent about an hour trapped in the water-filled old shaft before rescue workers retrieved him by rope. Rumble and another youth were exploring the area around the shaft, when Rumble slipped and plummeted into water about 60 feet from the top of the 140-foot shaft. Clinging to some old boards, he managed to keep himself above water while his friend flagged down a passerby in a dune buggy. The motorist tossed a rope down to Rumble, then attached the other end to his vehicle until rescue workers arrived. A Jasper County Deputy Sheriff was lowered by rope into the shaft to retrieve the youth, who was then taken to a Joplin Hospital for examination. Preliminary reports showed a possible broken rib, but no other serious injuries. Source document
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| 1983 |
Abandoned Gold Mine Fall of Person, Kings Mountain, North Carolina — An 18-year-old man rappelling down the side of a deserted gold mine shaft lost his grip on his rope and fell 40 feet to the bottom of the pit. Kings Mountain Rescue Squad members spent an hour checking over Edward Allender, then tied him into a wire basket stretcher and hauled him 60 feet to the top of the mine shaft. Allender was taken to Kings Mountain Hospital, complaining of hip and leg injuries. The hospital refused to release his condition. Source document
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| 1986 |
Abandoned Mine Cave-in, Pilot Knob, Missouri — About 30 tons of rock fell onto a teen-age boy in an abandoned mine, and rescuers using heavy equipment took more than 17 hours to roll a boulder aside to free him. Gerald Dwayne Easter, 17, was freed and flown to St Mary's Health Center in Richmond Heights, a St Louis suburb, where he was listed in serious but stable condition after surgery. Easter became trapped in the mine on Pilot Knob Mountain when a shaft wall collapsed and the boulder fell on his legs, said Don Wynn, the Pilot Knob fire chief. Source document
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| 1989 |
Joshua Dennis, a 10-year-old gone missing from a Boy Scout exploring trip, was rescued after nearly one week from the abandoned Hidden Treasure Mine near Stockton, Utah. The boy was found by a Utah Power and Light Company mine rescue team, ranked among the best teams in the country. Source document
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| TM Coal Company Mine Roof Fall, Pikeville, Kentucky — A Pike County coal miner, trapped for five hours by a roof fall, emerged unharmed after rescuers dug through a thick pile of rocks and coal with their hands. Herman Coleman, 41, drove home after being rescued from the TM Coal Co. mine. It's kind of hard to explain," said Coleman, who had been working at the mine just two days. "It's just one of those things that will happen to miners as long as we work underground." He was operating a coal-cutting machine when a section of the roof fell. Coleman was examined by emergency medical technicians at the scene, given a clean bill of health and then allowed to drive home. Source document
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| 1990 |
High Splint Mine No. 1 Roof Fall, Cloverlick, Kentucky — Two miners were injured and trapped in a roof fall at a mine in Harlan County, but one was rescued a few hours later, officials said. Rescuers pulled one man from the underground mine, but the other, a foreman, was still trapped last night and authorities could not make voice contact with him. The roof fall occurred at the High Splint No. 1 underground mine at Cloverlick. The mine, run by Arch Mineral's subsidiary Arch of Kentucky, is about one mile south of Southeast Community College in Cumberland. The miner who was rescued was identified as a roof-bolter operator, Elmo Banks, age unknown. Banks was conscious when pulled from the mine. He had been talking to rescuers before being freed and had said that the foreman was alive. Banks was to be taken by helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. His condition was not available. Source document
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| 1991 |
Unnamed Abandoned Noncoal Mine Rescue, Tooele County, Utah — Terry Blackburn, 16, of South Jordan was hiking with two friends after dark to camp near the rim of the Kennecott pit. Around 10:30 or midnight Blackburn stumbled 20-30 feet into a 4-foot-wide ventilation shaft. His friends summoned help, but were unable to relocate the shaft for some time. Blackburn was not rescued until 5:25 a.m. He suffered a broken leg, four broken teeth, and cuts and bruises. Source document
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| 2003 |
Abandoned Mine Shaft Rescue, Santa Fe, New Mexico — Rescuers hoisted a 27-year-old Santa Fe man out of an old mineshaft, more than 20 hours after he fell while climbing into the shaft. The man apparently injured his ankle during the fall but otherwise suffered only minor cuts and bruises. He was taken to St. Vincent Hospital for a routine checkup. The man's family looked on throughout the three-hour rescue operation. Ten yards from the hole, an old cotton-braid rope was tied off to a small shrub. The rope apparently broke after the man climbed into the shaft. Officials weren't sure how far he fell, but he was found at the bottom, about 115 feet down. Source document
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| 2007 |
Abandoned Mine Shaft Rescue, Chloride, Arizona — A 13-year-old girl who went missing while riding an all-terrain vehicle was found dead in a mine shaft while her 10-year-old companion was rescued with serious injuries. She was transferred to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas. Source document
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| 2008 |
Abandoned Mine Fall of Person, Sierra Vista, Arizona — A spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol said agents rescued a man who fell into an abandoned mine shaft in southern Arizona. Agency spokesman Rob Daniels said agents were patrolling south of Sierra Vista when they caught a group of 14 illegal immigrants. The immigrants told agents one of their group had fallen down a shaft. Daniels said agents and a local search and rescue crew found the mine and pulled the man to safety after an undisclosed period. The man suffered injuries to his legs, neck and back, but they weren't considered life-threatening. Source document
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| 2015 |
Abandoned Mine Rescue, Adelanto, California — After a man became trapped in an abandoned mine near Adelanto, California, the call was for a vertical shaft mine rescue. The subject was 40 feet down a shaft with a level adit that went on for 20 feet. He had hand over handed down a poly rope to see inside the mine. When his friends tied the rope to a quad and tried to pull him out, the rope broke. He fell a distance back down the shaft, landing on a pile of discarded mattresses at the bottom of the mine. Since vehicles could not access the shaft, equipment was hiked in and pickets were set up for anchors. An EMT from the San Bernardino Sheriff's Cave & Technical Rescue Team was lowered to bring the man to the surface. The subject was unhurt, and after a nearly 8 hour entrapment, he was raised in a harness and declined further treatment.
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| 2023 |
Abandoned Brewster Mine Rescue, Brewster, New York — A Somers man was rescued from a Brewster mineshaft after being trapped for over seven hours. The Brewster Fire Department said the man was exploring the mine with four friends when he became trapped after traveling too far. Brewster firefighters Pete Segreti and Keith Rusinko executed a high-angle rope rescue to return the man. The village still has several mines running underground which have been sealed up, the fire department said, but people sometimes still find ways to enter. Source document
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| Rescuer Deaths in September |
| 1869 |
Steuben Shaft Mine Fire, Plymouth, Pennsylvania — 108 miners were asphyxiated, 2 rescuers killed. Thomas W. Williams of Plymouth and David Jones of Grand Tunnel, entered what subsequently proved to them the pit of death.
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| 1879 |
Grizzly Mine Asphyxiations, Alta, Utah — Six men were asphyxiated in the Grizzly mine from carbon monoxide. Three of them were killed in an effort to rescue others. The cause of the accident is ascribed to smoke from the engine furnace on the tunnel level, the exit of which had become choked, and thereby smoke was driven back through the mine.
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| 1901 |
Packer No. 4 Mine Roof Fall, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania — Isaac James was killed while attempting to rescue 2 miners that were caught in a roof fall in the Packer No. 4 mine of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, a second fall occurred killing him instantly. Jeremiah Mahoney and Charles Lewis were timbering the Buck Mountain Slope when the initial fall of top rock nearly covered them. Source document
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| 1913 |
Mine Rescue Training Fatality, Rock Springs, Wyoming — On September 30, 1913, Edward Evans, an employee of the Bureau of Mines, lost his life during mine rescue maneuvers at a mine of the Union Pacific Coal Company, Rock Springs, Wyoming.
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| 1915 |
Alta-Quincy Tunnel Exploration, Salt Lake City, Utah — On September 17, 1915, Thomas Hendrickson, a foreman of the International Exploration Company, lost his life while wearing a Drager 2-hour oxygen breathing apparatus during an exploration in the Alta-Quincy tunnel, near Salt Lake City, Utah, leased by the Albion Mining Company.
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| 1936 |
Metz Coal Mine CO Asphyxiation, Fulton, Missouri — Columbia firemen were called to remove the four bodies and helped save a fifth worker who was in serious condition. Mine owner Louis Metz and his father-in-law were overcome by gas as they went into the mine to pump water. The miner's three younger brothers came to help and they too fell victim to the deadly gas. Source document
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| 1966 |
Morgan Mine Fire, St. Clairsville, Ohio — William Adams, 33, of Barnesville, Ohio, was outside when a fire broke out deep inside the Morgan Mine near Bethesda, Ohio. He ran into the mine and sounded the alarm. Counting only 12 men running out, he then went inside again in search of Keith Spicer, 22, of Dillonvale, Ohio, a miner for only two months, and Tony Territti, 43, of Wheeling. None of the three men surfaced from the mine.
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| 1979 |
In the process of testing a newly installed rescue capsule in the 335 foot shaft of Consolidation Coal Company's Mathies Mine in Peters Township, Washington County, PA, company safety inspector, John Marn, plunged 180 feet to his death after the capsule's coupling device broke. The Washington County Coroner, Farrell Jackson, ruled that Edward Nogal, federal mine inspector, was partially responsible for Marn's death. Source document
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| Mine Sinkhole Asphyxiation, Pleasant Hills, Pennsylvania — Bradford Scott Reed died attempting to save Kenneth D. Long from suffocation, Pleasant Hills, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1979. Kenneth, 14, using a rope, descended into a mine sinkhole 20 feet deep, where he was overcome by carbon dioxide and fell unconscious on a ledge near the bottom. Bradford, 16, high-school student, entered the hole and descended to Kenneth. While attempting to lift Kenneth, Bradford also was overcome. Both boys died. Bradford Scott Reed was posthumously awarded the Carnegie Hero Medal.
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| 1981 |
Warrier Gold Mine Explosion, Burgdorf, Idaho — After the explosion, Rocke Wilson and Ardy Johnson descended to search for two workman. Shortly thereafter, both men were suddenly overcome by carbon monoxide. Two hours later, the general partner and mine manager resumed the search. During this effort, Johnson was found 75 feet from the portal and Wilson was found 100 feet from the portal. Subsequent CPR attempts revived Wilson, but Johnson never regained consciousness.
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| 2001 |
JWR No. 5 Mine Explosions, Brookwood, Alabama — After communicating with the section foreman about the events of the initial blast in 4 Section, 3 other miners entered the 4 Section to rescue the remaining injured miner. Additional miners from other sections were notified and traveled toward 4 Section to lend assistance. Five of these miners entered the Section and another 4 reached the mouth of the 4 Section. The second explosion resulted in 12 fatalities and widespread destruction.
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