Amsterdam No. 2 Mine Fire

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Youghiogheny and Ohio Coal Company
Amsterdam No. 2 Mine Fire

Amsterdam, Jefferson County, Ohio
October 29, 1919
No. Killed - 20

Cause of Fire: Fire probably started by overheating or arcing of "booster" electric fan motor used underground. An electric generator operating a fan exploded and set fire to wood braces, about 200 feet from the elevator shaft. Eighteen men were trapped underground and two others lost their lives trying to save them.

The deceased:

Andy Barcotta
Camilla Barcotta
John Bosso
Peter Carotta
Charles Chosinski
John Ciotts
Victor Crisco
Tony Farcus
M. Florianni
James Gray, rescuer
Stanley Hinoski, rescuer
Charles Jeski
James Juroski
Louis Loskelli
Andrew McLeffon
George Oakley
Tony Rsiniogski
Thomas Sucula
Joe Tourel
Mike Zalesgio

Source: Ohio Mine Accident Index

Rescuer Deaths

James Gray, aged 67, and Stanley Hinoski, age 41, gave up their lives for 18 fellow miners. Their deaths were caused by asphyxiation. The bodies of Gray and Hinoski were found outside of room No. 2 off entry No. 15, and the others, in a sitting posture, were found inside the room. Source.

In the News
	Herald-Journal, Oct. 30, 1919
	Pittsburgh Post, Oct. 30, 1919
	The Sault Star, Oct. 30, 1919
	The Wheeling Intelligencer, Oct. 30, 1919


	The Daily Times, Oct. 30, 1919
	The Vicksburg Post, Oct. 31, 1919
	The Oshkosh Northwestern, Nov. 1, 1919
	Laredo Weekly Times, Nov. 2, 1919

See also:

Amsterdam No. 2 Mine Explosion, Apr. 20, 1910

Rescuers Driven from Coal Mine by Raging Fire
The Newark Advocate, Ohio
October 30, 1919

Steubenville, Oct. 30. -- At 6 o'clock today mine officials and state mine inspectors ordered all rescue workers out of Youghiogheny and Ohio mine No. 2 at Amsterdam and cleared the company's property about the mouth of the shaft for fear of an explosion.  The 20 miners who have been entombed in entry 11 West since yesterday morning will be abandoned, according to word received from Amsterdam this morning.  No hope is held out that they are alive.

The rescue parties worked all night long.  At 2 a.m. they had battled their way to within 150 feet of entry 15 where the imprisoned miners were supposed to be but fire broke out behind them and they were forced to fight their way through flame and smoke, many narrowly escaping suffocation.

Subsequent attempts to rescue the men failing, the officials at daybreak ordered the men to leave the mines.  They were brought out and sent to their homes.

Coal was afire throughout the entire workings and the mine was filled with gas.  Inspectors pronounced it extremely dangerous after a final inspection tour shortly before 6 o'clock.

The list of missing was increased to 20 last midnight when it became definitely known that Andrew McLeeson, 41, a loader, went into the mine yesterday morning.  He belonged to the loading shift of entry 15 and has not been accounted for.

Last night the timbers of the main entry were burned out and dropped, resulting in serious slate and coal falls which impeded the work of rescue.  The state mine rescue car arrived last night at 10 o'clock but was unable to operate.

State inspectors and mine officials are now in consultation and on their decision rest whether or not any further attempt will be made to get the bodies of the men.  From the condition of the mine, inspectors say there is slim hope that any of the imprisoned miners escaped death.

The miners were entombed yesterday when an electric generator exploded and set fire to the mine interior.  Intense heat and smoke has greatly handicapped the work of rescuers.

Of the men entombed, but one has made his way to the surface.  He emerged last night, saying he had been pulled to the shaft by his mule, while he lay on the floor of a mine car.  He was badly burned.

Entrance of the mine was crowded by relatives and friends of the miners who eagerly watch the progress of the rescue car.