Gayton Mines Carbon Hill No. 1 Mine Explosion

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Carbon Hill Coal Company
Carbon Hill No. 1 Mine Explosion

Carbon Hill, Henrico County, Virginia
January 21, 1911
No. Killed - 7

News articles from the period (6.4 Mb)

See also:	Carbon Hill No. 7 Mine Explosion, Dec. 9, 1899
	Carbon Hill Explosives Detonation, January 16, 1912
	Carbon Hill Mine Explosion, July 16, 1912

Initial statement following the explosion: Five men killed and 4 fatally injured and 7 others injured as a result of the explosion of dynamite or gas in the Gayton mine, about 15 miles west of Richmond, early today. All of the dead are Poles who came to Virginia from Pennsylvania. The 6 men who were injured are still in the mine about 1,200 to 2,000 feet from the entrance. The exact cause of the explosion is not certain.

Successful Rescue

6 men who were injured in the explosion at the Gayton Mine at Carbon Hill, Virginia were returned to the surface after an undisclosed period. It is not clear whether all of these men survived their injuries. A total of seven miners died as result of the explosion.

Mine Explosion Ends Six Lives
Piqua Daily Call, Ohio
January 21, 1911

Gayton Mines, Va., Jan. 21. -- It is known positively that six are dead, four fatally injured and seven more as less seriously hurt as the result of an explosion in mine No. 1, Carbon Hill, Gayton Mines. Others are still entombed. The work of clearing out the mine is under way and it is thought that more miners will be found. More than 200 men were employed in the mine and the number missing has not yet been ascertained.

The dead:

Lewis Salvinsky
John Geratnis
Frank Burger
Stanislau Salvini
Two unidentified men, known only by their numbers

Seven men were seriously injured, among them:

Joseph Verdina
James Robinson
Thomas Lee
Jefferson Detier

The cause of the explosion is unknown. It is thought it may have been due to disregard to signals by miners.

Note: According to MSHA accident archive, this disaster occurred on January 21, 1911.

Carbon Hill Coal CompanyCarbon Hill No. 1 Mine Explosion

Carbon Hill Coal Company
Carbon Hill No. 1 Mine Explosion