Narrative:  Another terrible disaster was added to the long list of mine horrors which have occurred during the past year.  At 7 o'clock on the morning, four men were instantly killed at the Ocean coal mines, owned by Wilson, Black & Sherdon, two miles northeast of Clarksburg, W.Va., by an explosion of gas. The report of the terrible explosion was heard for many miles in all directions and brought thousands of people to the scene. Seven men had descended into the mine and forty more were at the pit-mouth ready to enter. Fire Damp Again, Clarksburg, West Virginia 
Chapter Twenty-Three from Adventures in the Mines
by T. T. O'Malley See the entire book, Adventures in the Mines  (9.8 Mb) 

In the News (news links open in a separate window in PDF format)
	Sidney Daily News, May 8, 1891
	The Pittsburgh Press, May 8, 1891
	The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, May 12, 1891
	Macon Beacon, May 16, 1891

The deceased:

• William Daugherty, 33, of Bridgeport, W. Va.
• Joseph Feather, 50, of Connellsville, Pa.
• Nathan Gains, 35, of Clarksburg, W. Va.
• Charles Welsh, 33, of Clarksburg, W. Va.

Source:  West Virginia Mine Accident Index