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Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Co.
Richardson Colliery Asphyxiations

Glen Carbon, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
October 3, 1891
No. Killed - 7

State Mine Inspector's Narrative Report  (4.0 Mb)  PDF Format
1891 8th District Anthracite Fatalities  PDF Format
1891 8th District Anthracite Non-Fatalities  PDF Format
See all Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Co. disasters
Note: This accident is incorrectly listed on the CDC/NIOSH Disaster List External Link as having occurred on October 22, 1891.  It is currently not included in the MSHA Fatality Archive Database External Link.


In the News
News icon The Pittsburgh Press, Oct. 4, 1891
News icon Altoona Tribune, Oct. 5, 1891
News icon Harrisburg Telegraph, Oct. 8, 1891
News icon The Hamilton County Ledger, Oct. 9, 1891
News icon Altoona Tribune, Oct. 9, 1891
News icon Centralia Fireside Guard, Oct. 9, 1891
News icon The Advertiser-Courier, Oct. 14, 1891


Seven unfortunate men lost their lives by being suffocated by gas, by reason of a pillar giving way in a breast.  The coal, in consequence of the breast and coal chute being empty, rushed into the gangway, knocking out several sets of timber, closing the only available outlet for the unfortunate victims' escape.

The official list of dead and injured:

Non-Fatal:
  • James Brum
  • Tim Conville
  • Willie Gront
Fatal:
  • Thomas Clancy, 65
  • John Lawler, 50
  • Winfield Mack, 35
  • John Pursell, 41
  • John Salmon, 19
  • Joseph Shields, 22
  • Michael Welsh, 54
Source: Pennsylvania Mine Accident Index A-Z  (15.3 Mb)  PDF Format




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