united states mine rescue association | Tank's Poetry |
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An explosion occurred in this mine which resulted in the instant death of eight men by burns and violence. The explosion was caused by coal dust which was probably raised into the air and ignited by black blasting powder.
The deceased:
Eight of Eleven Miners Die in Blast near Terre Haute The Maryville Daily Forum, Maryville, MO May 1, 1947 Bodies of the dead, all brought to the surface last night, were identified as Calvin Wilson, about 70, pit foreman, Steve Summers, about 55, Mort Gates, about 55, John Brown, 55, Fern Earhart, about 50, Barney Riggs, 67, Desire Lete, 58, and Chauncey Blackburn, about 50. Rescue squads said the bodies, found about 15 feet apart, indicated the men were walking toward the shaft when the explosion occurred. Three men who escaped unhurt from the shaft said they were knocked to the mine floor by a dynamite blast which the miners 1,000 feet back in the tunnel were setting off just 12 minutes before quitting time yesterday. |
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