Lehigh Valley Coal Company Tomhicken Mine Inundation
Hazelton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
November 16, 1926
No. Killed - 1
See more Lehigh Valley Coal Company DisastersSuccessful Mine Rescue
Six miners were trapped by water in the Tomhicken Mine of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company in Pennsylvania on November 16, 1926. One man, Charles Smith, died, but five men were rescued — 8 days — later. The five rescued were Henry Kirchdoerfer, August Yenchick, Michael Lawrence, John Gondera and John Lorincz.
The rescued are Henry Kirchdoerfer, assistant foreman, and father of six small children in Tomhicken; August Yenchick, has a wife and six small children in Tomhicken; Michael Lawrence, of Tomhicken, was 18 years old; John Gondera was entombed on his 21st birthday and was to have been tendered a party the night of the accident; and John Lorincz, of Tomhicken, who was to be best man in a wedding held this week.
The imprisoned men were found Wednesday night, November 24th, at 7:40 p.m. The rescue caused great excitement in the little village and all throughout the Lehigh coal fields. Henry Kirchdoerfer seemed to be the strongest of the five and was credited with keeping up the spirits of the men until they heard the glad word of their rescuers. Charles Smith had been married one year ago; a son was born to Mrs. Charles Smith on April 3, 1927. Smith's body was found on April 26, 1927, and buried on April 30, 1927.
