The mine foreman and a crew were putting a trip of wrecked cars back on the main slope track when the explosion occurred about 8:30 a.m. The sound and rush of air were thought to be from a fall until some men came out from the affected 14 left entries.  Assistant foremen were sent to bring men out of all sections except the left intake-air side.  All 169 survivors were brought to the surface by 11:20 a.m., since the gases and smoke from the explosion were well diluted on the main hoisting slope, which was on return air.  Officials from other mines arrived, and recovery work was quickly organized. Gas masks were used in exploration, and ventilation was restored.  All bodies were removed by 4:00 p.m.

The explosion originated near the face of 14 left heading, where gas had accumulated when a door was left open, and curtains at another point were partly open.  Ignition was caused by an arc from the controller of a locomotive or by smoking. Coal dust was stirred up and ignited.  Some rock dusting had been done on the haulage but not in rooms or aircourses.  The explosion was limited by expansion and by wet places in both the 13 left and 14 left entries (fig. 128).

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Successful Rescue

Following the West Kentucky No. 10 explosion, the rescue party headed by District Mine Inspector James Fugate brought out nine trapped miners after an undisclosed period.  They were unable to reach six other victims in time to save their lives.

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Six Miners Die in Mine Blast
Tipton Tribune, Indiana
December 1, 1942

Providence, Ky., Dec. 1. -- Sparks from an electric motor were blamed today for setting off an explosion in the West Kentucky Coal Company, Mine No. 10 in which six miners perished.

The dead were brought to the surface by a rescue party last night several hours after the blast.

They were:

• Tinker Taylor, foreman
• Sam Kirkwood
• John Lenour
• Riley Webb
• Candy Gee
• Santial Brody

The rescue party headed by District Mine Inspector James Fugate, which previously had brought out nine other trapped miners, was unable to reach the six victims in time to save their lives.

As the blast was confined to a small area, more than 200 other workmen in the mine at the time of the explosion were able to reach safety uninjured.