Tank's Poetry
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united states mine rescue association
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Tank's Poetry |
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Victim List
Cause of explosion: An explosion in this mine resulted in the death of 91 miners when gas was ignited by an open light.
See more disasters probably caused by smoking articles or open lights.
Successful Rescue Eight negro miners were rescued after an undisclosed period from the No. 21 mine in Wilburton, Oklahoma. And in a truly heroic effort, Julius Graham, one of the first 7 rescued negroes, rushed back in and saved his step-brother, Roy Gray. 65 Dead, 28 Missing After Mine Blast; Only Eight Rescued The New York Times, New York January 15, 1926 Fire added to the horror of the scene, but was brought under control and did not prevent the rescue teams from reaching many of the dead. The search for the remaining bodies is being continued. The negroes who were rescued told of walking over the bodies of dead miners as they progressed from a small pocket under the main shaft to the manway from which they emerged. John Evans, white pit boss; A. D. Thomas, a mining engineer, of Hartshome, and two of his associates are among the victims. All other mines in the Wilburton field closed soon after the explosion and their crews were rushed to the scene to aid in the rescue work. The wrecked mine was operated on a non-union basis. Trained rescue crews from Krebes, McAlester, Hartshorne and Haileyville tendered their assistance. The Wilburton Chapter of the American Red Cross served coffee and doughnuts from a hastily erected canteen. Hysterical relatives of the entombed men congregated about the entrance of the mine and remained there throughout the day. Sightseers flowed into Wilburton from many, surrounding cities and roads leading to the mine were lined with motor cars for miles. Doctors and nurses with medical equipment were summoned from all near-by towns and a special train was brought here from McAlester to rush injured men to the hospital as soon as they were brought out. A specially equipped rescue car of the United States Bureau of Mines is being rushed here from Asbury, Missouri. An Italian miner took his small son into the mine this morning to "show him how it worked." They were among those trapped. Seventy-five men composed the rescue crews, but only four could work at a time because of the narrow shaft. The work of clearing the tunnel to the remaining bodies may require between three and four days, it is believed. The digging will continue until all of the bodies are recovered. The rescuers have reached a level of 198 feet, but the work from now on will be more difficult and slower. A steel basket, operated by a hoisting engine, was put in operation to lift debris to the surface. After Julius Graham, one of the rescued negroes, had been taken from the shaft, he rushed back and saved his step-brother, Roy Gray. Some Alive at Start A rescue crew first started work at 10:30 p.m. yesterday and attempted to reach the trapped men through the air shaft which was still open. Some of the victims were still alive and conversed with the rescuers through the airshaft. The survivors were huddled in a small space in the bottom of the shaft, in the midst of debris. Members of the mine rescue crew, carrying cages of canaries, descended to the bottom of the airshaft, but the birds were unable to withstand the damp fumes and the men did not go into the mine. Waterloo Evening Courier Waterloo, Iowa January 13, 1926 A rescue crew started work at 10:30 a.m. and will attempt to reach the trapped men thru the airshaft, which is still open. Some of the victims are still alive and conversed with rescuers thru the airshaft. They were advised to remain near the shaft. J. B. Hynal, chief of the United States Bureau of Mines rescue crew at McAlester, was in charge of the work. Equipped with gas helmets, he and two helpers entered the shaft. Hoister is Wrecked The blast wrecked the tipple and destroyed the hoisting equipment. Emergency hoisting apparatus was being installed to bring out the victims after they are reached. Frantic groups of the entombed men's relatives gathered about the mine. Word of the explosion spread quickly and crowds of sightseers from neighboring towns assembled. The shaft was roped off to hold back the crowds and expedite the rescue work. Workmen from other mines in the Wilburton valley rushed to the scene and volunteered their assistance in the rescue work. Rescue work was being hindered somewhat by the blocking of the main passageway into the mine. The first rescue crew was forced to turn back a second time. Erect Hospital Four doctors and a corps of nurses were standing by for service in event any of the miners brought to the surface are alive. Others are on the way from Hartsborne and McAlester. Dr. T. L. Henry, company physician who has served the victims of five previous mine disasters was in charge of medical service. The local chapter of Red Cross has startged erection of a temporary hospital and members are serving hot coffee and doughnuts to the workers. A. B. Thomas, mining engineer, Hartshorne, who was here doing survey work for the coal company, was among those entombed. The deceased:
Note: The table above only includes 90 of the 91 victims of this disaster. No other source for these names has been located.
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