Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1902 — FIFTY MINERS KILLED IN IOWA [ARTICLE]

FIFTY MINERS KILLED IN IOWA

Coal Shaft at Lost Creek Wrecked by Gas and Dust Explosion. RESCUE WAS IMPOSSIBLE. Comrade* or the Victim* Straggle Desperately to Save the Few Snrrltor*— Most of the Dead Men Leave Large Families —List of Those Identified. Fifty men were killed in a terrible explosion in the Lost Creek coal m'.nes, ten miles southeast of Oskaloosa, lowa, Jan. 24. Seven, who are probably fatally burned, still survive. The usual noonday blasts were set off.One of the shots proved a fizzle and the burning powder set fire to the gas. A terrific "dust explosion” followed" Smoke, flame, and debris spouted 200 feet out of the mouth of the shaft. Part' of the upper works was torn away, the cages were wrecked, and the fans crippled. The dozens of miners were left below beyond reach of aid, and it was three hours before the fans had driven the dust and gas back until the rescue parties dared to descend into the east entry, where the explosion occurred. Twenty-one dead bodies ’have been taken from the improvised morgue in shaft No. 2 of the Lost Creek Coal Mining Company. When brought to the surface the remains presented a horrible sight. Some of the bodies were mangled beyond recognition and could only be identified by trinkets or other articles found in pockets. The eleven injured are improving, and no additional deaths are expected. Following is a list of the dead: Michael Fox, Sr., aged 48; Michael Fox, Jr., aged 21; John Elder, aged 23; C. B. Crews, aged 31; Russell Fish, aged 27; Joseph Berto, aged 30; S. C. Creighton, aged 28 (colored); James Stovall, aged 35 (colored); Andrew Pash, aged 33; Sam Humphrey, aged 34; James Humphrey. aged 34; J. J. Humphrey, aged 39; Daniel Fish, aged 24; Dave Waitress, aged 28; Frank Gasperi, aged Ss'; Alexander Gray, aged 24; Jack Mannealy, aged 20; John Martin, aged 29; George Benochak, aged 29; Jof Gasperi, aged 24; John Kaval, aged 32. Those most severely injured are: Edward Swanson, Jonas Mabie, leg broken and head hurt; John Jerkin, Frank Secrees, Eddyville, arm broken and burned; Oliver Mabie, Lost Creek, arm broken and burned; Charles Leaman, Lost Creek, leg broken and burned; Ed. Swanson, Eddyville, bruised and burned; Jonas Mabie, Lost Creek, burned; William Harvey’ George Gogo, Harry Derock. The power of the explosion was terrific. The tracks were torn up and the guides for the cages were blown away, so that they could not be operated for three hours. The fans were damaged also and could not be used to ventilate the mine immediately. All the entry doors were blown out and no system of ventilatioji could be arranged until the doors were replacecd by volunteers, and it was almost certain death to go into the mine. As soon as the cages could be operated volunteers stepped forward. The first man to enter the mine was Jefferson Timbrell, the general superintendent. He was followed by many others, who took turns in going to the rescue. The explosion had torn up the tracks, jammed the cars into the cages, thus destroying the only avenue of escape for the miners. Nearly all the entry doors were blown out and the miners not killed at first were deprived of air. One hundred and twenty-five men were employed in the mine at the time of the explosion. Forty of these were in the west entry and escaped uninjured. Sixty were in the east entry, where the explosion occurred, and of these all were killed or injured. Some of the dead were boys under 16 years of age. but the majority were married men, and almost all leave large families.