Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Baltimore Tunnel Coal Mine Disaster

June 5, 1919

EARLY MORNING EXPLOSION IN WILKESBARRE COAL MINE CAUSES HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. June 5—More then ninety men were killed and sixty injured today in an explosion in the Baltimore tunnel of the Delaware and Hudson Coal Company near here. Reports from the mine are to the effect that already ninety-nine charred bodies had been taken from the tunnel and officials are of the opinion that at least thirty other men are still imprisoned in the mine. The accident happened at 6:40 AM this morning just as the shifts were being changed and two hundred men were on their way in the mines at the time of the explosion which was caused by an electric wire falling in a car of black powder. Had the car contained dynamite the force of the explosion would have wrecked the entire eastern section of the city.
Many of the injured who were rushed to the Mercy and City hospitals have died and thousands of frantic women and children rush from one hospital to another looking for some trace of their loved ones, whom they believe were victims of the catastrophe. Today’s accident is one of the worst in the history of the anthracite region and is only exceeded by the famous Avondale explosion in which 108 lives were lost.

At seven o’clock this morning thousands of residents of the mining settlement about Wilkesbarre had gathered at the mouth of the mines and hundreds of women fainted as their husbands or father were brought from the tunnel a corpse and laid on the hillside. In a few minutes the hillside was covered with the dead bodies and had the appearance of a battlefield. Hurried calls to the surrounding cities for aid were responded to and hundreds of physicians and ambulances were rushed to the mine by neighboring mines. Among the dead already recognized were "Chuck" Conners, a returned war hero and John McCloskey, a former star base ball pitcher in the New York state league. The foreman of the mines was on the fourth car entering the mine at the time of the explosion and escaped injury.

Daily Independent, Monessen, Pa 5 Jun 1919

Many Who Escape Being Torn Asunder Fall Victims of Flames and Fumes While Attempting to Crawl to Safety, Catastrophe Follows Night of Festivity Over Return of Soldier Regiment.

ACCIDENT ONE OF WORST IN REGION’S HISTORY

WILKES-BARRE, Pa., June 5. —Eighty-three men lost their lives this morning as a result of an explosion blasting powder in a car attached to a train load of miners being transported to their work in Baltimore No. 2 mine of the Delaware & Hudson Coal company, while at least 31 were injured, according to a list given out by the company officials at noon.

More than 100 mineworkers were riding to their work, crowded into what is known as a trip of mine cars drawn by a motor. The rear car carried 12 kegs of black powder used for blasting loose the coal in the chambers. The mine is modern and equipped electrically. The trolley wire snapped when the train had gone about 200 feet from the entrance. The wire sputtered and sizzled and the sparks emitted touched off the powder.

The terrified men on the cars instantly were aware of the danger that confronted them, but they stood powerless to avert it.

There was a roar and in an instant every man and boy on the train was either dead or dying. Terribly mangled bodies were found everywhere by the rescue crews which instantly rushed into the mine. Fire fighters working frantically succeeded in an incredibly short time in subduing the flames which followed the blast.

Flames caused the greater loss of life. Many of the bodies were burned to a crisp. Other men who were burned and were trying to reach safety died of suffocation. When rescuers reached the tunnel there were dead and dying scattered everywhere. The injured were rapidly removed and sent to hospitals as quick as ambulances could be provided and the dead were brought out and placed in tiers on the green.
Doctors and nurses were somewhat late in arriving on the scene. This was because many of them were abed when the accident happened. Hospitals quickly filled and morgues were filled to overflowing.

Then came the gruesome work of taking out the dead and injured. Those who had not already succumbed were so badly burned that in nearly every case death is a matter of a short time.

Carelessness and violation of the mine laws of the state caused the great loss of life. One of the most drastic provisions of the anthracite mine code is the section forbidding the transportation of men on a car or train which carries explosives. Yet the train of little cars conveying its freight of miners had attached to its rear a dozen kegs of powder. Investigation will disclose whether the men or the company is responsible for the violation of the law.

Some of the first bodies brought from the tunnel were burning when they reached the surface. Clothes had been burned away and the flesh was roasting form the intense heat. Water was poured on these to put out the fire. It was such sights as this that made brave hearts turn sick.

Company employees state that there is a “pull” of 186,000 cubic feet of air per minute in the tunnel and that the air pulled in the flames from the powder directly over the men. Alongside of the tunnel there is a creek and after the flash of the flames some men who were walking along the side of the cars dropped into the water and saved their lives. Several employees state that it was not the force of the explosion that killed the men. Flames and the lack of air caused all the fatalities. All admit that the accident was the result of the violation of the law but they state that miners are accustomed to these violations.

Thomas Dougherty, a miner, one of the survivors who was thrown out of the car by the blast and saved himself by jumping into a ditch. He said:
“We were riding along about 50 feet in the tunnel. There was a blinding flash. I was thrown from the car. I saw the water and I huried myself into it. Bodies were all about. Some I know were dead, others were dying. The flames were terrific. They were all about. We were in a veritable hell. No man could possibly hope to escape with his life unless he got into the water, buried his face and rolled over and over as I did. There was powder in the car. There were about 10 kegs and besides there were kegs carried by the men. Of course I do not know what set them off but I believe that the trolley were broke and the sparks ignited the powder.

East End last night was the scene of great gayety. That section of the city welcomed home boys of the 311th Field Artillery Flags were flying, red fire burned, people laughed and shouted. Within 12 hours all was changed, many homes being made sad. Some of the soldiers had their joy turned into grief. Their fathers were among the dead.

The death list was made large by the flames and sulphur fumes which filled the tunnel. The fire did not last long but it was long enough to make a heavy death toll. Many were killed outright. Parts of bodies were found in the wreckage of life and property. Rescuers got into the mine with hose and played streams of water on the flames. While they were doing this the cries of dying and the injured were head above the roar of the flames.

The Weekly Courier, Connellsville, Pa 12 June 1919

83 MINERS KILLED

Powder Explodes on Mine Train in Tunnel at Wilkes-Barre.

Eighty-three men were killed and 50 others burned and maimed, several of whom have since died as the result of an explosion of blasting powder in a car attached to a trainload of miners being transported to their work in a tunnel in the east end section of the city of Wilkes-Barre early last Thursday morning.

More than 100 mine workers were crowded into what is known as a trip of mine cars drawn by a motor. The rear car carried 12 kegs of black powder use for blasting loose the coal in the chambers. The train had penetrated the tunnel about two hundred feet when, one of the survivors states, the overheated trolley wire sagged and touching a steel powder keg formed a short circuit. In an instant there was a shower of sparks and then the powder gave way with a terrific blast and a great sheet of flame drawn by the air current enveloped the helpless men who were huddled closely together in the cars with no possible chance to escape.

Flames caused the greater loss of life, many of the bodies being burned to a crisp. Others who were burned and were trying to reach safety died of suffocation. Terribly mangled bodies were found everywhere by the rescue crews which instantly rushed into the mine.

Carelessness and violation of mine laws of the State caused the great loss of life. One of the most drastic provisions of the anthracite mine code is the section forbidding the transportation of men on a car or train, which carries explosives. Yet the train of little cars conveying its freight of miners had attached to its rear a car of powder. Investigation will disclose whether the men or the company is responsible for this violation of the law.

The East End of Wilkes-Barre was the scene of great gaiety Wednesday night. That section of the city welcomed home men from the 311th Field Artillery. Bands were out, flags were flying, red fire burned, persons laughed and shouted. With-in twelve hours all was changed; many homes were made sad. Some of the soldiers had their joy turned into despair. Their fathers were among the dead.

Deaths at the hospitals since the disaster have brought the list of fatalities up to 95. Forty-two injured men are still in the hospitals, and the recovery of a number is hopeless.

The Wellsboro Gazette, Wellsboro, Pa. 12 June 1919

Flames Sucked Into Mine

Company employees state that there is a “pull” of 186,000 cubic feet of air per minute in the tunnel and that the air pulled in the flames from the powder directly over the men. Along the side of the tunnel there is a creek and at the flash of the flames some men who were walking along the side of the trip of cars dropped into the water and saved their lives.

Several employees state that it was not the force of the explosion that killed the men. Flames and lack of air caused all the fatalities. All admit that the accident was the result of the violation of the law, but they state that miners are accustomed to these violations.

Story of Survivor.

Thomas Dougherty, a miner, one of the survivors, was thrown out of a car by the blast and saved himself by jumping into a ditch. He said:

“We were riding along about fifty feet in the tunnel. There was a blinding flash. I was thrown from the car. I saw the water and I hurried myself into it. Bodies were all about. Some I know were dead, others were crying. The flames were terrific. They were all about. We were in a veritable hell. No man could possibly hope to escape with his life unless he got in the water, buried his face and rolled over and over as I did. There was powder in and besides there were kegs carried by the men. Of course I do not know what set them off, but I believe the trolley broke and that sparks ignited the powder.”

It seems like irony of fate that over the mouth of the tunnel in great big white letters are painted the words “Safety First.”

Electric Light Ignites Powder.

The accident occurred shortly before 7 o’clock. A train of empty cars was sent tot the mouth of the tunnel to take the men into the chambers. One hundred men piled into the cars, which were drawn by an electric motor. Near the end of the train was a car of black powder. John McGroarty drove the motor.

When 200 feet in the tunnel, the trolley wire broke and fell. Sparks ignited the powder and instantly there was an explosion that sent bodies of men flying in all directions. The force was so terrific that it was heard through out the greater part of the city.

Flames Slay Greater Number.

Flames caused the greater loss of life, many of the bodies being burned to a crisp. Other men who were burned and who were trying to reach safety died of suffocation. When rescuers reached the tunnel there were dead and dying scattered everywhere. The injured were rapidly removed, sent to hospitals as quickly as ambulances could be provided and the dead were brought out and placed in tiers on the green.
Doctors and nurses were somewhat late in reaching the scene. This was because that many of them were abed when the accident happened. Hospitals quickly filled and morgues were filled to overflowing.

Follows Night of Rejoicing.

The East End last night was the scene of great gaiety. That section of the city welcomed home boys from the 311th Field Artillery. Bands were out, flags were flying, red fire burned, people laughed and shouted. Within twelve hours all was changed, many homes being made sad. Some of the soldiers had their joy turned into despair. Their fathers were among the dead.

Identification of the bodies is almost impossible; many of them are charred beyond recognition. The limbs of some, the heads of others are missing.

At 9:30 it was said between 75 and 100 were killed or had died from injuries.

Pitiful Scenes at Mines.

The death list is rapidly growing. As the bodies are removed from the mine, living and dead, they are piled on the green about the colliery. Many of the injured lived but a short time.

Hundreds of women, men and children gathered about the tunnel. Shrieking and crying, they lifted the blankets from the men, They were terrified at the sight. Women fainted; men lost their nerve, and children ran away in fright.

The bodies of scores have been removed to the morgues. There the work of identification is being carried out with little success. Brave men and women are seeking to aid the relatives, to give them news, but the scene is pitiful.
It has been established that the explosion was caused by a break in the trolley wire. This wire gained contact with the powder and sparks did the rest.

The dead list was made largely by the flames and the sulfur fumes which filled the tunnel. The fire did not last long, but it was long enough to make a heavy death toll.

Cries of Dying Above Roar of Flames.

Rescuers got into the mine with hose and played streams of water on the flames. While they were doing this the cries of the dying and the injured were heard above the roar of the flames.

Today’s catastrophe is next to the greatest this section of the anthracite coal field has seen. Today’s accident is a direct result of violation of the law. Permission was given to the men to ride this trip to their place of work and a special train was provided for that purpose. On these cars special seats are built and the train was in daily use.

The Fort Wayne News and Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN 5 Jun 1919

Powder On Train Bearing Workers Into Coal Mine and Loss of Life In Flames Follows At Wilkes-Barre, Penn.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa., June 5. ----Seventy-eight men were killed by an explosion and a fire in the Baltimore Number 2 tunnel of the Delaware and Hudson Coal company today and 31 were injured, according to a list given out by the company at noon. Forty-one bodies had then been identified.

The train was drawn by a motor. The rear car carried 12 kegs of black powder used for blasting loose the coal in the chambers. The trolley wire snapped when the train had gone about 200 feet from the entrance to the mine. The wire sputtered and the sparks it emitted touched off the powder.

There was a roar and in an instant every man and boy on the train was either dead or dying. Mangled bodies were found everywhere by the rescue crews which instantly rushed into the mine. Firemen quickly put out the flames which followed the blast.
Violation of mine laws of the state caused the loss of life. One of the most drastic provisions of the anthracite mine code is the section forbidding the transportation of men on a car or train which carries explosives. Yet the train of little cars conveying its freight of miners had attached to its rear a car with a dozen kegs of powder. Investigation will be made to determine whether the company was responsible or the men.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa., June 5----Seventy-five to 100 mine workers were killed and many injured at the Baltimore No. 2 tunnel of the Delaware and Hudson Company, near here, early today. A car of black powder attached to a trip of cars on which the men were riding to their chambers in the mine exploded. An electric motor drew the cars. The trolley wire broke and sparks ignited the powder.

Men were blown everywhere, but most of the deaths were caused by fire and suffocation.

A train of empty cars was sent to the mouth of the tunnel to take the men into the chambers. One hundred men piled into the cars, which were drawn by an electric motor. Near the end of the train was a car of black powder. John McGroarty drove the motor.

When the train was 200 feet in the tunnel, the trolley wire broke and fell. Sparks ignited the powder and instantly there was an explosion that sent the bodies of the men flying in all directions. Flames caused the most loss of life, many bodies being burned to a crisp. Others died of suffocation trying to reach safety.

When rescuers reached the tunnel there were deal and dying scattered everywhere. Doctors and nurses were somewhat late in reaching the scene because many were abed when the accident happened.

The East End last night welcomed home boys from the 311th Field Artillery. Bands were out, flags were flying, red fire burned people laughed and shouted. Within 12 hours all was changed, many homes being made sad. Some of the soldiers had their joy turned to despair. Their fathers are among the dead.

Identification of the bodies was almost impossible. Many were charred beyond recognition. At 9:30 a.m. it was said that between 75 and 100 had been killed or had died from injuries.

Hundreds of women, men and children gathered about the tunnel. Shrieking and crying they lifted the blankets from the bodies. Women fainted, men lost their nerve and children ran away.

It has been established that the explosion was caused by a break in the trolley wire. The wire gained contact with the powder and sparks did the rest.

The death list was made large by the flames and the sulfur fumes which filled the tunnel. The fire did not last long.

Rescuers got into the mine with hose and played streams of water on the flames. While they were doing this the cries of the dying and the injured were heard above the roar of the flames.

Today’s catastrophe was next to he greatest this section of the anthracite fields has experienced.

Today’s accident was a result of violation of the law. Permission was given the men to ride the trip to their place of work and a special train was provided for that purpose. It is a violation of the mine laws to carry powder on a train. The law is specific that powder and other explosives must be transported alone. There were a dozen kegs of powder in one of the rear cars, all of which were exploded.

Fitchburg Daily Sentinel, Fitchburg, MA 5 Jun 1919

Articles Transcribed by Trish.  Thank you, Trish!

List of the Dead and Injured

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