Fairmont,
West Virginia
Monongah Mine Explosion
May
21, 1895
FOUR MINERS KILLED.
Disastrous Powder Explosion In a Mine Near
Fairmont, W. Va.
WHEELING, May 22. – The first reports of
a disastrous explosion at the Monongah mine near
Fairmont yesterday were widely exaggerated and a
number of very sensational stories have been
sent out over the country. The exact facts are
as follows:
At 12:30 o’clock in the afternoon a Pole
carelessly ignited a can of powder in mine No. 4
of the Monongah Coal and Coke company and a
terrific explosion followed. The accident
occurred in the main air course leading to mine
No. 2, about 500 feet from the mouth of mine No.
4, and the smoke was thus driven through
different parts of the mine suffocating four
miners. Quite a number of others were seriously
but not fatally affected by the smoke. The names
of the dead are:
C. L. BERTCHER,
an old man who leaves a large family.
WILLIAM SHAVER, aged 16.
LUKE DUNLOP.
The last two are foreigners.
Mine inspector D. M.
Barr is on the ground an [sic] is
making an investigation. An inquest is being
held today. The Monongah mines are the principal
works in the upper Monongahola coal field, and
the company is headed by ex-United States
Senator Camden.
Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN 23 May
1895
Transcribed by
Jenni Lanham. Thank you,
Jenni!
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