DEC. 06, 1907- MONONGAH 6 & 8

Monongah, WV Hundreds Die In Coal Mine Explosion, Dec 1907
Posted January 4th, 2008 by Stu Beitler
Mine Memorial Mine Entrance After the Explosion The Dead In Caskets Mine Entrance After the Disaster Monongah WV Mine disaster 1907.jpg

EXPLOSION IN COAL MINE.

400 MEN KILLED IN GREAT DISASTER IN WEST VIRGINIA.

BLACK DAMP THE CAUSE — VICTIMS MOSTLY FOREIGNERS — WORST DISASTER IN HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA — BODIES NEARLY ALL RECOVERED.

Monongah, West Virginia, Dec. 7 — In the greatest disaster in the history of coal mining in West Virginia, Friday, not less than 400 miners met their death, by an explosion of black damp.
Fire rescuing parties, with 10 men to each party, are working like Trojans at different parts of the two mines to the end that every nook and corner of the workings may be reached in the shortest possible time. There is a large force of experienced miners for this work and they are working in relays with short turns, owing to the accumulation of gas which prevents the men remaining long within the mine.
The explosion occurred shortly after 10 o’clock to-day, after about 400 men had gone to work in the two mines affected. Those mines are Nos. 6 and 8 of the Consolidated Coal Company, situated on opposite sides of the West Fork River at Monongah, but merged in their underground workings by a healing and on the surface by a great steel tipple and bridge.
The finding of the three corpses and the four living men is the only reward for strenuous and uninterrupted work on the part of large rescuing forces that immediately after the explosion set to work at every possible point.
The living men are unable to give any detailed report of the disaster or even to explain how they reached the surface. They state that immediately back of them when they began their, frantic struggle for liberty there was a large number of men engaged in a similar effort, while still surther back in the workings there was a large number of whom they know nothing.
It is the opinioin of mine officials and others familiar with mining that these seven had not penetrated the mine as far as had the majority of the day shift when the explosion occurred and that they had headed for and reached the main entry before the heavy cave-in that now blockages the entrance more than a few hundred feet beyond the main opening of mine No. 6.
As to the miners referred to by the rescued men as having been alive when last seen, it is believed they were caught back of a heavy cave-in of coal and mine roof and that they could not have survived more than a few minutes in the deadly gases with which the entry filled as soon as the ventilating system was interrupted.
There is more hope for those in more remote sections of the mine, as they may have reached working where fresh air is supplied by other openings. But at best only the most slender hope is entertained for the survival of anyone of the men in the mine until the debris can be cleared away and communication with the outside re-established.
The two mines regularly employ 1,000 men, working in two shifts, 500 during the day and 500 during the night and the best information obtainable at this time is that nearly the entire day force had gone to work this morning and that all were caught. It was shortly after 10 o’clock when the explosion occurred and at that hour even the latest straggling force is customarily at work, according to mine officials. Beyond these figures the company officials do not attempt to give estimates.
The general opinion is that the number of dead and imprisoned will reach 400. Some believed that number would be exceeded, claiming thatmore than 500 of the total force worked during the day, while others through the number would be smaller. The more conservative estimates placed the number of victims at 300 or 400.
There is much speculation as to the cause of the explosion but the most generally accepted theory is that it resulted from black damp, scientifically known as methane. It is believed a miner attempted to set off a blast which blew out and ignited the coal dust, a highly inflammable substance found in greater or less quantities in all West Virginia mines. However, all explanations of the cause up to this time are necessarily speculative. Only a thorough investigation after the mine is reopened will disclose the cause if it is ever ascertained.
The explosion affected both mines and so far as is now known appears to have done about as much damage in one as in the other. It has not been established in which mine it originated. Evidencing the terrific force of the concussion, props in the entry of No. 6 mine, supporting the roof were not only shattered and torn from their positions, but were blown out of the entry and to the opposite side of the river.
Other evidence of the awful force is shown in every section of the mines that have been reached by the rescuers. Huge quantities of coal and rock have been loosened and hurled into every opening and all of the underground structure is wrecked beyond semblance of its original shape.
The entry of No. 6 mine, 300 feet from the mouth, is piled high with the wreckage of two strings of cars and two electric motors. Some of the rescuers have climbed over this and found dead bodies beyond, but have made no attempt to romove these to the surface, partly cecause it would be almost impossible to carry bodies over the debris, but more because they do not want to lose any time in reaching other sections of the mine where it is possible men still living may be imprisoned. The cars are being righted as fast as possible and removed from the entry together with all other obstructions.
All of the headings leading off from the main entry are being cut off by canvas and barricaded as fast as they are reached by the relief workers so that the most innermost workings of the mine may be given the benefit of the ventilation system to sustain any that may be yet living and make possible an early exploration of these workings.
The American miners of the town have been placed in charge of the relief work but the Italians and other foreigners are working under them faithfully. It is impossible for a man to remain long in the depths of the mine and the rescue forces are divided so as to work in relays with frequent reliefs. Many in the relief parties have already become exhausted and have been sent to the surface.
The mines are owned and operated by the Consolidated Coal company of Baltimore. Its general offices are in Baltimore and its operating offices in Fairmont, W. Va.

Lowville Journal and Republican New York 1907-12-12

Listing of Miners Killed in the Monongah Mine Disaster
From Annual Report of the Department of Mines
West Virginia, 1908
www. wvculture.org.
No. 6 Mine:
HENRY BURKE, FAY COOPER, FRED COOPER, G. L. DAVIS, THOS. DONLIN, THOS. DUFFY, HARRY EVANS, WM. EVANS, JOHN FLUHARTY, FLOYD FORD, JNO. HERMAN, LONNIE HINERMAN, L. D. LANE, SAME R. KELLY, TIMOTHY LYDON, HENRY MARTIN, ALBERT MILLER, J. W. MILLER, FRANK MOON, JAMES MOON, A. H. MORRIS, CECIL MORRIS, HOMER PYLES, FRED ROGERS, FRANK SHROYER, SCOTT SLOAN, WILL STALEY, HAROLD TRADER, WM. R. WALLS, A. J. WATKINS, MILROY WATKINS, GEO. WILEY.
GEO. BOSHOFF, FRANK DAVIS, FELIX GASCO, IGNAT GOFF, FRANK KRALL, IGNOTS LAPINSKY, JNO. REGULSKI, PETRO ROSSIA, FRANK SAWYER, FRANK SHANTAH, THOS. SUSNOFSKY, MIKE WASSALE.
GASS LEVANT, NICK SCOTTA, NICK SUSTA, ANDY TEREZA, NICK TEREZA.
JOE BAGOLA, ANDY BERROUGH, GEO. BERROUGH, MIKE BELO, MIKE BONOTSKY, MARTIN BOSNER, JNO. CRESKO, MIKE DONKO, JNO. DONKO,
MIKE DURKUTA, JNO. DURSC, THOS. DUVALL, MIKE EGAR, STEVE FEET, LOBE FERETTS, JOE FOLTIN, PAUL FRANK, ALBERT GEORGE, JNO. GOMERCHEC, WOGTECH HAMOCK, MIKE HANISH, JNO. HINER, MARTIN HONICK, PAUL HONICK, JNO. HORNOCK, STEVE IGNATCHIC, MIKE KEREST, JOE KOVATCH, JNO. KRISTOFITZ, JNO. MARTIN, MIKE OSHWIE, GEO. POLONCHEC, PAUL PROVITSKY, JNO. SARI, GEO. SARI, MIKE SARI, STEVE SARI, MIKE SEBIC, THOS. SEYCHE, ANDY STIE, SR., ANDY STIE, JR., GEO. STRAFERA, MIKE WATTAH, GEO. YOURCHEC, GEO. YOURCHEC, JR., MIKE ZUCCO.
CARL ABATTA, FRANK ABATTA, JOE ABATTA, FRANK ABRUZINO, JOE ALEXANDER, ANGELO BAGUNOLI, FRANK BASILE, JOHN BASILE, SAM BASILE, SALVARE BASILLA, JOE BELCASTER, SAM BELCASTER, PASQ BETON, TONY BETON, JOHN BONASA, ADOLPH BRAND, DON CEMINO, FRANK CONNIE, JOHN CONNIE, RALPH COUCH, JOE COVELLI, VICTOR DAVIA, NICK DEPLACITO, LUNARD DEWETT, LOUI FALUKE, JOE FERARA, TONY FRANK, JOHN FUSARI, TONY GALL, FRANC GARRASCO, CARMEN LAROSSIA, FRANK LAROSSIA, LOUI LELLE, JAMES LERANT, SALVATORE LOBBS, MIKE MEFFE, SALVASTORE MOTTS, STEVE NOGA, JOHN OLIVARIA, TONY OLIVETTE, JANAWAY ORSE, NICK PEROCHCHI, DOM PERRI, FRED PRELOTTS, PETER PRIVINGANO, TONY PROSPER, DOMNICK RICHWOOD, JOHN RICHWOOD, PATSY RICHWOOD, TONY RICHWOOD, MIKE RITZ, LOUIS SCHOLESE, TONY SELET, FRANK TALLORAI, PATSY TOOTS, TONY TOUCH, PATSY VIRGELET, TONY VIRGELET, DOM WARE.
FRANK DUTCA, JOHN MATAKONIS, MIKE MATAKONIS, THOMAS MATAKONIS, THOS. ZINNIS, PATRICK McDONOUGH.
No. 8 Mine:
CARL BICE, W. H. BICE, ROBERT CHARLTON, WM. R. COX, JAMES FLETCHER, THOS. GANNON, J. W. HALM, E. V. HERNDON, PATRICK HIGHLAND, C. A. HONAKER, JR., JNO. N. JONES, PAT. J. KEARNS, THOS. KILLEEN, ADAM LANE, SCOTT MARTIN, JNO. J. McGRAW, CHAS. McKANE, L. L. MOORE, C. E. MORRIS, MARION MORRIS, WM. MORRIS, C. D. MORT, JNO. H. MORT, SAM NOLAND, HUGH REESE, JNO. RINGER, T. O. RINGLER, D. V. SANTEE, HARRY SEESE, BETH SEVERE, JESSIE SEVERE, DENNIS SLOAN, F. E. SNODGRASS, GEO. SNODGRASS, MICHAEL SOLES, LESLIE SPRAGG, SAM THOMPSON.
ANDY GARLOCK, GEO. HERLICK, ANTON HIAWATIN, VADIS KAWALSKY, JOE KEATSKY, GEO. KINGEROUS, MIKE KINGEROUS, JACOB KORES, JOHN KOWALISH, JOHN LUBA, JOHN MAJESKA, JNO. MAJESKA, JR., MARTIN McHORTAR, CHAS. MILLER, MIKE MOTSIC, VICTOR NOVINSKY, JOE STAHNISKI, TOM STAMPIAN, STANLEY URBAN.
ALEX. BUSTINE, JOHN CHEESIT, PAUL CHEESWOCK, JOHN GOFF, PAUL GOFF, JOHN IGNOT, GEO. KONKECHEC, MIKE KOSIS, FRANK KRAGER, GEO. KRALL, FRANK LOMA, JOHN REHICH, GEO. TOMKO, JOHN TOMKO, ANTON UNOVICH, JOHN WOLINCISH.
CHAS. FARMER, RICHARD FARMER, GEO. HARRIS, GILBERT JOINER, CALVIN JONAKIN, RIPPEN McQUEEN, W. M. PERKINS, JNO. H. PRESTON, K. D. RYALS, JESSIE WATKINS, HARRY YOUNG.
BEAT ANCHILLO, DOMINICK ANCHILLO, PAUL ANCHILLO, TONY ANGELLO, PATSY ALEXANDER, TONY ALEXANDER, PATSY AUGUSTINE, COLISTINO AVICELLO, ANGELLO BARRARD, FELIX BARRARD, JOSE BARRARD, ROSS BETON, CHAS. BOLZE, JERSTI BONORDI, FELIX CALANERO, DOM COLASENA, JOSEPH COLCHERCI, NICK COLCHERCI, NICK COLLEAT, DOM COLROSS, JOE COLROSS, VICTOR D’ANDREA, VINTURA DARSO, CLEM DEBARTONIA, DOMINICK DEBARTONIA, MIKE DEFFELUS, TONY DEFFELUS, PASQUAL DELEAL, LOUIS DEMARCO, ANGELO DEMARIA, JOS. DEMARIA, MIKE DEMARIA, SEBASTIAN DEMARIA, SEBASTIAN DEMARIA, NO. 2, ALBERT DEMARK, JOSE DEMARK, FELIX DEPETRIS, ANGELO DESALVO, CHAS. DESALVO, DOMINICK DESALVO, FELIX DESALVO, TONY DESALVO, JOS. DEWEY, MIKE DEWEY, JNO. DILLS, DONATTO DOMICO, JR., MIKE DOMICO, PETE DONORD, TONY DORSE, JAS. FASSANELLA, ARMANDA FELLEN, CARMAN FERRARE, JOE FERRARE, MATTA FERRARE, TONY FOLIO, PETER FRABIACOLO, PETRO FREDIAVO, PROSPERA INVEOR, JIM JACOBIN, JIM JEREMONT, ANTONIO JOY, FRANK JOY, JNO. LOMBARDO, FRANK LORE, DAN MANSE, MIKE MANSE, TONY MANSE, PETE MARCELL, JAS. MARONETTE, D. C. MASCH, CARL MEFF, FRANK MEFF, COSMO MEO, BOBRATO METILL, JNO. METILL, NICK METILL, DOM MORSEE, MIKE MOSTRO, DOM MYSELL, FELIX MYSELL, BASILE PALELA, JIM PALELA, TONY PASQUAL, LOUIE PATCH, NICK PETT, SAVERIO PIGNALLI, BOSSILO PILLELA, FRANK PORZILO, FRANK PRELETTO, JNO. PRELETTO, PETE PRIGULATTA, FLORA SALVA, JOE SALVA, VINT SALVA, VINT SALVA No. 2, JOE SARFINO, FRANK SIMPSON, DOMINICK SMITH, JAKE SULLIVAN, ANGELO TOOTS, FRANK VENDETTA, JOHN VENDETTA, JOHN YANERO, NICK YANERO, CARMAN ZELLO, JNO. ZELLO.
JOHN PALINKIS, JOSEPH TOTH, PATRICK LAUGHNEY, MIKE BOLINSKI, DAVID RIGGINS.

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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!

MONONGAH
December 6, 1907

Part 1 – 1907 Articles From Fairmont Newspapers
“Explosion Causes Great Loss of Life at Monongah,” Fairmont Times, 12-6-1907
“Death List Appalling,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-7-1907
“The Mine Horror,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-7-1907
“Monongah Sends An Appeal For Aid Which is Being Generously Responded To,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-7-1907
“Report That No. 8 Mine Was on Fire False,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-7-1907
“425 are Dead Most Appalling Disaster in the History of Coal Mines,” Fairmont Times, 12-7-1907
“Dr. I. C. White of Morgantown Advances Theory As to Cause of the Mine Disaster; Monongah Is a Sad Place,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-8-1907
Miscellaneous stories, church services, union relief associations, 12-9-1907
“List of Dead Numbers 400,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-9-1907
“The Fatal Hill Is Giving Up Its Dead,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-9-1907
“The Mine Disaster,” Fairmont Times, 12-9-1907
“371 are Dead; 200 Families Destitute; 43 Bodies Taken From Mine to Date,” Fairmont Times, 12-9-1907
“Throngs Crowd About the Ill Fated Mines,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-9-1907
“Death List Will Continue to Grow for Days,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-9-1907
“14 Bodies Recovered to Press Time Today,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-10-1907
“A Quiet Night in Sorrow Stricken Monongah,” Fairmont Times, 12-10-1907
Miscellaneous stories, funeral, miners, orphans, Fairmont Times, 12-10-1907
“Child Was Born Just as the Father’s Body Was Brought to the Miner’s Home,” Fairmont Times, 12-10-1907
“Union Relief Association Held Important Meeting,” Fairmont Times, 12-10-1907
“Women Doing A Noble Work,” Fairmont Times, 12-10-1907
“Fatherless Children Go To Orphans’ Home,” Fairmont Times, 12-10-1907
“Possible Cause of Explosion; Monongah’s Appeal For Aid,” Fairmont Times, 12-10-1907
“Knows Town Well; Jere Wheelwright Well Acquainted at Monongah and Knows the Miners,” Fairmont Times, 12-10-1907
“Floyd J. Parsons Gives Opinion as to Cause of the Great Explosion,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-10-1907
“The List Was Not Complete, Men Are Missing Whose Names Were Not on the Published List,” Fairmont Times-West Virginian, 12-10-1907
“List of Dead from 72 to 113,” Fairmont Times-West Virginian, 12-10-1907
“Brave Rescuers Finding Many Bodies of Victims,” Fairmont Times, 12-11-1907
“200 Bodies Have Been Recovered; Head of Relief Crew Tells of Mine Condition,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-11-1907
“Taken to the Morgue,” Fairmont Times, 12-11-1907
“List of Dead (115-166),” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-11-1907
“Search for Bodies Will Cease Temporarily This Evening,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-12-1907
“Body of Charles Wise Recovered,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-12-1907
“Rescue Work to End Soon—Two Hundred and Thirty Four Bodies Now Recovered,” Fairmont Times, 12-12-1907
“Report of Fire In No. 8 Once More Proved to be False,” Fairmont Times-West Virginian, 12-13-1907
“L. V. Barton, Labor Commissioner Tells of Conditions As He Found Them in Monongah,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-13-1907
“Census Shows Actual Number of Miners Missing to be 344,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-14-1907
“Excitement Is All Over at Monongah,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-17-1907
“Members of Legislative Investigating Committee in Fairmont,” Fairmont Times, 12-18-1907
“Senator Elkins Sends $100.00,” Fairmont Times, 12-18-1907
“Monongah Mine’s Relief Committee,” Fairmont Times, 12-19-1907
“Work of Recovering Bodies is Slow,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-21-1907
“$35,000 Gift for the Monongah Relief Fund,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-23-1907
“$35,000 Gift Gladdens Hearts of Monongah Relief Committee,” Fairmont West Virginian, 12-24-1907

Part 2 – 1907 Articles From The Pittsburgh Dispatch
“400 Killed by Terrific West Virginia Mine Explosion,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-7-1907
“Miner Has No Show in the Dark Pits Far Underground,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-7-1907
“View of Monongah Mine of Fairmont Coal Company,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-7-1907
“Coupling Pin Snaps, Causing Disaster,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-7-1907
“Map of No. 8 Monongah Mine of the Fairmont Coal Company,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-7-1907
“Fire of Unknown Extent Halts Recovery,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-9-1907
“Clearing Away Entrance to Monongah Mine No. 8; Dispatch Fund Grows: The Need Is Urgent,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-9-1907
“Overwhelmed by Crowds; Rapidly Bury the Dead; 3 Supposed Dead Alive and Well,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-9-1907
“Destruction Greater As Men Work Farther Into Wrecked Mines,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-9-1907
“Curious Crowds at Entrance to Mine No. 6; 4 Hurt When Horses Dash Through Crowd; Dawson to Get Reports; Appeal for Aid,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-9-1907
“Prominent Expert Believes that Dust Caused Disaster,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-9-1907
“Relief Work Begun,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-9-1907
“Wreckage at Mouth of Mine No. 8; Urgent Necessity of Helpless Ones Must Have Relief; Society Women Cook in Village Smithy,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-9-1907
“110 Members Dead Under Hill; Nearly 300 Members of Italian Church Gone,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-9-1907
“Life and Death Meet in Miner’s Cottage,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-10-1907
“Fire Under Control, Rescue Work Resumed,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-10-1907
“Work Fast Clearing The Mines,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-10-1907
“Intensified Disaster; Coal Companies Put $20,000 in Relief Fund; Bury Mine Victim,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-10-1907
“Few are the Homes Not Made Desolate; Many Futures Dark,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-10-1907
“Mourn Five in This Family; One Service Said for Twenty-Five Victims,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-10-1907
“Aged Mother Awaits Coming of Only Son,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-10-1907
“Andrew Carnegie Duplicates Fund for Monongah Sufferers,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-11-1907
“Report of Experts Will Ask for Laws Governing Mines,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-11-1907
“Break of Coupling The Cause,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-11-1907
“Two Monongah Mines Now Rapidly Yield Their Horde of Dead,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-11-1907
“Bountiful Contributions Sent Through Dispatch,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-11-1907
“Mistaken Criticism,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-11-1907
“Big Increase In Fund for Monongah Victims,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-12-1907
“Monongah Memorial Home,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-12-1907
“Lieutenant Governor McDermott Says Matter Will Come Up at Special Legislative Session,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-12-1907
”Five Thousand Mark Passed by the Dispatch Relief Fund,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-13-1907
“Monongah Dead List Under 400,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-13-1907
“Urge Bereaved Women To Take New Husbands,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-14-1907
“Reform in Mine Laws Is Certain to Follow,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-14-1907
“Dispatch Reports Praised; Monongah Relief Fund Now in Excess of $6000,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, 12-15-1907

Part 3 – Articles Written After 1907 (1950 to 1999)
“361 Died in Monongah Blast in Mining’s Worst Disaster,” Charleston Gazette, 5-18-1950
“Memorial at Monongah,” article by William C. Blizzard, Charleston Sunday Gazette Mail, 3-27-1966
“Record 361 Miners Lost at Monongah,” Beckley Post-Herald, 5-10-1968
“Lest We Forget – 61 Years Ago 361 Died at Monongah,” WV Hillbilly, 12-6-1968
“Monongah Mine Explosion Recalled 77 Years Later,” Fairmont Times-West Virginian, 1984
“Andrew Urban’s father was sole survivor of 1907 Monongah mine disaster,” Fairmont Times-West Virginian, 8-1-1991
“Only known Monongah mine disaster survivor came here from Poland,” Fairmont Times-West Virginian, 10-3-1999
“One of W. S. Thomas’ ‘toughest jobs’ was hauling tragedy coffins,” Fairmont Times-West Virginian, 11-21- 1999
“Community Profiles – 1907 disaster credited with prompting reforms in nation’s mining regulations,” Fairmont Times-West Virginian, (no date given)

Part 4 – Miscellaneous Clippings (Source Not Identified)
“List of Known Dead at Monongah Mine Disaster”
“Monongah Calls for Help; Relief Committees Named and Other Steps Taken Last Night”
“List of Dead (23 – 52); Union Relief Association Organized”
“Newspapers Start Relief Funds; The West Virginian’s Relief Fund”
“List of Known Dead At Monongah Mine Disaster”
“The Relief Funds Continue to Grow”
“List of Dead From 166 to 220”
“From Frostburg, Delegation of Miners From That City Come To Help at Monongah”
“Bishop Issues Card to Public”