1869 — Sep 6, Mine Fire, Avondale Coal Mine, near Plymouth Township, PA — 110

— 179 Fay. Coal Mine Fatalities in the United States 1870-1914 (BoM Bulletin 115). 1916, 25.*
— 179 Hudson Coal Co. The Story of Anthracite. New York, 1932, p. 168
— 179 U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Mines, File No. D-699.
— 179 Trachtenberg. History of Legislation for the Protection of Coal Miners in PA. 1942
— 110 Corrigan, J. J. “90 Years Ago Today.” Sunday Independent, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 9-6-1959.
— 110 Corrigary. The Great Disaster at Avondale Colliery, September 6, 1869.
— 110 Dublin and Licht. The Face of Decline. 2005. p. 25
— 110 Keenan. Historical Documentation of Major Coal-Mine Disasters in the [U.S.], 1963, 5.
— 110 MSHA/DOL. Historical Coal Mine Disasters in the Anthracite Region.
— 110 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Mine Disasters.
— 110 Wick (Luzerne County Historical Society). Images of America: Luzerne County. 2011, 73
— 108 Bradsby. History of Luzerne County, PA, 1893, 1893;
— 108 Childs. History of the United States. 1886, 219.
— 108 Willsey and Lewis. “Pennsylvania,” Harper’s Book of Facts. 1895, p. 619.

* “Anthracite Historian Corrigan, thus far, has been unable to tracer the source of the widely-publicized figure of 179 Avondale fatalities, instead of the true total victims, 110.” (Corrigary. The Great Disaster at Avondale Colliery, September 6, 1869.)

Narrative Information

Childs. History of the United States. 1886, 219: “On the 6th of September, a disaster occurred in the Avondale coal-mine, in Luzerne County, Pa., resulting in the loss of one hundred and eight lives. While the miners were engaged at work in the mine, the shaft, constructed chiefly of combustible material, took fire, and soon the only entrance to the mine was filled with burning timbers, fire, and smoke. No assistance could be rendered the sufferers from without, and, there being no means of escape, all of the unfortunate inmates perished.”

Corrigan, J. J. “90 Years Ago Today.” Sunday Independent, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 9-6-1959:

“One hundred and eight tragically-trapped men and boys inside the mine perished through asphyxiation when an uncontrollable fire, originating in a furnace at the bottom of the Avondale shaft, over which the breaker and works stood, flashed upward and de¬stroyed the surface structures. It was the only means of entrance and exit. Two other men succumbed in a heroic rescue descent into the mine and numerous other men nearly met the same fate in rescue attempts. Avondale mine fire fatalities totaled 110.

“The Avondale works were completed in September 1867, being considered “the finest in the valley.” But the tragic neglect or abysmal lack of foresight was responsible for the construction of what proved a disastrous “one way ticket” into the mine.

“On the morning of Sept. 6, 1869, (a blue Monday of tragedy) a hoisting engineer at Avondale was the first workman to discover the flames, mid-way between 11 a.m. and noon, shooting up the shaft to the breaker atop. He told a newspaperman a short time later, he was “startled” by flames rushing up the shaft with great fury. So rapidly did the fire progress that he merely was able to blow the colliery whistle and arrange matters to prevent a boiler explosion. In an almost incredible short time everything combustible about the entire works was in flames—a line of fire extend¬ing from the Bloomsburg Railroad track below, along the bank of the Susquehanna, to the mine shaft high above a distance of not less than 800 feet.

“A two-day coroner’s inquest at Plymouth decided that “the fire originated from the furnace in the mine, taking effect on the wood brattice to the up-cast course leading from the bottom of the shaft to the head house.” The coroner’s jury noted that it regarded the cur¬rent “system of mining as insecure and unsafe to the miners,” and strongly recommended “where prac¬ticable, two places for ingress and egress, and more perfect ventilation, thereby rendering greater security to the lives of the miners under any similar accident.”

“The Avondale jury’s recommendation was fulfilled when, the following year, 1870, the Pennsylvania State Legislature enacted a law demanding that each coal mine must provide for two openings to the surface, “for the ingress and egress of the men employed therein”.”

Corrigary: “The fire was first discovered by people outside, issuing from the top of the head house, but before that time, Mr. Alexander Weir, the engineer had been startled by its rushing up the shaft with great fury and with a sound not unlike that of an explosion…. In an almost incredibly short space of time everything combustible about the entire works was in flames – a line of fire extending from the Bloomsburg Railroad track below, to the head house above, a distance of not less than three hundred feet….” (Corrigary. The Great Disaster at Avondale Colliery, pp. 3-4)

“About the middle of the afternoon the two streams [of water] from the Kingston and Scranton [fire] engines had subdued the fire in a great measure… When the rubbish which encumbered the shaft was cleared away, the stream of water was carried into the tunnel to an opening in the side of the shaft, down which the flood was poured until all fire was extinguished…. As soon as the fire was so far extinguished above that men could work about the mouth of the shaft, the rubbish was cleared away and preparations made to right put up a derrick…over it by which to descend the shaft…. The derrick was finished shortly after half pass five pm…. In order to prevent any unnecessary risk to human life, it was decided prudent to send an animal and a light… Accordingly, at…six, a small dog…was lowered as far as possible into the shaft to see if the air was foul enough to kill the dog or to extinguish the light…” (Corrigary. The Great Disaster at Avondale, p. 5.)

“After the dog was hauled up efforts were again made to call to those below, but there was so much confusion around the mouth of the shaft, so many people being gathered there, and all being so anxious to see what was going on, that it was impossible. A policeman and others made every effort to get the people back, but all to no purpose. It was finally, thought advisable to turn a stream of water upon the crowd to drive them away, which was accordingly done….

“When quiet was by this means restored, another loud call was made. Breathless silence was observed by the vast concourse, numbering thousands, but no answering voice was heard, and hope died away…” (Corrigary. The Great Disaster at Avondale Colliery, p. 6)

“Two…volunteers were called upon, and two…men were found ready to risk their lives for those of their comrades in the mine. Thomas W. Williams, of Plymouth, and David Jones, of Grand Tunnel, entered what subsequently proved to them the pit of death…. After waiting some time, and hearing nothing from the men, the bucket…raised and two fresh men went down to search for them. Both Williams and Jones were lying insensible….Mr. Williams left a loving wife and four children…. It was accordingly determined that nothing more should be done until a fan and donkey engine…should be rigged at the mouth of the shaft, by which to force air through a canvas hose into the mine…. At seven o’clock Tuesday morning the fan and engine arrived on the ground. At 9:15 a.m. they commenced working…” (Corrigary. The Great Disaster at Avondale, p. 8.)

“Wednesday [after a number of attempts to locate the Avondale miners]…. At half past six o’clock [another search party went down]… They were gone half an hour, when they returned and reported that they ascended…the east gangway, and traversed it until they reached a closed brattice which the men had built to shut themselves if possible from the foul air. This they broke through, and their gaze was not by a view which appalled the stoutest heart among them. Grouped together, in every possible position, laid the dead bodies of sixty-seven man and boys, some appearing as if they had quietly dropped asleep, while others seemed to have struggled with their impending fate….one father, Mr. William P. Evans, was stretched out, with a son closely clasped by each arm, while a third was lying between his legs, with his head resting on his father’s breast. Another father, Mr. Hutton, lovingly embraced a young son….” (Corrigary. The Great Disaster at Avondale Colliery, pp. 12-13)

“Thursday…. At half-past twelve o’clock thirteen more bodies were reported found in groups…” (Great Disaster at Avondale Colliery,” p. 20) “Another exploring party having been down… found nine more bodies in one place…” (Corrigary. Great Disaster at Avondale…” p. 21) Thursday night, “eight men were found on the west side of the mine.” (Great Disaster at Avondale , p. 22)

“Mr. John Powell, of Avondale, was the one hundred and eighth man brought from the mine, and was the last one found therein.” (Corrigary. The Great Disaster at Avondale, p. 23)

“At twenty minutes past two o’clock, p.m. [rescue team] … reported that they had explored every part of the workings, and were satisfied that all the bodies had been recovered.” (Corrigary. p. 23.)

“Widows, 72; Orphan children, 158.” (Corrigary. The Great Disaster at Avondale, p. 27)

From Coroner’s Jury report: “The jury regards the present system of mining in a large number of case now working by shaft as insecure and unsafe to the miner, and would strongly recommend, in all cases where practicable, two places for ingress and egress and (a more practical means of) ventilation, thereby rendering greater security to the life of the miner under any similar accident.” (Corrigary. The Great Disaster at Avondale Colliery…, p. 42.)

Corrigary: “Anthracite Historian Corrigan, thus far, has been unable to tracer the source of the widely-publicized figure of 179 Avondale fatalities, instead of the true total victims, 110. But comparatively recently, 1932, a local year book, under ‘Mine Disasters,’ published ‘September 6, 1869-Avondale, Plymouth; mine fire; 179 dead.’ Yet, the same year annual published in 1901, under a listing of ‘Mine Disasters 1846-1900.’ Gave the correct version of Avondale fatalities 110 lives lost.”

“The Avondale mine property was leased by Mr. J. C. Phelps, of Wilkes-Barre, June 13, 1863, of William C. Reynolds, Henderson, Gaylord, and others. In January, 1866, Mr. Phelps assigned it to the Steuben coal Company, which was subsequently merged with the Nanticoke Coal & Iron Company, who built the destroyed works.

“The mine is driven into what are known as the Shawnee Hills, which overlook the valley on the north. These hills rise abruptly to a great height behind the ruins of the…[mine entrance]. (Corrigary, Avondale Contradictions.)

Dublin and Licht 2005, p. 25: “Smoke and gases from an uncontrollable shaft fire suffocated 110 men and boys on September 6, 1989, in a mine at Avondale near Wilkes-Barre….The explosion and fire did not burn the miners, but the resulting smoke and gas asphyxiated 108 working underground and the first two rescuers who attempted to search for survivors.” (Dublin and Licht 2005, p. 25)

“The following year a law provided for systematic inspection of the anthracite mines. Pennsylvania was therefore the first State to establish a mine-inspection system….The next State to appoint a mine inspector was Ohio, in 1874, and…after 1874 other States have been added to the inspection list.” (Fay 1916, 25) This “…law required two outlets for all existing and future mines and set more specific standards for adequate ventilation. Breakers, a major contributing cause in the Avondale disaster, were no longer to be permitted at the top of a mine shaft. The law provided for the appointment of five mine inspectors, set their qualifications, and noted the procedures by which they would be selected. The law also regulated hoisting facilities, mandated inspections of boilers, required a wash shanty for miners, and prohibited the employment of boys under the age of twelve in the mines. (Dublin and Licht. 2006, p. 25.)

Fay: “In 1869, 179 men were killed in a mine at Avondale, Pa. The following year a law provided for systematic inspection of the anthracite mines. Pennsylvania was therefor the first State to establish a mine-inspection system.” (Fay, Albert H. (Compiler). Coal Mine Fatalities in the United States 1870-1914 (Bulletin 115). Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior, 1916.)

U.S. Bureau of Mines: “A wooden breaker constructed over the shaft opening to the underground workings caught on fire. The shaft was the sole means of exit from the mine; consequently, the men working underground were trapped and died of suffocation.

“Although gas hazards were due mainly to poor ventilation, many of the mines in [the] early days had but one shaft to the surface. One morning in September, 1869, in an Avondale, Pa., mine, the wooden beams and planking lining the shaft were set afire by sparks from the ventilating furnace. Flames quickly made the shaft a roaring inferno which no man could approach. For hours water was pumped in to the shaft, and along toward evening rescue parties were able to descend.” (Bureau of Mines, Interior, Avondale Mine Disaster, Sep 25, 1922, 1)

Wick: “The Avondale Mine Disaster was the most deadly mine disaster in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Avondale mine property was leased by J. C. Phelps of Wilkes-Barre on June 13, 1863. Phelps assigned the Steuben Coal Company to the property that merged with the Nanticoke Coal and Iron Company and built the Avondale Colliery. In 1869, Avondale Colliery had nearly 200 employees. Due to poor ventilation, the coal breaker above the Steuben Shaft at the Avondale Colliery in Plymouth Township caught fire on September 6, 1869. During the massive fire, 108 mine employees were trapped underground and died; two rescuers were killed. Among the victims were five boys between the ages of 12 and 17.” (Wick (Luzerne County Historical Society). Images of America: Luzerne County. 2011, 73.)

Sources

Bradsby, Henry C. History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania: With Biographical Selections. S.B. Nelson, 1893. Digitized by Google. At: http://books.google.com/books?id=4BkVAAAAYAAJ

Childs, Emery E. A History of the United States In Chronological Order From the Discovery of America in 1492 to the Year 1885. NY: Baker & Taylor, 1886. Google digitized. Accessed 9-4-2017: http://books.google.com/books?id=XLYbAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Corrigan, James J. “Avondale Contradictions,” in The Great Disaster at Avondale Colliery, September 6, 1869. At: http://www.msha.gov/District/Dist_01/Reports/Avondale/letter.htm

Corrigary, James J. “90 Years Ago Today.” Sunday Independent, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 9-6-1959. In Keenan. Historical Documentation of Major Coal-Mine Disasters in the [U.S.]…, 1963, p. 5. At: http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc12768/m2/1/high_res_d/Bulletin0616.pdf

Dublin, Thomas and Walter Licht. The Face of Decline: The Pennsylvania Anthracite Region in the Twentieth Century. Cornell University Press, 2005, 312 pages. Google preview accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=uOOLKTbpYzkC&pg=PA219&dq=Trachtenberg.++History+of+Legislation+for+the+Protection+of+Coal+Miners+in+PA.++1942&ei=8rZfSfHfEYLeyASghtXDAw#PPP1,M1

Fay, Albert H. (Compiler). Coal Mine Fatalities in the United States 1870-1914 (Bulletin 115). Washington, DC: Bureau of Mines, Dept. of the Interior, 1916. Digitized by Google. Accessed at: https://books.google.com/books?id=R38fAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Hudson Coal Co. The Story of Anthracite. New York: Hudson Coal Company, 1932.

Keenan, Charles M. Historical Documentation of Major Coal-Mine Disasters in the United States Not Classified as Explosions of Gas or Dust: 1846-1962 (Bulletin 616). Washington, DC: Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior, 1963. Accessed at: http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc12768/m1/2/

Mine Safety and Health Administration. Historical Coal Mine Disasters in the Anthracite Region (District 1 – Coal Mine Safety and Health). Arlington, VA: MSHA, U.S. Department of Labor. Accessed 1-3-2009 at: http://www.msha.gov/District/Dist_01/Fatals/HISTFAT.HTM

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Safety and Health Research.. Mining Disasters (Incidents with 5 or more Fatalities). NIOSH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2-26-2013 update. Accessed at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/statistics/disall.htm
and http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/statistics/content/allminingdisasters.html

Trachtenberg, Alexander. History of Legislation for the Protection of Coal Miners in Pennsylvania, 1824-1915. New York: International Publishers, 1942.

Wick, Harrison (for the Luzerne County Historical Society). Images of America: Luzerne County. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2011. Partially digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=gYPlqdCp2nEC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Willsey, Joseph H. (Compiler), Charlton T. Lewis (Editor). Harper’s Book of Facts: A Classified History of the World. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1895. Accessed 9-4-2017 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=UcwGAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false