1892 — April 20, Lytle Coal Mine Flooding, Miners Drown, near Minersville, PA — 10

–8-12 Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892.” 12-31-1892, p. 1.
— 10 Mine Safety and Health Admin. Historical Coal Mine Disasters in the Anthracite Region.
— 10 NIOSH (Nat. Institute for Occupational Safety & Health), CDC. Mining Disasters. 2010.
— 10 PA Inspectors of Mines. Reports of the Inspectors of Mines…1892. “Lytle Colliery…” 248.
— 10 United States Mine Rescue Assoc. “Lytle Coal Company Primrose Mine Inundation.”

Narrative Information

Eastern State Journal, 12-31-1892: “April…20…12 miners drowned in a flooded mine near Minersville, Pa.” (Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892.” 12-31-1892, p. 1.)

NIOSH: “04/19/1892…Lytle [mine name]…Minersville PA…10 [killed]…Coal [product]… Inrush of water [accident type]…UG [mine type].” (Mining Disasters: 1839 to Present.)

Newspapers

April 21: “Minersville, Pa., April 20. – This town, which is situated about four miles from Pottsville, is greatly excited over a horrible accident that occurred late this afternoon at the Lytle colliery, whereby 10 or 12 men are said to have lost their lives by the flooding of the mine with an immense body of water that broke through the old workings. It is said that the accident occurred just about the time the shifts were changing. The exact number of men drowned and their names cannot be given. It is authentically announced by the colliery officials that eight men have met their death by the disaster. Among those give out are Miners Dolbin, Bell and Bugger. The place where the accident occurred is a new coal operation that is being opened upon an immense scale by the Lytle Coal Company, an incorporated company, the principal stockholders of which are the Pennsylvania railroad officials and Scranton capitalists.

“The works are located on Prim Rose mountain, several miles northwest of Minersville and taps the great Wolf Creek colliery, which has laid idle for some years, owing to the large accumulation of water. About two years ago the present operators, with unlimited means, commenced the reopening of the tract and have spent many thousand dollars in putting in machinery and opening up new slopes. Gangways are being pushed out from these slopes on each side of the new workings. The ole water lies in it and it is the bursting through of one or more of these deposits without warning that caught the unfortunate miners while at work.

“A United Press reporter telephoned to Hoosic for particulars. The rely came that it could not be told how many men were drowned, but that besides the American miners there was a large number of Italians and Hungarian laborers at work inside and it is thought that now at least six of them are also drowned. They could not say, really, where the water came from, but they were surrounded on all sides with water, and whilst surveyors and bosses were very careful, somebody evidently has blundered. There were several scores of men inside at the time and some of these swam out while others are said to have been heard talking as if they had reached a high point above the water.” (Bradford Era, PA. “Drowned in a Coal Mine…Twelve Men Said to Have Perished.” 4-21-1892, p. 1.)

April 21: “Pottsville, April 21. – The exact number of men imprisoned by the Lytle Colliery mine flooding, near Minersville, has been ascertained to be ten. The unfortunate men who are undoubtedly drowned, as they have no chance of escaping, are [we break paragraph into lines]

John Zerbe, of Llewellyn; [Also noted as John H. Zerley.
Thomas Buggy, of Black Heath; and
Frank Vetta,
Peter Olvestsi,
Vencent Mureurio,
Ignatz Perena,
Joseph Fietta,
Peter Maketto,
Dominic Uguilla, Italians. [Nine names listed.]

“This gang were engaged in driving a gangway in the lowest point of the mine. The water broke in from the No. 4 chute and flooded the mine so quickly that they could not escape.

“The work of rescuing the men if they are alive of recovering their bodies if dead goes briskly on. Duplex pumps, each lifting a million gallons of water every twenty-four hours, were started late this afternoon and added to the other machinery already busy at work in clearing the flooded portions of the mine. Both Bell and Dolbin, who were rescued after seven hours’ of imprisonment, are working with those now engaged in clearing the mine of water.” (Philadelphia Inquirer. “The Lytle Mine Disaster. Ten Men Imprisoned in the Flooded Colliery – Rescuers at Work.” 4-22-1892, p. 2.)

April 25: “Minersville, Pa., April 25. – The bodies of the ten miners who were drowned in the Lytle Colliery were rescued on Saturday [23rd] when all the water had been pumped from the gloomy shaft. The first body reached, that of John H. Zerley, was found in a car, and it was discovered shortly after noon. The coroner had a jury at the mouth of the mine to witness the process of rescuing the remains. Explorations in the old workings from which the water had been pumped, and from which the flood rushed, were greatly hindered by black damp [gas].” (Altoona Mirror, PA. “Bodies of the Miners Rescued.” 4-25-1892, p. 5.)

Sources

Altoona Mirror, PA. “Bodies of the Miners Rescued.” 4-25-1892, p. 5. Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/altoona-mirror-apr-25-1892-p-5/

Bradford Era, PA. “Drowned in a Coal Mine…Twelve Men Said to Have Perished.” 4-21-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bradford-era-apr-21-1892-p-1/

Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892 – The Chronological Record of a Memorable Year….Demons of Destruction.” 12-31-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-6-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/white-plains-eastern-state-journal-dec-31-1892-p-1/

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
[Link inoperable when checked 2-9-2022.]

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mining Disasters: 1839 to Present [website]. Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NIOSH-Mining/MMWC/MineDisasters/Table

Pennsylvania Inspectors of Mines. Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the Anthracite and Bituminous Coal Regions of Pennsylvania, for the Year 1892. “Lytle Colliery Disaster by which Ten Persons were Drowned.” Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/1892_Lytle.pdf

Philadelphia Inquirer. “The Lytle Mine Disaster. Ten Men Imprisoned in the Flooded Colliery – Rescuers at Work.” 4-22-1892, p. 2. Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-apr-22-1892-p-2/

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Lytle Coal Company Primrose Mine Inundation.” Accessed 2-9-2022 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/lytle.htm