1892 — July 23, York Farm Coal Mine gas explosion, Pottsville, Pennsylvania — 15

–15 Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892.” 12-31-1892, p. 1.
–15 Lock Haven Express, PA. “The Coroner’s Jury Meet.” 7-38-1892, p. 4.
–15 Mine Safety and Health Admin. Historical Coal Mine Disasters in the Anthracite Region.
–15 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC. Mine Disasters.
–15 Philadelphia Inquirer. “Fifteen Killed by Exploding Gas…York Farm…” 7-25-1892, p. 1.
–15 Philadelphia Inquirer. “Digging for the Last Body…York Farm Colliery…” 7-26-1892, p1.
–15 The Express, Lock Haven, PA. “…Coroner’s Jury…Inquire…Death of Fifteen…” 7-28-2893, p. 8.

Narrative Information

July 23, 1892: “Pottsville, PA., July 23. – A most disastrous explosion of gas occurred in the tunnel on the first left of York farm colliery at 11 o’clock this morning by which nine men are known to have been killed outright and probably three others whose bodies cannot be found; while at least ten men are more or less badly burned and mutilated. Some of them will die.

“The explosion, it is believed, was caused by a strong feeder being broken into, and its force penetrated a safety lamp, and ignited the gas. The explosion was terrific, and completely closed the gangway with several cars which were on the track. At one o’clock several men were known to be closed in, but how many, or what is the extent of their injuries it is impossible to ascertain….

“The York Farm Colliery is owned and operated by the Lehigh Walley Coal Company, the Philadelphia and Reading railroad company lessees.

“The risk in contention with gas which exists in great quantities in operation once abandoned has been great, and many explosions have occurred in the past few years by which miners working here have been injured or killed, but this accident is beyond all parallel. In this mine are many old gangways, long abandoned, called leaders, which have been closed for years, and in which immense quantities of gas have accumulated. It was while tunneling that one of these leaders was struck, and as the first opening was made, the gas rushed out in volumes. Safety lamps, which are used entirely in these workings, were of no avail, and it was from one of these ‘safeties’ the gas was exploded. The rescuing gang are still at work and as fast as the men are found they are sent to the surface.” (Associated Press. “A Deadly Gas Explosion Occurs in a Tunnel at the York Farm Colliery.” Lock Haven Evening Express, PA. 7-23-1892, p. 1.)

July 23, 1892: “Pottsville, July 23. A frightful explosion of gas occurred at York Farm Colliery at this place about noon today, in which eight men were killed outright. Two have since died. Seven others are injured. Those killed are:

John Harrison, Wadesville, fire boss, leaves a wife and three children.
Thomas Jones, Minersville, single.
William Jones, Minersville, single.
William Wehman [or Weihman], New Castle street, Minersville.
James Hartzell.
L. Lewellyn. [Later noted as the lone survivor.
George Kreiss, single, Middle Creek.
Herman Werner, leaves wife and seven children.
Anthony Putchlavage, widower, Pottsville. [Polish]
Anthony Strock, boy, leg broken and burned, died at 3 o’clock.
Harry Madara, Mount Hope, died this evening.

[A later account in the Philadelphia Inquirer, same day, noted as amongst the fatalities:]

Edward Curran, Pottsville.
George Bright, single, Tremont.

“….Four years ago the Lehigh Company purchased these workings, which at that time and for forty years previous had been abandoned and were filled with water. The operation in 1845 was owned and worked by Benjamin Pott. At that time deep mining or mining much below water level was not attempted, and in 1850 the works were abandoned and allowed to fill up with water.

Immense quantities of coal were known to exist in the lower levels, which could be reached by sinking the workings deeper, and it has been the object of the new owners of the workings to get at this coal. Several millions of dollars have already been expended by the company in cleaning the abandoned gangways of water, retimbering and in driving tunnels to intersect the different veins, and great success has awarded their efforts….” (Philadelphia Times. “Miners Killed By Gas. Ten Men Meet Death by an Explosion in the York Farm Colliery.” 7-24-1892, p. 1.)

July 24, 1892: “Pottsville, July 24. – The list of victims of Saturday’s explosion of gas at the York Farm Colliery, on the outskirts of this city, has increased to fifteen dead and one momentarily expected to breathe his last. Thus, not one of the men working in the vicinity of where the explosion occurred will be able to tell the tale of the disaster excepting Llellwyn, the man who first noticed the presence of gas and the unusual running of coal, and who, by strictly complying with colliery rules, had gone to inform the fire boss of these unusual indications, and was thus absent from the vicinity of the explosion.

Llellwyn’s Story

“His story is that he and his buddy, Christian Hornicker, whose body still lies buried in the mine, had fired a shot with a battery in Breast No. 1 on the second lift and immediately there was a strong rush of gas and run of coal. This gas rushed up the airway connecting the first and second lifts and was ignited, it is supposed by one of the safety lamps that was either upset and broken, or faulty, and the terrible explosion followed whereby the men working in the immediate vicinity were killed and the gangways filled with rock, coal and timber, covering up the bodies of some.

Complete List of the Victims.

“The complete list of the victims follows, all of whom are now dead but one:

George Krise, Middle Creek, 21 years, single, laborer.
William Jones, Minersville, 17 years, single, door boy.
William M. Weyman, Minersville, 31 years, wife and several children, miner.
Anthony Putlavitch, Pottsville, 30 years, wife and one child, laborer.
Herman Werner, St. Clair, 45 years, wife, large family, miner.
Thomas Jones, Minersville, 35 years, wife and four children, miner.
Anthony Stock, Yorkville, 16 years, single, laborer.
Henry Madara, Pottsville, 31 years, wife and five children, miner.
Edward Curran, Mt. Laffee, 35 years, wife and two children, miner.
Thomas F. Landers, Pottsville, 27 years, wife and one child, laborer.
Robert W. Allott, Pottsville, 42 years, wife and eight children, miner.
C. D. Allott, Pottsville, 17 years, single, laborer.
James Hartsoll, Llewellyn, 37 years, wife and one child, mine carpenter.
John Harrison, Wadesville, 36 years, wife and three children, fire boss.
Christian Hornicker, 36 years, St. Clair, miner, wife and three children.
George Stock, Yorkville, 22 years, recently married, still living.

“Of the above, Henry Madara, Thomas Landers, Robert and Charles Allott and Edward Curran, who were still living when taken from the mine, died since last evening….” (Philadelphia Inquirer. “Fifteen Killed by Exploding Gas. Victims of the York Farm Colliery Disaster of Saturday.” 7-25-1892, p. 1.)

July 28, 1892: “Pottsville, July 28. – The Coroners’ Jury who was busy all day investigating the York Farm disaster, After hearing a score of witnesses, they rendered their verdict this evening, acquitting the colliery officers from culpability for the accident.” (Pittsburgh Dispatch, PA. “No one blamed for the Colliery Disaster.: 7-29-2893, p. 9.

Sources

Associated Press. “A Deadly Gas Explosion Occurs in a Tunnel at the York Farm Colliery.” Lock Haven Evening Express, PA. 7-23-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lock-haven-express-jul-23-1892-p-5/

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/

Lock Haven Express, PA. “The Coroner’s Jury Meet.” 7-38-1892, p. 4. Accessed 2-24-2022 at; https://newspaperarchive.com/lock-haven-express-jul-28-1892-p-4/

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

Philadelphia Inquirer. “Fifteen Killed by Exploding Gas. Victims of the York Farm Colliery Disaster of Saturday.” 7-25-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-jul-25-1892-p-1/

Philadelphia Inquirer. “Twelve Killed in a Colliery…Explosion of Mine Gas.” 7-24-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-jul-24-1892-p-1/

Philadelphia Inquirer. “Digging for the Last Body. The Fifteenth Victim of the York Farm Colliery Disaster.” 7-26-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-14-2022 at: Philadelphia Inquirer. “Digging for the Last Body. The Fifteenth Victim of the York Farm Colliery Disaster.” 7-26-1892, p. 1.

Philadelphia Inquirer. “Fifteen Killed by Exploding Gas. Victims of the York Farm Colliery Disaster of Saturday.” 7-25-1892, p. 1. “Miners Killed By Gas. Ten Men Meet Death by an Explosion in the York Farm Colliery.” 7-24-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-times-jul-24-1892-p-1/

The Express, Lock Haven, PA. “The Coroner’s Jury Meet to Inquire into the Death of Fifteen Miners Near Pottsville.” 7-28-2893, p. 8. Accessed 2-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lock-haven-express-jul-28-1892-p-8/