1926 — Aug 26, Clymer No. 1 Coal Mine gas and dust explosion, Clymer, PA      —     44

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-13-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–44  Bureau of Mines. US Dept. of Commerce. Excerpt. Clymer No. 1 Mine, Clymer Pa.

–44  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC. Mining Disasters.

–44  United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. Clymer No. 1.

Narrative Information

Bureau of Mines. US Dept. of Commerce. Excerpt. Clymer No. 1 Mine, Clymer Pa.:

“There were 62 men underground when the explosion occurred at 1:00 p.m. Of these, 27 were killed by violence, 17 by afterdamp; 4 were overcome but were revived later in the hospital; and 14 escaped uninjured. Eleven could have been saved by erection of a barricade, and most of those killed by afterdamp might have gotten out by using self- rescuers.

 

“The fireboss did not report any gas in the mine. The main fan on the surface was not damaged, as the explosion doors opened. Rescue work was organized by 5 p.m., and the last bodies were removed on August 27. The recovery work was mostly done without apparatus. Gas masks were used for short trips. The explosion was confined to the 1st north section, although it was violent.

 

“Gas had accumulated in places ventilated by a blower fan when a door was left open, or dust was raised by a roof fall; ignition was by electric arc from trolley wire or electric equipment. Gas and dust were involved. Ventilation was inadequate, and the mine was dry and dusty.”

 

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. Clymer No. 1:

“The Official List of the Deceased:[1]

 

  1. Frank Busha, 45
  2. Paul Capek, 43
  3. George Ciako, 38
  4. Steve Debelyak, 32
  5. Matt Dobrenic, 36
  6. Andy Dospay, 47
  7. Charles Ducker, 45
  8. Andy Gall, 40
  9. Thomas Gallo, 35
  10. John Gelatko, 31
  11. Peter Hankinson, 36
  12. Robert Hannen, 40
  13. Jay Hetrick, 29
  14. Charles Kanias, 30
  15. George Kingston, 26
  16. Mike Kollar, 36
  17. Joe Kucyk, 19
  18. John Kucyk ,17
  19. Mike Kucyk, 44
  20. Joe Kudman, 38
  21. George Last, 41
  22. John Lezark, 57
  23. Adolph Lipchik, 45
  24. William MacTavish, 21
  25. Andy Marco, 23
  26. George Mihalick, 38
  27. Mike Misenko, 50
  28. G. Nelson, 31
  29. Mike Pavlosky, 17
  30. George Pavlovsky, 40
  31. John Penekans, 30
  32. John Puro, 45
  33. Stanley Puro, 59
  34. Wallace Records, 48
  35. Steve Rostas, 27
  36. James Rumgay, 34
  37. Mike Sam, 29
  38. Costic Stanish, 43
  39. Umberto Sumerville, 45
  40. Howard Thorburn, 18
  41. Joe Toth, 54
  42. Alex Trockson, 20
  43. Mike Trockson, 25
  44. Tony Yasko Sr., 59

Sources

 

Bureau of Mines. United States Department of Commerce. Excerpt. “August 26, 1926; Clymer No. 1 Mine, Clymer, Pa.: 44 Killed (From Bureau of Mines report by J. J. Forbes, J. N. Geyer, and H. C. Howarth).” Accessed 3-13-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/1926_Clymer_Report.pdf

 

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

 

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corporation, Clymer No. 1 Mine Explosion, Clymer, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1926, No. Killed – 44.” Accessed 3-13-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/clymer_news_only.htm

[1] Notes as source: Pennsylvania Registers of Mine Accidents, Bituminous, 1925-1932.