1926 — Feb 3, Horning No. 4, Coal Mine Gas Explosion, Horning, PA             —     20

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-15-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–20  Bureau of Mines, US Dept. of Commerce. Report of the Explosion in No. 4 Mine…, p. 1.

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

–20  United States Mine Rescue Assoc. Mine Disasters in the United States. Horning No. 4.

Narrative Information

Bureau of Mines, US Dept. of Commerce. Report of the Explosion in No. 4 Mine…, p. 1:

“General Statement:

“At 5:55 p.m. February 3, 1926, an explosion took place in the No. 4 mine of the Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Corporation at Horning, Pennsylvania. Of the 20 employees killed, one probably met death by violence, two were suffocated by afterdamp and 17 were in the flame zone of the explosion. Seven officials, including the general superintendent, lost their lives in the explosion which was the outcome of a fire that was being sealed off. The fire resulted from an attempt to operate a shortwall coal cutting machine equipped with an open type controller box after a clay vein had been cut, liberating explosive gas.”

 

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. Horning No. 4:

“The deceased:

  • Antonio Apostle
  • Andy Berlage
  • Reese T. Bradburn
  • George Denard
  • H. M. Ernst
  • John Geth, Jr.
  • John Geth, Sr.
  • Tony Hern
  • William Holtzhauser
  • Louis Kristan

·         Lawrence Loadman

  • Mike Lucas
  • John Luznar
  • Harry Melani
  • John Petrovich
  • Tony Piccolo
  • John Polinsky
  • Andrew Smith
  • George Travis
  • Arthur Wells

Sources

 

Bureau of Mines, United States Department of Commerce (H. C. Howarth). Report of the Explosion in No. 4 Mine, Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Corporation, Horning, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1926. Accessed 3-15-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/Horning_1926.pdf

 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Safety and Health Research..  Mining Disasters (Incidents with 5 or more Fatalities). NIOSH, CDC, 2-26-2013 update. Accessed at: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NIOSH-Mining/MMWC/MineDisasters/Table

 

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Corporation, Horning No. 4 Mine Explosion, Horning, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1926, No. Killed – 20.” Accessed 3-15-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/horning.htm