1926 — Jan 14, Jamison Coal Co. Mine No. 8 Coal Dust Explosion, Farmington, WV — 19
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-15-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–19 Bureau of Mines, U.S Dept of Interior. Mine Explosion. “Mine Jamison No. 8.”
–19 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC. Mining Disasters.
–19 United States Mine Rescue Assoc. Mine Disasters in the United States. Jamison No. 8.
–19 WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training. WV Mine Disasters 1884 to Present
Narrative Information
Bureau of Mines, U.S Department of Interior. Mine Explosion. “Mine Jamison No. 8.”:
“General Statement.
“An explosion in a section of the No. 8 Mine of the Jamison Coal & Coke Company, at 10 P.M. on January 14, 1926, resulted in the loss of the lives of 19 men. There were 47 men in the mine of which 28 received no injury. Seven men in or near a cabin a short distance from the bottom of the main hoisting shaft immediately escaped to the surface on the hoisting cage. Four men remained in a wiremans shop on the 20 right entry and 16 men remained in the unaffected part of the mine for 2 or 3 hours and then found refuge in a feed storage room adjoining a stable on the 20 left entry. These 20 men, after 15 hours made their way to the shaft without assistance, the afterdamp in the meantime having been cleared by the recovery crews erecting brattices.” [p. 1.]
….
“The Explosion:
“The explosion originated in that part of the mine known as the Seventh Right….In this 7 Right section there were 13 men at work and all were killed by either burns or violence….
“The explosion extended into the main entries with decreasing violence and with flame that extended to a point near the 12th left entry. Four men were at work on the main haulage track between the 11th and 12th left entries and were killed by violence, and some burns….
“Two additional lives were lost about 12 hours after the explosion when two men attempted to escape from the 20 Left section where they had been detained by the machine boss along with 20 others. Their bodies were found on the main entry between the 15 and 16 left butts, having been overcome and died through breathing the afterdamp….
“Probable Origin of the Explosion.
“All evidence is conclusive that this explosion was propagated through the affected parts by the presence of coal dust. As to the source or origin of the explosion, the evidence is not conclusive. The conditions favorable for the start of an explosion would be (1) the ignition of an accumulation of gas by an electric spark or arc; (2) the stirring up of a dense cloud of coal dust in the presence of an electric arc; and (3) the discharge of a high non-permissible explosive in the presence of dry coal dust….
“This explosion did not manifest other than a mild explosion, therefore the initial ignition is not believed to have been gas….” (p. 20)
United States Mine Rescue Assoc. Mine Disasters in the United States. Jamison No. 8:
“The dead:
Louie Ben, married;
Charles Fanner, single;
Wassell Froskaff, married;
Leo Cutlip, married;
- J. Seel, married;
John Thomas, married;
Nick Zapolortoney, married;
William E. Myers, married;
Joseph Fluharty, single;
- T. Carr, single;
John Denah, single;
Arch Cutlip, married;
Coy Lough, single;
- D. Luster;
John Stareneky, married;
Frank Fanner; and
two unidentified.”
Sources
Bureau of Mines, U.S Department of Interior. Mine Explosion. “Mine Jamison No. 8.” Accessed 3-15-2025 at:
https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/01-14-1926_Jamison_Coal_and_Coke_No_8.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. “Jamison Coal and Coke Company, Jamison No. 8 Mine Explosion, Farmington, Marion County, West Virginia, January 14, 1926, No. Killed – 19.” Accessed 3-15-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/jamison_1926_news_only.htm
West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training. WV Mine Disasters 1884 to Present. MHS&T, October 9, 2008 update. At: http://www.wvminesafety.org/disaster.htm