1926 — Oct 4, Rockwood Coal Mine Explosion (Roane Iron Company), Rockwood, TN–27

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

 –27  Bureau of Mines, US Dept. of Commerce. Excerpt. Rockwood Mine…27 Killed. Report.

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

–27  United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. Rockwood.

 Narrative Information

 Bureau of Mines, US Dept. of Commerce. Excerpt. Rockwood Mine…27 Killed. Report:

“The explosion occurred about 9:20 on Monday morning in a region where the coal was about 80 feet thick and worked unsystematically.[1]

 

“There were 244 men underground, 23 of them in the Rogers section; all 23 were killed, 6 by violence, 5 by flames and violence, and 12 by flame. Four others died from afterdamp in nearby entries. One man overcome by gases was found by two survivors from another entry and was taken with them on their retreat to their working face.

 

“They short-circuited the air and waited over 4 hours until rescuers restored ventilation to their place. Another man affected by gas was also rescued.

 

“The explosion was confined to the Rogers section, because the connecting entries were in rock. Recovery work was slow due to inability to ventilate the affected area, and gas masks and breathing

apparatus were used extensively. Recovery was completed October 17.

 

“The booster fan supplying air circulation to the section was under repair on Sunday. Monday morning 2 or 3 places were ‘marked out’ because of methane. Slow movement of this gas to the return brought it in contact with the open lights. Dust was ignited in the section. Closed lights, improved ventilation and inspection, rock dusting, and many other changes were recommended.”

 

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. Rockwood:

“The deceased:

  • Willie Armour, single
  • Frank Boles, single
  • Dave Brummett, married, 6 children
  • P. C. Craven, married, 2 grown children
  • Walter Cunningham, married, 2 children
  • Jessie Dale, married
  • C. P. Davis, married, 1 child
  • W. C. Elliot, single
  • J. A. Freels, married, 4 children
  • Phillip Galyon, married
  • Ben F. Gibson, single
  • A. J. Griffice, single
  • H. M. Griffice, married, 4 children
  • Frank Hinds, married, 3 children
  • Lee Jolly, married, several children
  • Van Kilby, married, 4 children
  • Harry Lingo, married
  • George C. McCoy, married
  • Ira Nelson, single
  • George Riddle, married, 6 children
  • Will Rodgers, married, 5 children
  • E. G. Smith, married, 1 child (son-in-law of Will Rodgers)
  • Hector Smith, single
  • Clarence C. Stevens, married, 10 children
  • Sam Taylor, married, 3 children
  • Clyde Teague, single (son of Will Teague)
  • S. P. Whittier, married, 6 children

Sources

 

Associated Press. “65 Trapped By Blast, Belief.” Prescott Evening Courier, AZ. 10-4-1926, p. 1. Accessed 3-13-2025 at: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=897&dat=19261004&id=iqMNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RE8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3580,143866

 

Bureau of Mines, United States Department of Commerce. Excerpt. “October 4, 1926; Rockwood Mine, Rockwood, Tenn.; 27 Killed. (From Bureau of Mines report, by F. E. Cash).” Accessed 3-13-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/1926_Rockwood_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. “Roane Iron Company, Rockwood Mine Explosion, Rockwood, Roane County, Tennessee, October 4, 1926, No. Killed – 27.” Accessed 3-13-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/rockwood_1926_news_only.htm

 

[1] Reportedly “three miles underground at the Rogers entry…” (Associated Press. “65 Trapped By Blast, Belief.” Prescott Evening Courier, AZ. 10-4-1926, p. 1.)