1929 — Jan 26, Kingston Pocahontas Coal Co. No. 5 gas & dust explosion, Kingston, WV-14
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 2-11-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–14 Bureau of Mines, US DOC. Preliminary Report of Explosion, Kingston Pocahontas…
–14 United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. Kingston.
–14 WV Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training. WV Mine Disasters 1884 to Present
Narrative Information
Bureau of Mines, US DOC. Preliminary Report of Explosion, Kingston Pocahontas…:
“Nature of Disaster: Gas and dust explosion with strong probability of straight coal dust explosion.
“Name of Mine: Kingston Pocahontas Coal Company mine No. 5, Kingston, Fayette County, West Virginia.
“Time of Explosion: Explosion occurred about 1:45 a.m., January 26, 1929, while the night shift was in the mine.
“Number of Men Involved: (Killed, affected with afterdamp, escaped unaided). Sixty-five men were in the mine at the time of the explosion, 14 of whom were killed outright by violence and burns, 2 escaped from left off No. 1 main about eight hours after the explosion affected by afterdamp. These two men were at work in the 12 left aircourse at No. 4 room engaged in moving rock when the explosion occurred. They were knocked down into a pool of water and remained at this place presumably in a semi-conscious condition until the ventilation was partially restored. Forty-nine miners, who were at work in the region to the right of No. 1 main, escaped unassisted and unaffected shortly after the explosion.
….
“Number of Employees: Three hundred and fifty men are employed underground and about 20 men are employed above ground.
“Gassy or Non-Gassy: This mine is rated as non-gassy by the State Department of Mines of West Virginia.
….
“Coal Dust: The coal dust is naturally explosive. Dry coal dust was observed on ribs, crossbars and floor pretty generally throughout the mine. Large quantities of dry road-cleanings, which consist chiefly of coal dust, were observed piled along ribs of roadways.
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“Rock-Dusting: No rock-dusting is done to render coal dust inert.
“Watering: No watering methods are used to allay coal dust.
“Extent, Probable Origin and Violence of the Explosion: [It is noted that it is not known with certainty “the exact point of origin of this explosion.” Describes two possible causes, one starting with a gas explosion and one starting with a dust explosion. Then: “Regardless of the point of origin of the explosion whether…gas…or whether it was originated by coal dust…the explosion was propagated by coal dust….”
Sources
Bureau of Mines, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Preliminary Report of Explosion, Kingston Pocahontas Coal Co., Mine No. 5, Kingston, Fayette County, West Virginia. Photocopy accessed 2-11-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/Kingston_1929.pdf
United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Kingston Pocahontas Coal Company, Kingston No. 5 Mine Explosion, Kingston, Fayette Count, West Virginia, January 26, 1929, No. Killed – 14.” Accessed 2-11-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/kingston_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