1940 — July 15, coal mine gas explosion, Sonman “E”, Portage, Cambria County, PA– 63
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 10-14-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–63 National Fire Protection Association. Key Dates in Fire History. 1996.
–63 NIOSH, CDC. Mining Disasters (Incidents with 5 or more Fatalities). 3-30-2010 update.
–63 US Bureau of Mines. Final Report, Explosion, Sonman “E” Mine…July 15, 1940.
–63 United States Mine Rescue Association. “Sonman Shaft Coal Company…Explosion…”
Narrative Information
US Bureau of Mines. Final Report, Explosion, Sonman “E” Mine…July 15, 1940:
“An explosion occurred in the Sonman “E” mine of the Sonman Shaft Coal Company, Sonman, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, at about 10:40 a.m. on July 15, 1940. Sixty-three men were killed as a result of this explosion, of which number about fifty-five were killed by afterdamp and 8 were killed by burns and afterdamp. Few, if any, of the men were killed outright by burns and violence and it is probable that the eventual cause of death in all cases was due to afterdamp.
“Eighteen men escaped without assistance from the immediate explosion area and 12 others working on the same split of air escaped unaided. About 350 were in the mine at the time of the explosion.
“Thirty-four bodies were found behind a barricade (at least 700 feet inby No. 3 haulage on 16 right) which had been ineffectively erected and located. Seven others were also found back of this barricade some distance inby from the group of 34 at and near the face of room No. 3, 16 right. A note found on one of the victims indicated that at least some of them were still alive at 6:00 p.m.
“The explosion was not general throughout the mine, but traversed a relatively small area in Nos. 16, 17 and 18 right entries off the north dip, and the flame of the explosion did not reach the entrance to these entries on the north dip or the faces of the entries. No water was used in this mine for allaying the coal dust. Rock dust had been sparsely applied at some locations on haulage entries.
….
“The first indication of any trouble inside the mine was in the form of a telephone communication received by the mine superintendent on the surface. Some unidentified person underground, possibly one of the hoisting engineers, notified the superintendent that the air had reversed.
….
“An investigation to determine the cause of the explosion was conducted jointly by the Pennsylvania Department of Mines, the Koppers Coal Company, the United Mine Workers of America, and the Federal Bureau of Mines, but separate reports are formulated by each of these agencies…..
“State Inspectors’ Findings and Conclusions
….
“Caving in the No. 28 room off 17 right occurred just prior to the explosion and continued for some time afterward.
“The explosive gas was suddenly liberated in considerable volume from the fall which occurred in the No. 28 room was carried in the air current.
“A trolley locomotive operating in the 16 right heading was in the path of explosive gas contaminating the mine atmosphere.
“Conclusion
“The explosion which occurred was initiated by the ignition of explosive gas in the mine atmosphere, by an arc or spark from a trolley locomotive operating at or near the junction of the No. 3 haulage road and the 16 right heading, and was propagated by gas in the mine atmosphere. The ignition was indirectly brought about by the failure of the system of mining, which failure might have been anticipated, yet was not expected….”
Sources
National Fire Protection Association. Key Dates in Fire History. 1996. Accessed 2010 at: http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1352&itemID=30955&URL=Research%20&%20Reports/Fire%20statistics/Key%20dates%20in%20fire%20history&cookie%5Ftest=1
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 Bureau of Mines. Final Report, Explosion, Sonman “E” Mine, Sonman Shaft Coal Company, Sonman, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1940. Accessed 10-15-2024 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/sonman_1940.pdf
United States Mine Rescue Association. “Sonman Shaft Coal Company Sonman ‘E’ Mine Explosion, Portage…[PA] July 15, 1940.” Accessed 10-15-2024 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/sonman.htm