1943 — May 11, Praco No. 10 Coal Mine Methane Gas and Dust Explosions, Praco, AL– 12

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-9-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–12  Bureau of Mines. Paraco No. 10 Mine, Alabama By-Products Corp.…May 11, 1943.

–12  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC.  Mine Disasters.

Narrative Information

Bureau of Mines: “Introduction. A gas and dust explosion occurred in the Praco No. 10 mine of the Alabama By-Products Corporation at about 4:10 a.m. May 11, 1943, and a second explosion occurred about 25 minutes later. There were 24 men in the mine at the time of the explosion.

 

“The explosion was local in character, being confined to the 22 north entry and air course, and the main slope entry and air course. Ten men were killed by violence, burns, and afterdamp, one man died the following day and one man died 8 days after the explosion from the effects of burns, violence, and afterdamp. Three others in the area of the explosion were severely burned but will probably recover. Nine men working in other sections of the mine were not affected by these explosions and escaped uninjured.

 

“The initial explosion was caused by the ignition of a body of methane by means of an electric arc produced in the car-hoist control switch at the conveyor-loading point in 22 north heading and was propagated throughout the affected portion of the mine by methane and coal dust….” (p. 1.)

 

Victims of Mine Explosion in Praco No. 10 Mine

Alabama By-Products Corporation, Praco, Alabama

 

            Name                           Age                 Dependents

 

  1. Seburn Wood 18                    Single
  2. Francis Dill 23                    Wife, 1 child
  3. Henry Bert Beacham 18                    Single
  4. John Files 34                    Wife, 3 children
  5. Lovell Cook 25                    Single
  6. Olin Quinn 35                    Wife
  7. Cleve Walker 44                    Wife
  8. Henry Merritt 34                    Wife, 1 child
  9. Fred Blackledge 46                    Wife, 1 child
  10. Raymond Kemp 22                    Single
  11. Mack Feltman 29                    Single, 1 over 18
  12. Lexie Coste 28                    ”                         (p. 41.)

 

Sources

 

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 Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines. Final Report of Mine Explosion. Paraco No. 10 Mine, Alabama By-Products Corporation, Praco, Jefferson County, Alabama, May 11, 1943. Accessed 5-9-2024 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/praco_1943.pdf