1943 — Sep 24, Moffet Schrader Coal Co., Primrose Mine gas explosion, Forestville, PA– 14

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-26-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–14  Betz. “Middle of 1900s…War, Massacre, Explosion,” Republican-Herald, Oct 25, 2009. 

–14  Bureau of Mines Investigation summary in United States Mine Rescue Association.

–14  Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA. “14 Dead in Blast at Mine.” 9-25-1943.

–14  LykensValley.org. “The Lytle Mine Tragedy, 1943.” Accessed 4-26-2024.

–14  Mine Safety and Health Admin. Historical Coal Mine Disasters in the Anthracite Region.

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

–14  Richards. Death in the Mines: Disasters and Rescues in the Anthracite Coal Fields of [PA]. p.89.

Narrative Information

Betz: “Sept. 24, 1943: Fourteen miners died in an explosion at the Lytle Colliery in Primrose.”  (Betz.  “Middle of 1900s…War, Massacre, Explosion,” Republican-Herald, Oct 25, 2009.)

Bureau of Mines Investigation Report Summary in US Mine Rescue Association:

“About 12:30 p. m, the mine foreman, the assistant foreman, and the contractor examined the working places and reported them free of gas for blasting. Another check was made in the return airway at 1:15 p.m. by the assistant foreman. At 1:30 p.m. he was at the discharge end of No. 1 west conveyor belt, instructing the electrician to install a light at No. 5 south conveyor, when the explosion threw him across the belt slope. He was uninjured and immediately called to the electrician to cut off the power and then telephoned to the mine foreman. He and others went into the affected area and helped injured men out to fresh air.

“After a short time they had to retreat because of the afterdamp. Five men arrived from the surface with oxygen breathing apparatus and searched for other survivors. As only dead bodies remained, the rescuers withdrew until better ventilation was provided. Of the 31 men in the affected area, 14 were killed, 15 escaped, and 2 were rescued. The bodies were removed by 4:00 p.m. September 25, without using apparatus. Gas was found in the section after ventilation was restored, and it was concluded that an explosive mixture had built up because of ineffective ventilation. The source of ignition was thought to be an arc from the switch of a conveyor motor in No. 2 west airway.”

Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA. “14 Dead in Blast at Mine.” 9-25-1943:

“Minersville, Sept. 25 – (AP) – All 14 victims of an explosion which ripped through the fifth level of the Moffett Schrader coal mine at nearby Forestville yesterday were identified by rescue workers today, but ten of the bodies remained in the underground ruins as precautions were taken against a second blast.

“Richard Maize, State Secretary of Mines, sent investigators into the shattered workings to check for any smoldering fires which might touch off accumulated gas pockets. Maize said the cause of the blast had not been determined, but he expressed belief methane gas was ignited by a spark from mechanical loading equipment….

“Taken from the pit last night were the bodies of August Fell, Pottsville, and Robert Thompson, Steve Keystock and Nicholas Stanko, of Minersville. Still in the fifth level ruins were the bodies of Andrew Kanykewskie, New Minersville; John Plahn, Forestville; George Bobrick; Michael Liptok; John Dando; Archie Miller; Robert Edwards; Joseph Blase and John Adams, of Minersville….

“The mine employs approximately 600 men but only 200 were at work at the time of the explosion.”

LykensValley.org. “The Lytle Mine Tragedy, 1943.” Accessed 4-26-2024: “….Although there is little left remaining of the Lytle Colliery, there are those who won’t forget the 14 men who died there:  

Michael Liptock;

Arch Miller;

John Pielacha;

John Adams;

Andrew Kamykowski;

John DiBiase;

Robert Edwards;

John Dando;

Albert Levashouskas;

George Bobrick;

Steven Keitsock;

August Felli;

Nicholas Stanko; and

Robert Thompson.”

Sources

Betz, Jake.  “Middle of 1900s Witness to War, Massacre, Explosion,” Republican-Herald (Pottsville PA), October 25, 2009. Accessed at: http://republicanherald.com/news/middle-of-1900s-witness-to-war-massacre-explosion-1.359391

Bureau of Mines Investigation Report summary in United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Moffett Schrader Mining Company, Primrose Colliery Explosion, Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1943. Accessed 4-26-2024 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/moffett_news_only.htm

Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA. “14 Dead in Blast at Mine.” 9-25-1943. Transcription accessed 4-26-2024 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/moffett_news_only.htm

LykensValley.org. “The Lytle Mine Tragedy, 1943.” Accessed 4-26-2024 at: https://www.lykensvalley.org/the-lytle-mine-tragedy-1943/

Mine Safety and Health Administration. Historical Coal Mine Disasters in the Anthracite Region (District 1 – Coal Mine Safety and Health).  Arlington, VA:  MSHA, U.S. Department of Labor.  Accessed 1/3/2009 at:  http://www.msha.gov/District/Dist_01/Fatals/HISTFAT.HTM

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

Richards, J. Stuart. Death in the Mines: Disasters and Rescues in the Anthracite Coal Fields of Pennsylvania. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2007.