1947 — Apr 10, Methane Gas Explosion, Schooley shaft, Knox Coal Co., Exeter, PA — 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard 10-15-2023 for upload to: https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 10 PA mine inspectors report to PA Secretary of Mines. “Explosion, Schooley Colliery…”
— 10 Mine Safety and Health Admin. Historical Coal Mine Disasters in the Anthracite Region.
— 10 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC. Mine Disasters.
— 10 UP. “Exeter Mine Blast Toll Mounts to Ten.” Lebanon Daily News, PA. 4-14-1947, 10.
— 10 United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. (Schooley)
Narrative Information
PA mine inspectors report to PA Secretary of Mines: “At 7:00 A.M., April 10, 1947, an explosion of gas occurred in the Marcy seam, Schooley Shaft, Knox Coal Company, resulting in the death of ten (10) workmen and the injury of seven (7)….
“An examination of the record book revealed that gas had not been found in the Marcy seam during a period of five and one-half months immediately preceding the explosion. No record, however, of an examination had been entered for April 10, the day of the explosion. The mine foreman who customarily made the morning examination prior to the entrance of the workmen did not make such an examination on the morning of the accident. He did, however, enter the mine before the explosion occurred, and in the course of his travel passed the point of accumulation and the point of ignition on the main gangway.
“The gangway in question was isolated from the abandoned workings which it paralleled, by the erection of concrete that the gas first accumulated, and finally percolated through these stoppings to the main gangway, where it was ignited, we believe, by an electric switch, and the flame so caused, in some manner, ignited the explosive mixture in the abandoned workings behind the walls. After the explosion it was found that all of the walls separating the main gangway from the abandoned workings were blown in the direction of the gangway and away from the said abandoned workings.
“The electric switch, which it is presumed ignited the gas, controls a small electric hoist located on the main gangway and used for haulage purposes. The hoist and the switch are open-type and were located at a point on the main gangway outside the first ventilating door, which point is practically in the intake air current.
“To determine the source of the gas and the cause of its accumulation, the walls, doors, and brattices were reconstructed in the section of the mine in which the explosion occurred. The section was then ventilated by a fan other than the fan which the coal company declared furnished the ventilation on the morning of the accident. While so ventilated, gas was not detected in any of the live workings or in the abandoned workings. A change was now made to the extent that the affected section depended upon the Schooley Shaft fan for its ventilation. This is the fan, according to the officials, that ventilated the section where the explosion occurred, on the morning of the accident.
“The change heretofore described was made at 10:25 P. M. on April 22. After the lapse of about one hour a small percentage of methane was found in the abandoned workings. As time went on, seven hours to be exact, an explosive mixture was found percolating through the crevices in the concrete walls between the main gangway and the adjoining abandoned workings. It was further
found that the gas entered the abandoned Marcy seam through crevices in the bottom rock from an underlying seam.
“As heretofore described, the return air from the affected section, in order to get to the Schooley Shaft fan, traveled through the abandoned workings in which the gas accumulated, thence through a shaft to the overlying Pittston seam. This shaft, according to statements made by the officials of the Knox Coal Company, was partially blocked with timber and other material. This blockage, they declared, was not sufficient, on the day before the accident and on several days prior thereto, to prevent the passage of a volume of air sufficient to ventilate the affected workings and the abandoned workings connected therewith.
“They account for the gas accumulation on the day of the accident, and on several days subsequent thereto, by declaring that during the night preceding the morning of the accident the material which partially blocked the shaft heretofore referred to, moved or settled sufficiently to prevent the flow of sufficient air to ventilate the explosion section and the abandoned workings.
“It is our opinion that the mine officials who had knowledge of the conditions in the partly blocked shaft should have exercised greater caution. In fact, ordinary precaution could have prevented this accident. It might also be noted that the person chiefly responsible for the safety of the workmen, and who was killed in the explosion, showed laxness in the performance of his legal duties.”
(Pennsylvania mine inspectors report to Pennsylvania Secretary of Mines Richard Maize. “Explosion, Schooley Colliery, Knox Coal Company, Exeter, Pennsylvania.” 5-9-1947.)
Newspapers
April 10, AP: “Exeter, Pa., April 10 – (AP) – The nation’s second coal mine explosion in little more than two weeks killed nine anthracite diggers and injured nine others as they worked 350 feet underground today. The blast – attributed to gas – brought no immediate comment from United Mine Workers Chief John L. Lewis who closed the country’s bituminous workings in mourning after 111 died in the March 25 tragedy at Centralia, Ill. However, an immediate report was asked in the Pennsylvania legislature….
“The explosion, so terrific that it splintered supporting timbers and crumpled mine chamber walls, came shortly after the day work crew reported at the Schooley shaft of Knox Coal Company. Dust and smoke rose from the pit head as rescue forces rushed into the operation near Wilkes-Barre. Two bodies were removed immediately. Injured were speeded to nearby Pittston hospital where doctors said some had been burned, others overcome by fumes.
“Within a matter of several hours – while anxious-eyed relatives and tense fellow miners stood by – the other bodies were recovered from mounds of debris.
“While no statement was forthcoming from the company, Joseph J. Walsh, deputy state secretary of mines, said the blast was caused by ignition of methane gas. He said the mine was in ‘first class condition’ after recent inspections.
“Officials of the Knox company said 175 miners are normally employed but that only 20 are believed to have been in the blast-torn shaft – operated on subcontract by the Panzetta Coal Co. Two of these 20 escaped unhurt.
“Benjamin Foglia, 48, groped his way to safety after throwing his shirt over his head. He said a fellow worker, Michael Ziambra, 21, was killed while carrying a keg of explosive from one mine chamber to another….
“The list of Exeter dead [9]:
Michael Panzetta, 40, miner, Pittston township.
Richard Trotter, 37, laborer, Pittston.
Stephen Alexandria, 30, footman, Yatesville.
Michael Ziambura, laborer, Pittston.
John Castellani, 45, assistant mine foreman, Taylor.
John Gowles, 32 Wyoming.
Charles Ellard. Minooka.
Joseph Tomaszewski, Minooka.
Eugene Vivaldi, Duryea.
(Associated Press. “Nine Miners Die in Blast. Nine Others Injured When Explosion Wrecks Pit at Exeter, Penna.” The Oil City Derrick, PA. 4-11-1947, p. 1.)
April 14, UP: “Pittston, Pa., Today – (UP) – The tenth fatality from last Thursday’s mine explosion in nearby Exeter was recorded today with the death of James Jackson, Wyoming, at Pittston Hospital. Jackson never regained consciousness after the accident in which nine others were killed and eight burned or injured.
“State and federal mine inspectors are continuing their investigation of the disastrous gas explosions in the Schooley shaft of the Knox Coal Co. Independent mine.” (United Press. “Exeter Mine Blast Toll Mounts to Ten.” Lebanon Daily News, PA. 4-14-1947, p. 10.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Nine Miners Die in Blast. Nine Others Injured When Explosion Wrecks Pit at Exeter, Penna.” The Oil City Derrick, PA. 4-11-1947, p. 1. Accessed 10-14-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oil-city-derrick-apr-11-1947-p-1/
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
Pennsylvania mine inspectors report to Pennsylvania Secretary of Mines Richard Maize. “Explosion, Schooley Colliery, Knox Coal Company, Exeter, Pennsylvania.” 5-9-1947. Accessed 10-15-2023 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/schooley_description_1947.pdf
United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. (Schooley)
https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/schooley_news_only.htm
United Press. “Exeter Mine Blast Toll Mounts to Ten.” Lebanon Daily News, PA. 4-14-1947, p. 10. Accessed 10-15-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lebanon-daily-news-apr-14-1947-p-10/