1947 — July 24, Old Ben No. 8 Coal Mine Gas and Dust Explosion, West Frankfort, IL– 27

lornajarrettblanchard July 24, 1947

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard 10-12-2023 for upload to: https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–27 Bureau of Mines. Final Report of Mine Explosion No. 8 Mine; Old Ben Coal Corp. …IL.

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

–27 United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Old Ben…”

Narrative Information

Bureau of Mines:

“Introduction

“An explosion, evidently caused when gas was ignited by a spark or arc from a gathering locomotive or by smoking, and in which coal dust was involved, occurred in the No. 8 mine, Old Ben Coal Corporation, located just south of West Frankfort, Franklin County, Illinois, at about 12:35 p.m., July 24, 1947. The explosion resulted in the death of 27 men, of which number 26 were killed by burns, violence, and afterdamp. There were 30 men in the vicinity of the explosion area, and 4 of these men escaped to the surface with the assistance of another workmen. On of the rescued me later died in the hospital. Two hundred and sixty-four men were in the mine at the time of the explosion, of which number 234 escaped to the surface unaided. No attempt to barricade was made, as the explosion covered only a small section and did not affect any other portion of the mine….” (p. 1.)

“General Information

“….The mine was considered to be gassy by the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals, and was classified as gassy by the Bureau of Mines because sampling by the Federal inspectors indicated that methane in excess of 0.25 percent had been found in open workings during all previous inspections. Gas had also been ignited on two occasions previously which resulted in 8 men being killed, 9 seriously burned, and 11 slightly burned. Six certified mine examiners were employed to make preshift examinations of the mine for gas and to observe and inspect for other hazards. A certified face boss was employed to supervise each loading machine crew, and his duties included making on-shift inspections for explosive gas and other hazards.” (pp. 4-5.)

“Dust

“The mine was exceedingly dry and an excessive amount of coal dust was raised into suspension during mining operations at the working faces, and some fine coal dust had been carried into the abandoned area and deposited on the ribs, roof, and floor by the ventilating current. Watering methods had not been employed to allay the dust at its source, but generalized rock dusting was practiced and the rock dust was kept to within 80 feet or less of the working faces. Bags of rock dust were suspended from timbers in the airways outby the active working area; however, these barriers played little or no part in preventing the propagation of the explosion s only a few of the bags of rock dust had been tripped. The rock dust from the bags that had been tripped was found on the floor immediately below the installation and no evidence of dispersal of rock dust was observed.” (pp. 5-6.)

United States Mine Rescue Association: “….Possible Causes of the Explosion

“The possibility of ignition of the methane gas by drills, the loading machine, and cutting machine, can be discounted because none of the machines were in operation at the time of the explosion. The possibility of ignition of the methane gas by drills, the loading machine, and cutting machine, can be discounted because none of the machines were in operation at the time of the explosion.

“The possibility of ignition of the gas by men smoking in the area cannot be disregarded. Burned match stubs and other evidence of smoking was found in the mine and in the cars of mantrips. Employees taking part in the rescue work following the explosion deposited matches and smoking materials above ground before re-entering the mine. During the process of identification of the bodies in the temporary morgue, matches and other smoking materials were recovered from at least seven, and perhaps more of the bodies.

“The evidence definitely indicates that employees were smoking underground in spite of the fact that a no-smoking rule was in force. There is a very good possibility that the ignition of gas was caused by smoking in room 2 inby the 8 north panel, (bodies were found near the face of this room), for it was in this room that explosion forces were observed to be outby, and soot and coke particles were in evidence. There could have been an accumulation of gas in this room, prior to the explosion, in spite of the fact that no gas was found following this explosion. It is also possible that gas could have moved into the active working area from the abandoned workings, and ignition of this gas could have been caused by smoking, and the flame could have followed a gas trailer into the abandoned workings….

“The possibility that gas accumulated in the abandoned workings and was ignited by (a) spontaneous combustion of mine wastes of gob, or (b) sparks produced by roof falls is supported by the evidence and data collected. Smoke and fumes were observed at approximately room 7 inby 8 south panel which was indicative of the presence of a fire in the abandoned area. Whether the fire existed prior to the explosion is of course unknown. The odor of a gob fire is usually easy to detect, but a fire could have existed from spontaneous combustion of old timbers, rags, or paper waste. It is also entirely possible for high-temperature sparks to be created by falls of rock and pyrites from the roof.

“Conclusions and Lessons Learned

“The explosion was caused by the ignition of an accumulation of methane gas and was accompanied, on a small scale, by the combustion of coal dust.

“The exact source and cause of the explosion could not be determined and is unknown. It is believed the source could have been: (a) in the abandoned areas, or (b) in room 2 inby the 8 north panel. The cause of ignition could have been: (a) spontaneous combustion or sparks caused by a fall of roof, or (b) smoking by personnel.

“No data or evidence have been found which indicate the explosion was due to the negligence, or violation of State Mining Laws, by any individual or group of individuals now alive.

“The main lessons learned from this explosion are: (a) where active working places are adjacent to abandoned areas, a hazard may be created by accumulations of gas in the abandoned areas. Abandoned areas should be properly ventilated and examined, or when proper ventilation and examination become impossible the areas should be sealed off from the active working areas.

“A ruling to this effect has subsequently been made by the mining board; (b) smoking by personnel in gassy mines is extremely hazardous. A State law prohibits smoking in gassy mines and the personnel in such mines should not consider it to be their personal right to violate the law and endanger the lives of all personnel in the mine.

Official List of The Deceased:

Clesta Berra, of Herrin, timberman, aged 60 years, married. He leaves a widow.
Herbert D. Bidwell, of West Frankfort, electrician, aged 49 years, married. He leaves a widow
Thomas F. Bower, of West Frankfort, tracklayer…25…married…leaves a widow and…child.
J. Martin Childers, of West Frankfort, clean-up man, aged 74 years, married…leaves a widow.
Hiram B. Chitwood, of Johnston City, tracklayer…22…single. He leaves a dependent mother.
Peter DeJulius, of West Frankfort, electrician…42…married…leaves widow and five children.
Arthur Fritts, of West Frankfort, tracklayer…29…married…leaves a widow and two children.
Gustave Gaubautz, of West Frankfort, clean-up man, aged 48 years, married…leaves a widow.
Gus G. Grant, of Johnston City, tracklayer, aged 59 years, married. He leaves a widow
George D. Griffith…West Frankfort, asst. mine manager…41…married…leaves widow and child.
Willis Hilliard, of Marion, machine man…41…married. He leaves a widow and six children.
Louis Marlow, of Herrin, tracklayer, aged 43 years, single.
Thomas McPheron…Johnston City, timberman…64…married…leaves widow and one child.
Adolph Nickelvich, of West Frankfort, driller, aged 36…married…leaves a widow and child.
Louis F. Owens, of Johnston City machine man…51…married…leaves a widow and child.
Thomas M. Palmer, of West Frankfort, triprider…41…single. He leaves a dependent child.
Domenico Pircentini, of West Frankfort, tracklayer…67 years, married. He leaves a widow.
George Raymond, of West Frankfort, clean-up man, aged 60 years, single.
John Sebben, of Johnston City, timberman…57…married. He leaves a widow and one child.
Willie Ray Smith, of Thompsonville, driller, aged 46 years, married. He leaves a widow.
Curtis O. Stagner, of West Frankfort, motorman…43…married…leaves a widow and child.
Raymond C. Stevens, of Benton, machine helper…32…married…leaves widow and two children.
Giles C. Summers, of Benton, tracklayer, aged 46 years, married. He leaves a widow
Horace M. Walton, of West Frankfort, triprider…44….single. He leaves a dependent mother.
Robert W. Wicker, of West Frankfort, clean-up man…62…married. He leaves a widow.
James T. Wilson…West Frankfort, machine operator…37…married…leaves widow, two children.
John P. Yattoni, of West Frankfort, triprider…32…married. He leaves a widow and one child.”

(United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Old Ben Coal Corporation, Old Ben No. 8 Mine Explosion.”

Sources

Bureau of Mines. Final Report of Mine Explosion No. 8 Mine; Old Ben Coal Corporation, West Frankfort, Franklin County, Illinois, July 24, 1947. Vincennes, IN: Bureau of Mines, undated. Accessed 10-12-2023 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/1947_Old_Ben_Report.pdf

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 Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Old Ben Coal Corporation, Old Ben No. 8 Mine Explosion.” Accessed 10-12-2023 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/old_ben_1947_news_only.htm