1951 — Jan 18, Burning Springs Collieries Co. Gas Explosion, Kermit, WV — 11

–11 West Virginia Archives & History. Kermit Mine Disaster. Accessed 8-12-2023.
–11 WV Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training. WV Mine Disasters 1884 to Present.
–11 Williamson Daily News, WV. “Kermit Mine Explosion Takes Lives of 11…” 1-19-1951.

Narrative Information

Williamson Daily News, WV. “Kermit Mine Explosion Takes Lives of 11…” 1-19-1951:

“A local gas explosion in the mine of the Burning Springs Collieries Company at Kermit yesterday afternoon snuffed out the lives of 11 miners, and injured two others, one critically. The exact time of the terrific blast that was set off accidentally is not certain, but is believed to have occurred around 1 p. m. Mine officials said there was “so much confusion that they did not note the time nor did they know who sounded the alarm.”

“Approximately 25 men were in the workings on two sections when the blast occurred. The men killed and injured were in No. 9 hallway, about 4,000 feet from the drift mouth. Men working on the other section left the mine uninjured after the explosion. T. L. Lambert, superintendent of the mine, accompanied a group of rescue workers inside the blast-torn area, and remained with them until all of the bodies had been recovered…. The first bodies were recovered about 3 o’clock but it was two hours later before all had been located. Lambert said all of the 11 men apparently died instantly….

“Coroner Tabor Ball conducted an inquest after the last body had been removed, and a jury with William (Bill) Dillon as foreman reported a verdict of accidential [sic] “death due to the explosion of a gas pocket.”

“Ball heard witnesses who said that the men apparently had drilled into what is known as a mine “fault” and that the accident was due to “no laxity on the part of mine inspectors, company officials or workers.”

“Lambert, the mine superintendent, said none of the men was mangled. The coroner reported that death was apparently due to the force of the blast. Burns alone would not have caused instant death, it was said….

“Mines Chief Alexander said it was the first major mine tragedy in West Virginia since the Bartley catastrophe in McDowell County several years ago….

The Dead
Tom Moore, Sr., 48, driller, of Marrowbone Creek.
Tom Moore, Jr., 23, shuttle buggy operator, of Marrowbone Creek.
Charley Sparks, 46, Job loading machine helper, of Kermit.
Proctor Sparks, 26, machine man, of Kermit, son of Charley Sparks.
John Chafin, 31, Stepptown, section boss.
Charley Porter, 57, timberman, of Missouri Branch.
Lashley Mounts, 33, electrician, of Beauty, Ky.
Delbert Dalton, 27, shuttle buggy operator, of Inez.
Conrad Dalton, 48, shooter, of Inez, brother of Delbert.
Walter Johnson, 44, machine helper, of near Inez.
Sherman Fields, 34, joy machine operator, of Beauty.
The Injured

William Bowens, 35, Stepptown, boom operator, suffered burns, brain concussion, back injury and possible skull fracture. Condition critical.

Joseph Hinkle, 34, Inez, motorman, burns and cuts on face, shock. Condition not critical.”

Sources

West Archives & History. Kermit Mine Disaster. Accessed 8-12-2023. Accessed 8-12—2023 at: https://archive.wvculture.org/history/disasters/kermit01.html

West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training. WV Mine Disasters 1884 to Present. MHS&T, October 9, 2008 update. At: http://www.wvminesafety.org/disaster.htm

Williamson Daily News, WV. “Kermit Mine Explosion Takes Lives of 11; Two More Injured, One critically, In Blast…” 1-19-1951. Accessed 8-12-2023 at: https://archive.wvculture.org/history/disasters/kermit01.html