1943 — Aug 28-29, Sayreton No. 2 Coal Mine methane gas explosions, Birmingham, AL– 28

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-28-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

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

–28  United States Mine Rescue Assoc. Mine Disasters in the United States. “…Sayreton…28.”

–27  United States Bureau of Mines. Final Report…Sayreton No. 2 Mine…August 28-29, 1943.

            [Note: first two pages missing. 27 is our total from names listed as fatalities in Appendix

D, List of Victims, divided into explosion 1 and explosion 2.]

Narrative Information

Aug 30, AP: “Birmingham, Ala., Aug. 30. (AP) – Twenty-one dead were counted today from two gas explosions which late Saturday and early yesterday tore through the Republic Steel Corporation’s No. 2 Sayreton coal mine here. Twenty-three others were burned, several of them critically. Among the dead were E. J. McCrossin, chief state mine inspector; George Ferguson, Sayreton night superintendent; and William Goodwin, chief mine inspector here for Republic. They headed rescue parties which entered the mine after the first blast.

“E. I. Evans, southern district manager for Republic, said in a statement:

The first explosion seriously interrupted the ventilating system and damaged the stoppings, doors and regulators in the ninth left section area. The second explosion was more violent and extended the damage which already existed and started eight small fires.

“Evans said the origin of the explosions was unknown.

“The death toll stood at 19 last night, but was raised to 21 today with the death of C. E. Saxon, inspector for the U.S. Bureau of Mines; and Will Neal, a miner.” (Associated Press. “Gas Explosions Fatal To 19.” Winchester Evening Star, VA. 8-30-1943, p. 5.)

Sep 2, AP: “Birmingham, Ala., Sept. 2. – (AP) – A deputy sheriff, and a miner who interrupted a vacation to assist in the rescue of scores of fellow workers trapped by a coal mine explosion here Saturday night, only to be entombed by a second blast, died last night, raising the death toll from the two explosions to 24. The deaths brought to eight the number of volunteer rescuers who lost their lives.

“Deputy Sheriff Milton Ferguson, nephew of the superintendent of the mine, Republic Steel Corporation’s Sayreton No. 2, who also perished in the disaster, succumbed to injuries last night, as did Joe Nail, Sayreton miner who was on vacation but who went into the mine with the rescue crews.” (Associated Press. “Mine Blast’s Toll Raised To 24 Today.” The Anniston Star, AL. 9-2-1943, p. 10.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Gas Explosions Fatal To 19.” Winchester Evening Star, VA. 8-30-1943, p. 5. Accessed 4-28-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/winchester-evening-star-aug-30-1943-p-5/

Associated Press. “Mine Blast’s Toll Raised To 24 Today.” The Anniston Star, AL. 9-2-1943, p. 10. Accessed 4-28-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/anniston-star-sep-02-1943-p-10/

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 Bureau of Mines. Final Report of Mine Explosions, Sayreton No. 2 Mine, Republic Steel Corporation, Sayreton, Jefferson County, Alabama, August 28-29, 1943. Accessed 4-28-2024 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/8-28-1943-sayretonb.pdf

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Republic Steel Corporation Sayreton No. 2 Mine Explosions, Sayreton, Jefferson County, Alabama, August 28, 1943, No. Killed – 28.” Accessed 4-28-2024 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/sayreton.htm