1937 — Oct 26, Evan-Jones Coal Mine Gas and Dust Explosion and Fire, Jonesville, AK–14
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 11-14-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–14 Cole. History of MSHA, slide 39.
–14 Gottehrer, Dean M. The Associated Press Stylebook for Alaska. 2000, p. 89.
–14 San Mateo Times, CA. “14 Killed in Alaska Mine.” Oct 27, 1937, p. 1.
–14 US Bureau of Mines. Explosion in the Evan Jones Coal Company Mine…October 26, 1937.
Narrative Information
Bureau of Mines. Explosion…Evan Jones Coal Company Mine…Alaska, October 26, 1937:
“On October 26, 1937, at 2:10 p.m., an explosion of gas and dust in the Jonesville mine of the Evan Jones Coal Company, Jonesville, Alaska, operating on Federal Government leased land, was initiated when a cigarette was lighted with a match. Of the nineteen men in the mine at the time of the explosion fourteen were killed, one was severely injured, and four escaped without injury. Little damage was done to the mine.
“The Jonesville mine is adjacent to the old Government mine at Eska and is about 20 miles from Palmer and 58 miles by rail from Anchorage. On October 26, 42 men were employed on two shifts and about 300 tons a day were produced at that time. After the explosion the mine was shut down….” (p. 1.)
“This memorandum, based upon a report by H. B. Humphrey, shows a number of unsafe practices that should not have been tolerated, and that the mine did not reopen immediately after the explosion because it would have cost too much to carry out the safety regulations indicates that little attention had been paid to safety in this mine prior to the explosion.” (p. 3.)
Gottehrer: “Oct. 27, 1937.[1] An explosion in the Evans-Jones coal mine, 60 miles from Anchorage, killed 14 miners.” (Gottehrer, Dean M. The Associated Press Stylebook for Alaska. 2000, p. 89.)
Newspaper
Oct 27, San Mateo Times: “Anchorage, Alaska, Oct. 27. – (UP) – Fourteen men were killed in an explosion that set fire to the Evan-Jones coal mine at Jonesville, 70 miles north of here, E. J. Loussac, vice president of the coal company, reported today. Loussac, returning here from the mine, said that the bodies of six men were recovered and that there was no hope for eight other men who were trapped in the workings. Five miners escaped after the blast, he said.
“Loussac reported that the six bodies recovered were so badly mangled that he doubted if they ever would be identified. He said that the fire was extinguished late last night, but that the mine suffered terrific damage. The cause of the explosion was not known. The mine, producing soft coal, sells its product to the Alaska railroad.” (San Mateo Times, CA. “14 Killed in Alaska Mine.” Oct 27, 1937, p. 1.)
Sources
Cole, Jesse P. (MSHA District 4 Manager). “History of MSHA,” Leadership Intensive Course Mine Safety and Health Administration. No date. 48 slides. Accessed 1-11-2009 at: http://www.usmra.com/repository/category/mining/modified_History_of_MSHA.ppt#256,1
Gottehrer, Dean M. The Associated Press Stylebook for Alaska (Revised and 2nd edition). Fairbanks, Alaska: Epicenter Press, 2000. Partially digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=O53zwdFYTGEC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
San Mateo Times, CA. “14 Killed in Alaska Mine.” Oct 27, 1937, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=47414178
United States Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior. Explosion in the Evan Jones Coal Company Mine, Jonesville, Alaska, October 26, 1937. Accessed 11-14-2024 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/1937_Jonesville_Mine_Report.pdf
[1] Was Oct 26 not 27.