1932 — Feb 27, overcharge blast & dust explosion, Boissevain Coal Mine, Pocahontas VA–38

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 1-17-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

 –38  Bureau of Mines. Letter Report of Mine Explosion at Boissevain Mine. 3-21-1932.

–38  Hypes, Larry. “February explosions at Bishop an Boissevain linger in memories.” 2-2-2007

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

–38  United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Boissevain.”

–36  NFPA. “Fires Causing Large Loss of Life.” 1983 NFPA Handbook.  1984, p. 34.[1]

–36  NFPA. “Fires in Which There Was Loss of Life.” NFPA Quarterly, V25/4, Apr 1932, 414.

Narrative Information

Bureau of Mines. Letter Report of Mine Explosion at Boissevain Mine. 3-21-1932”

“On February 27,1932 about 4:05 A. M., a mine explosion occurred in the Basin Main section of the Boissevain Mine at Boissevain, Va., Killing 38 of the 42 men employed on the night shift in this section. This mine is operated by the Pocahontas Fuel Company, with offices at Pocahontas, Va. …. [p. 1]

Location

 

“This mine is located at Boissevain, Tazewell County, Virginia…It is a shaft mine and is operating in what is known as the Pocahontas #3 seam of coal which, in this mine averages about 10 feet in thickness.

 

“About 377 men are employed, 74 surface men, 77 loaders and 226 company men. There is an average daily production at 2237 tons and the yearly output for 1931 was 420,460 tons.

 

“The mine is a shaft mine having two shafts. One for hoisting coal and supplies and one used as an air way. There are two slope openings and two drift openings. One of the slope openings was used in the past for hauling, coal and supplies, the other far air. The two drift openings are used as drainage openings…. [p. 2]

State Inspector’s Conclusion

 

“It was the conclusion of chief mine inspector A. G. Lucas of the Virginia Department of Mines that the explosion had been initiated at the face of room 26 off 3 left off basin main by one or more overcharged or so-called windy shot or shots, and that the explosion had been propagated by coal dust and that gas was probably not a factor in the initiation of the explosion….” [p. 18]

 

Hypes:  “On Feb. 27, 1932, the Basin Main section of the 189-foot deep shaft mine exploded.  In that tragedy, 38 miners were killed. As with the Bishop explosion [2-4-1957], mine inspectors from all over the Eastern United States, along with rescue teams, descended on the explosion site.  Boissevain, like Bishop, extended into two states. In fact, the Jenkinjones mine was close enough that miners could often hear workers in the other mine and in later years the tunnels were actually connected. Pocahontas Fuel Company, as the older residents will recall, additionally connected many of its mines in that region via the famed 18.6 mile drainage tunnel that channeled water from Boissevain all the way to Amonate and was judged an engineering marvel….

 

“Boissevain was named for G. L. Boissevain…[a coal] company official.  It “officially” closed in 1960 but most operations were completed by 1956.” (Hypes, Larry. “February explosions at Bishop an Boissevain linger in memories.” 2-2-2007.)

 

Identified Fatalities as of March 2

(Bluefield Telegraph, WV. “Four Blast Victims Still Underground.” 3-2-1932.)

 

  1. Abrams, Sam
  2. Adams, Brady
  3. Auguieleo, Victor
  4. Baker, Lee
  5. Baker, John
  6. Baldwin, Claude
  7. Baldwin, Homer
  8. Brooks, Burton
  9. Brown, C. R.
  10. Brown, Larry O.
  11. Fitzgerald, Dallas
  12. Hardy, James
  13. Hardy, Orbie
  14. Hardy, Robert
  15. Harless, Warren
  16. Heck, John
  17. Hodge, Clayton
  18. Johnson, Will
  19. Jones, A. R.
  20. McCormick, Garland
  21. Miller, Mont
  22. Moton, Lewis
  23. Petty, Howard
  24. Phipps, Lester
  25. Robinson, Sam
  26. Saunders, Ben
  27. Saunders, Ed
  28. Shupe, Mason
  29. Shupe, Mike
  30. Thomas, Sid
  31. Thomas, Walker
  32. White, Sam
  33. White, W. S.
  34. Wire, Dave
  35. Yates, Charles
  36. Yates, Tom

 

Sources

 

Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of Commerce. Letter Report of Mine Explosion at Boissevain Mine. 3-21-1932. Accessed 1-17-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/Boisevain_1932.pdf

 

Hypes, Larry. “February explosions at Bishop an Boissevain linger in memories.” Bluefield Daily Telegraph, WV, 2-2-2007. Accessed 3-25-2013 at; http://bdtonline.com/columns/x519501588/February-explosions-at-Bishop-and-Boissevain-linger-in-memories/print

 

National Fire Protection Association.  “Fires Causing Large Loss of Life.” Handbook of Fire Protection (11th Ed.).  Boston, MA: NFPA, 1954, pp. 33-36.

 

National Fire Protection Association. “Fires in Which There Was Loss of Life.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 25, No. 4, April 1932, pp. 414-415.

 

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 1-17-2025 at:

https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NIOSH-Mining/MMWC/MineDisasters/Table

 

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Pocahontas Fuel Company, Boissevain Mine Explosion…Tazewell County, Virginia, 2-27-1932.” Accessed 1-17-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/boisevain_news_only.htm

[1] The figure of 36 fatalities is incorrect.