1928 — May 22, Yukon Pocahontas Coal Mine No.1 gas and dust explosion, Yukon, WV–17

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 2-17-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–17  Bureau of Mines, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Report of Explosion, Yukon No. 1 Mine…

–17  United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. Yukon No. 1.

–17  WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety, and Training.  WV Mine Disasters 1884 to Present.

Narrative Information

Bureau of Mines, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Report of Explosion, Yukon No. 1 Mine:

“Introduction. About 7:45 P.M. May 22, 1928, an explosion occurred in the Yukon No. 1 mine of the Yukon-Pocahontas Coal Company, Yukon, McDowell County, West Virginia, resulting in the death of 17 men.

….

“The explosion occurred during the night shift when there were 40 men in the mine, 23 of these or all but the 17 who were killed escaped unassisted and uninjured. It is believed that the explosion had its origin in 1st right off 19 left and was due to the ignition of gas by a mining machine. The explosion was propagated by coal dust but involved only a relatively small portion of the mine. The No. 2 mine was unaffected.

 

“No rock-dusting or watering had been done in any portion of the mine…. [p. 1.]

….

“The mining machine was of a non-permissible type and evidently was in operation as evidenced by the controller of the machine being in the ‘on’ or operating position. It had no doubt been in operation but a short time as it had just about completed ‘sumping’ into the face. [p. 9]

….

“Summary and Conclusions:….The accumulation of gas apparently was caused by a trap door being left open. The evidence seems to indicate that the machine crew failed to test for gas in 1st right entry off 19 left before starting the mining machine, but this is questionable as the gas accumulation may have occurred after a test was made. [pp. 16-17]

 

Appendix

Names of Men Killed By The Explosion [p. 31]

….

James Wakely             Yukon, W. Va.            Burned

George Miller              Yukon, W. Va.            Burned

William Sayers           Yukon, W. Va.            Burned

  1. B. Shamblin Yukon, W. Va. Killed by afterdamp

Audlin Lowe               Yukon, W. Va.            Killed by afterdamp

Joseph Maliski            Yukon, W. Va.            Burned

John Bavin                  Yukon, W. Va.            Burned

John Brown                 War, W. Va.                Burned

Fuller Honaker            Honaker, Va.               Burned

Silas Honaker              Honaker, Va.               Burned

….

Reed Johnson              Yukon, W. Va.            Burned

Enoch Holland            Yukon, W. Va.            Burned

Will Wade                  Yukon, W. Va.            Burned

Joshua Boyhin            Yukon, W. Va.            Burned

William Fields            Yukon, W. Va.            Burned

Mack Weaver              Yukon, W. Va.            Burned

Earl Wilkinson            Yukon, W. Va.            Burned”

 

Sources

 

Bureau of Mines, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Report of Explosion, Yukon No. 1 Mine, Yukon-Pocahontas Coal Company, Yukon, McDowell County, West Virginia, May 22, 1928. Accessed 2-17-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/Yukon_1928.pdf

 

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Yukon-Pocahontas Coal Company No. 1 Mine Explosion, Yukon, McDowell County, West Virginia, May 22, 1928, No. Killed – 17.” Accessed 2-17-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/yukon_news_only.htm

 

West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training. WV Mine Disasters 1884 to Present. MHS&T, October 9, 2008 update. Accessed 2-17-2025 at: https://minesafety.wv.gov/historical-statistical-data/wv-mine-disasters-1884-to-present/