Dale Reightler was killed October 23, 2006 in an explosion at a R&D Coal Co. antracite mine in Tremont Township.
If anyone has sent me an email and I didn't answer I am sorry, I guess my wife had put some emails in my inbox folder and I deleted them without checking what they were. Sorry.
I usually don't do much research in the summer months so the site hasn't had much activity but I will update with memorials if they are sent to me.
When I get time I plan to start a memorial page seperate from this page and keep this page for just news and stories of mining accidents.
Joseph Shema died in a coal mining accident on March 14, 1934 in Eriton, PA. If anyone has any info on this accident please email me.
The DuBois area is in District #2 of the mining districts of Pennsylvania
and the most costly mine disasters in District #2 from 1902 to 1940 claimed 342 lives and left countless others injured
Date Place Losses
10 July 1902 Rolling Mill, Johnstown 112
24 October 1906 Rolling Mill, Johnstown 75
February 1910 Ernest #2 Mine, Ernest 11
11 February 1916 Ernest #2 Mine, Ernest 26
6 November 1922 Reilly #1, Spangler 79
26 August 1926 Clymer #1, Clymer 44
15 July 1940 Sonman, Portage 63
Ernest, Pennsylvania
Jefferson & Clearfield Coal & Iron Company Mine No. 2 Explosion
February 11, 1916
TWENTY-FIVE KNOWN DEAD IN MINE EXPLOSION AT ERNEST!
Most Harrowing Disaster in the History
of Indiana County. Nineteen Bodies Recovered at 4:30 A.M.
Today. Three More Are Still in the Mine
INVESTIGATION IMMEDIATELY
At least 25 men, four of whom were Americans were instantly killed in most harrowing mine accident in the history of Indiana County, which occurred in Mine no. 2 of the Jefferson & Clearfield Coal & Iron Company, at Ernest yesterday afternoon at 3:20 o’clock.
Three others are supposed to be yet in the mine and the rescuers are working to find the bodies. Five miners were rescued alive, four of who are in the hospital and the fifth at this home in Ernest. The patients in the hospital, all of whom were badly burned about the face, hands and body and who are suffering from shock are: James McGuire, a member of the mine rescue team; W.R. Nord, Mike Carrel and Tony Wilish
THE KNOWN DEAD
Norris Allan, aged 30, motorman, Indiana, Pa., leaves wife.
William Balls, aged 35, mine foreman, Ernest, married.
Carl Strandquist, aged 30, fire boss, Ernest, married.
George Bunton, Fr., aged 25, motorman, Ernest, single.
George Assick, aged 30, spragger, Ernest, married.
Arthur Rossi, aged 39, Ernest, single.
Frank Gasanerri, aged 38, Ernest, married.
Joe Salvari, aged 28, Ernest, single.
George Guerrio, aged 26, Ernest, single.
George Warino, aged 27, Ernest, single.
Jim Patwine, aged 30, Ernest, married.
John Vasil, aged 30, Ernest, married.
Mike Truse, aged 30, Ernest, married.
Tony -------, aged about 30, unidentified.
--------- Warino, aged 20, Ernest, single.
The time of the tragedy has been determined from a watch found hanging from a pocket in the clothes of one of the dead men. The watch was smashed and the hands pointed to 3:20.
Thomas Lowther, of Indiana, had charge of the rescue teams, connected with the Lucerne and Graceton operations and they were assisted by Drs. C. Paul Reed, of Homer City and F.F. Moore of Lucerne Mines. All the available physicians and three nurses from the Indiana Hospital were rushed to Ernest following receipt of the word of the explosion. Officials of the Jefferson & Clearfield Coal & Iron Company and the Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway Company were rushed to the scene on a special train from Punxsutawney, arriving at Ernest shortly before 8 o’clock. Superintendent F.M. Fritchman, of Indiana, was early on the scent and assisted in the direction of the mine rescuers.
The explosion occurred about one mile from the main entrance of the mine, where, as near as can be learned 24 men were working. The miners were changing shifts at the time of the accident and the officials are yet unable to give any conclusive estimate as to how many men were in the mine. A number of the men had just arrived at the entrance when the explosion occurred.
Ben O’Hara, one of the employees, was just reaching the mouth of the mine when he felt the force of the explosion on his back. While on his way to the entrance of the mine he had passed George Bunton, Jr., one of the dead going to work and soon as he realized what had happened, he started back. He succeeded in dragging two men to safety and had started back after Bunton, but was unable to reach him. Bunton’s body was brought to the surface shortly before nine o’clock.
The report of the explosion could be heard about half a mile away and hundreds of men, women and children rushed to the mine. State Troopers were summoned and no one was allowed to pass over the bridge leading to the power house but those in authority. There was no great excitement, the silently weeping women wringing their hands and giving vent to little despairing cries and the hushed whispers of the crowd was all that could be observed.
The fierce of the explosion demolished brattices in the mine, causing tons of coal and earth to fall. Whether any of the missing miners are buried beneath the debris is not yet known, but it is expected that they are.
Bunton’s body was found nearly a mile from the mine entrance of the mine. It was burned and a bruise on the right side of the head indicated that he had been struck by flying debris hurled by the explosion. Nord, Carrell and Wilish were found in a room a short distance from the spot where the explosion is believed to have occurred. They were unconscious and were carried to the power house where first aid was given them, after which they were rushed to Indiana on a street car and from there in the ambulance to the hospital. None of the men were able to talk, but all of them were able to sit upright without assistance.
The work of rescue was slow on account of the wrecked brattices.
The rescue teams were compelled to dig through the debris after clearing part of the main load of the mine and rebuilding the mine brattices as they advanced. Work was also hindered by the fact that their airlines had to be replenished frequently.
The nurses and the doctors in the powerhouse made hundreds of sandwiches and barrels of coffee, the food being sent at frequent intervals to the rescuers. The three nurses, Misses Dill, Howard and Lee, all from the Indiana hospital all worked nobly and at 10:30 o’clock when it was determined that the dead would not be reached for several hours, they were exhausted and were brought in automobiles to Indiana.
The rescuing parties were from all the various mines of the county and it is estimated that at least 200 were at work. The first of the dead were brought to the surface about 1:30 o’clock and the others at various intervals until daylight. A special train was made up on the B. R. & P. railway and the dead were brought to Indiana and taken to the undertaking establishments where they are being prepared for burial. The bodies in almost every case are burned and charred, but not sufficiently to prevent identification. There was a steady stream of men and women in the three undertaking rooms today and the identifications were slowly made. Aaron Craven, one of the miners, would have been in the mine heading, where the explosion occurred, had his alarm clock gone off yesterday morning. The failure of the alarm prevented Craven from reporting to work. Another motorman left the heading just five minutes before the explosion occurred. About fifty of the men employed in the heading were not working on account of attending a funeral in Indiana.
At the time of the inauguration of the Workmen’s Compensation Act the first of this year the Coal Company was excused from taking insurance, they, having satisfied the Board that they had an insurance plan in active force. The sums which they will be compelled to pay the families of the dead and the loss incurring from the explosion will make the disaster one of the most expensive in the history of the state.
The explosion of yesterday occurred in the same mine in which eleven miners lost their lives under circumstances almost similar just six years ago Saturday.
Word of the disaster spread like wild fire throughout Indiana and the outgoing streetcars were crowded to their utmost capacity. The Indiana detail of the State Police were early on the scene and had little difficulty in keeping order. The crowds were massed on the hill just across the hollow from the powerhouse and the opening of the mine. With their customary [illegible] the Foreign women did not make a display of their grief, but their sad faces told the tragic story as they stood watching for the bodies of their men to be brought out of the black hole that gave livelihood and took their lives.
By nightfall the rescue crews were on the ground and fighting their way into the mine. The first crews to venture came back with tales of great barriers of tangled debris and the necessary implements were given to them and the active work of rescue started. Fortunately there was little fire. Nearly all that was started by the explosion was smothered by the lack of air. There was no general conflagration underground. While the mine officials telephoned and telegraphed for assistance and while the rescue crews among the mine employees above the ground rushed to bring out the oxygen helmets, the lung motors, bandages and oils for burns, the women came.
It was and is a terrible catastrophe and Ernest is a town of mourning today. There is hardly a home that was not touched either directly or indirectly by the fatal results of the explosion and there are the homes in Indiana, where there is similar grief.
State officials are expected here this afternoon and in conjunction with the local officials and the officials of the Coal Company a rigid investigation will be started at once. The cause cannot be determined until after the investigation.
Nord, one of the survivors of the explosion and who is a patient in the Indiana hospital, stated this morning that he was about 1,400 feet inside the mine when the first detonation occurred. He was knocked about 20 feet away, landing against the mine walls and that before he could get to his feet a second explosion occurred rendering him unconscious. He knew nothing more until the rescuers had reached him. He is positive that there were two explosions, but was not able to speculate as to what the causes might be.
The mine was completely searched by 11:30 o’clock this morning and no more bodies were found. If the three missing are in the mine it is certain that they are buried under the debris. The mine is now completely cleared of gas.
LATER---2: 30 P.M.
At 12:30 today six more bodies were recovered from the mine and taken to undertaking rooms in Indians. It is not known whether all the bodies of the victims have been recovered and the search still continues. No further news was received up until 2:30 this afternoon.
Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA 12 Feb 1916
Funerals of Explosion Victims Held Today
Pitiable Scenes Enacted Today As Many of
The Dead Were Laid to Rest.
Official States that Majority of Deaths Were Caused
By Strangulation, Efforts Made to Reach a Place of Safety.
INVESTIGATION GOES ON
Developments in the examination tending to determine the cause of the disastrous explosion in the Ernest mine last Friday afternoon, in which twenty-six miners lost their lives are going forward slowly and as yet County Coroner H. B. Buterbaugh has not received enough tangible evidence to proceed with the inquest. Dr. Buterbaugh stated this morning that it would probably be two or three days before the inquisition would be started.
A Gazette reporter was received at the Indiana office of the Coal Company this morning and given a few statements regarding the facts of the explosion.
According tot he official, all the reports that the explosion were heard outside the mine, are false. The explosion was merely local which is attested to by the fact that no one outside of the particular room where it occurred heard any noise and is again substantiated by the fact that the fans were not affected.
The officials stated the bodies of Strandquist and seven others were found huddled in one heap. It was evident that Strandquist was piloting the seven to a safe place when they were overcome by the after-damp. Nearly all the miners found were about 1,000 feet from the scene of the explosion and it is not doubted but that death was due to strangulation in practically every case.
Mine inspectors Thomas Lowther, C.H. Crocker, Thomas A. Furniss, Nicholas Evans and Mr. Ross are in charge of the investigation today. The Hon. J. E. Roderick, Chief of the Bureau of Mines at Harrisburg will arrive in Indiana this evening and will personally take charge of the investigation.
One of the dead is still reported missing but it is believed that the body will soon be recovered. The families of the dead miners are being taken care of by the company which is furnishing them with food and fuel.
The list of the dead which was given by the company officials Saturday evening too late for publication in the Gazette. The list follows:
Noris Allen, aged 32, wife and one child an American residing in Indiana.
John Connelly, aged 37, American, [illegible -- rock?] boss, wife and five children
J. William Ball, aged 36, foreman, American, wife and five children.
Paul Taggart, aged 30, loader, American, wife and small child
James Herman, aged 19, loader, married, no children.
Mark Schmidt, aged 36, American, loader.
George Bunton Jr., aged 25, motorman.
Alex Broskin, aged 40, loader, wife and 3 children
Fred Barcella, aged 30, loader, wife and 3 children.
Ignally Valercuski, aged 22, single.
James Camorratte, aged 45, loader, wife and five children
Charles Strandquist, aged 35, mine foreman, single.
Frank Bonofhosk, aged 30, loader, wife and 3 children.
James Bardeno, aged 35, cutter.
August Mageon, aged 21, loader, single.
Dominick, aged 24, single.
George Guerrena, aged 26, cutter, single.
Antonio Pauli, aged 23, single
John Asick, aged 30, wife and four children.
Roth Artura, aged 32, single.
Antonio Bellari, aged 32, single.
Antonio Puzzani, aged 28, single, loader.
Dominick Pana, aged 30, miner
Funeral services for J. Uilliam Ball [sic] were held at his late home in Ernest, Sunday evening and the body was taken over the B. R. & P. Railway this morning to Frostburg, where interment was made today.
Funeral services for J. William Ball [sic - probably this should be Noris Allen] were held at the Allen home on North Fourth street this morning at 10:30 o’clock and interment was made in Greenwood cemetery. At 2 o’clock this afternoon funeral services were conducted over the remains of George Bunton, Jr., at the Bunton home in Ernest and the body was brought to Indiana on a special street car and taken to the Greenwood cemetery for interment.
Tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock the funeral services for Charles Strandquist will be held and interment will be made in Greenwood cemetery. John Donnelly [sic - Connelly] was buried in the Greenwood cemetery this afternoon, following services at his late home in Ernest.
Pitiable scenes were enacted at St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic church this morning and afternoon when funeral services and mass were conducted for the remainder of the dead, all of whom were members of either the Catholic church at Ernest or the church here. The services were in charge of the Rev. Emilio Farri of Ernest and the Very Rev. N. P. NcNelis, of Indiana, assisted by several priests from the county. A large trench was made in St. Bernard’s cemetery and the caskets containing the bodies of the victims of the explosion were placed in the one grave. The surviving relatives of the victims and the many little children made a sight that will long be remembered in the minds of those who witnessed. Despite the sadness of the occasion there was little excitement, the widows and children of the married miners and the friends of the single men watching quietly the last rites over the bodies of their beloved dead.
Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA 14 Feb 1916
Articles transcribed by Trish. Thank you, Trish!
West Leisenring, Pennsylvania Connellsville Coal & Iron Company Explosion
February 21, 1884
THE TERROR OF THE PIT
Fire-Damp and After-Damp Gather Their Victims
Particulars of the Awful Pit Explosion at Leisenring, Pa- Nineteen Miners Hurried into Eternity
Uniontown, PA, Feb.21- The little mining village of West Leisenring, four miles north of here, was the scene of the most terrific explosion ever known in the coke region. The Connellsville Coal & Iron company, of which Judge Leisenring, of Mauch Chunk, is president, have 300 coke ovens here, which have been in operation about a year. The works give employment to about one hundred men, and quite a little town has sprung up named after the president of the company. The coal for the ovens is obtained by means of a shaft, which reaches the coal at a distance of 400 feet from the surface.
A part of the force who had worked all night left the mines a little after 3 o'clock and seventy others took their places, making the usual morning shift. About 6:30 o'clock, while the men were digging, suddenly, without warning, there occurred an explosion that convulsed the mine in every apartment and threw the men into the utmost consternation. The scene of the explosion was in one of the apartments fully 800 feet distant from the bottom of the shaft, and therefore about 1,200 feet from the surface opening; yet the report was heard on the outside for a considerable distance and caused such a jar that the top of a derrick 100 feet high was knocked off. Two mules were standing at the bottom of the shaft 800 feet from the explosion, and the rush of air blew one of them through a wooden cage, shattering it to pieces. The other mule died of suffocation.
Fort Wayne Daily Gazette, Fort Wayne, IN 22 Feb 1884
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Mine Explosion
December 22, 1896
GRIEF TURNED TO JOY.
Mine Disaster Not So Serious as First Supposed
MANY OF THE VICTIMS RESCUED
A Score or More of the Miners Entombed by an Explosion of Gas near Wilkes-Barre, but Fourteen Are Found to be Alive
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