Thursday, August 11, 2011

This day in History, August 11, 1885

Twelve miners were killed August 11, 1885 in a mining accident at the West End Colliery in Mocanaqua. News reports say a gas explosion killed 12 of the men, wounding a number of others including the mine superintendant, John Teasdale; he was one of the people who became unconscious after they went down into the mine to rescue those who were trapped. Investigators at the time said that a fan that gives surface air to miners down below broke, thus depriving the miners of fresh air. About 75 men were working in the mine at the time of the accident. News reports say Teasdale ordered the men back to work, despite the dangerous conditions, however Teasdale told “The New York Times” that wasn’t the case. At the time, it was one of the deadliest mining accidents in the Wyoming Valley.

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