A concise account of the incidents and scenes that took place at scofield, utah. The may day disaster of 1900 killed 200 miners and prompted the development of organized labor in utah. The following remarks were given at the 100year commemoration of this incident, to which a postscript was added after the world trade center and pentagon attacks on september. The disaster left 58 women without husbands and 125 children without fathers. This tragedy remains one of the worst mining disasters in u. The mine disaster prevention and control research needs to place more focus on areas such as communications, miner selfrescue, and emergency response. Following the disaster, the south african government sponsored research into coal mine. This book was reprinted in 2000 to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the disaster in paperback. Introductory 7 descriptionofthemine 10 thecompany 17 thefatalday 18 atthemainbottom 21 twelveheroes 21. At least 200 men died in the scofield mine disaster, some from the explosion, others from the suffocating gases that followed. This list of united states disasters by death toll includes disasters that occurred either in the united states, at diplomatic missions of the united states, or incidents outside of the united states in which a number of u. The term mine disaster historically has been applied to mine accidents claiming five or more lives.
I became invested in the life of the main character and had a hard time putting the book down. On may 1, 1900, a dust explosion in the winter quarters mine killed at least 200 men, with some rescuers placing the death toll as high as 246. Profusely illustrated by 70 choice engravings as want to read. The people of scofield and clear creek rushed to the mine to try to save the miners. After the turn of the century, the paper began to attract readers with innovative large. Appearing eleven days after the blast, the grim photos depicted wagons loaded with coffins and stretcherbearers bringing out the dead. My great grandmas beloved husband was killed in the scofield mine disaster. Due to inflation, the monetary damage estimates are not comparable. My loving vigil keeping 2012 my loving vigil keeping 2012 about book. It does not contain the names found on pages 197 to 298 which are lists and lists of people who donated to the relief efforts. The original hardbound volume is difficult to find and there are few to be found.
The darkest hour is a reprint of a 40page account, and jeff mcneishs works are wonderful reference books on the victims and the events. When mine number four exploded, killing 200 men by james w. The scofield mine disaster in 1900 was utahs worsttaken from historytogo in the early morning of may 1, 1900, several hundred miners of the pleasant valley coal company of carbon county left their homes in the town of scofield to begin another day of work in the mines. A granite memorial with a bronze relief is along us hwy 6, near where the mine is located.
Scofield, a timber contractor and local mine official. Some were killed instantly from the blast, but most were killed by toxic gas as they tried to escape. Historically, mine disaster prevention research within the mining program has been of the highest relevance and has had the highest positive impacts on the worker. The mine never recovered from the disaster and it eventually closed. It does not include death tolls from the american civil war. History of the scofield mine disaster by james w dilley, 9781167124075, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. My book, by contrast, follows six families before, during and after the disaster. The publications you mentioned were great resources to me, though mine will be the first traditional book on the tragedy. Mine disasters, in this sense, once were appallingly common. Some of the miners were killed inside the mine by an explosion of coal dust. Start by marking history of the scofield mine disaster. At age 72, this man from dublin, england, was the oldest man killed in the mine disaster, along with his son, robert. The mine was located at near the town of scofield,in terms of life lost it was the worst mining accident at that point in american history the explosion is also a key element in the plot of the carla kelly novel my loving vigil keeping. Without attaching blame to anyone specially, and, in fact, without fixing the responsibility in any manner for the.
If you need to print pages from this book, we recommend downloading it as a pdf. At 200 dead, the scofield disaster was the most tragic coal mine disaster, in terms of the number killed, to that time in american history. Governor and mine inspectors report genealogy village. The mine is significant as possibly the first coal mine in utah. In total, 437 workers lost their lives when pillars over an area of 324 hectares 1.
I started reading this book because i had heard of the scofield mine disaster and wanted to learn more. The major need for coal mine rock engineering safety research in south africa was identified when the coalbrook disaster occurred on 21 january 1960. The untold stories of 33 men buried in a chilean mine, and. When mine number four exploded, killing 200 men by dilley, james w. Scofields name is frequently applied to the 1900 mine disaster in the pleasant valley coal companys winter quarters mine. The hurricane creek mine disaster first edition memoirs. A list of more photographs of the scofield and winter quarters can be found in the index of the book the scofield mine disaster by j. On may 1, 1900, a coal mine in the central utah mining town of scofield exploded, killing 200 men. When mine number four exploded, killing 200 men dilley, james w. Subsequent disasters killed 362 at monongah, west virginia, on 7 december 1907. Jack wilson, the scofield miner who was blown from the mouth of the mine by the explosion and thrown, it is said, eight hundred twenty feet by actual measurement, will be the first man out of the hospital of all the unfortunates who escaped with their lives from the. The hurricane creek mine disaster we had planned to spend at least ten days in california, but on december 30th we heard on the national news that there had been a terrible coal mine explosion near hyden, kentucky, in leslie county, only 20 miles east.
The accident left 107 widows and 268 fatherless children, and it wasnt long before terrified miners began reporting ghosts. Willard marriott library 295 south 1500 east, suite 5400 salt lake city, utah 84112. In terms of life lost it was the worst mining accident at that point in american history. Scofield is a town in carbon county, utah, united states. Utahs worst mine disaster killed 246 people, including 20 boys. The towns, railroads and coal mines and the disaster in may of 1900 that killed 200 men and boys kindle edition by reid, robert n download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The scofield mine disaster was a dust explosion in the winter quarters mine on may 1, 1900, that killed at least 200 men, with some rescuers placing the death toll as high as 246. The scofield mine disaster was a mining explosion that occurred at the winter quarters coal mine on may 1, 1900. On may 1, 1900, an explosion tore through the winters quarter mine near scofield, utah. Unfortunately, this book cant be printed from the openbook. A concise account of the incidents and scenes that took place at scofield, utah, may 1, 1900.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the scofield mine disaster. State inspector says black powder caused the explosion. Report on the cherry mine disaster living history of. In the next shaft, men heard the explosion and tried scofield mine to rush out, but instead met deadly carbon monoxide gas. List of disasters in the united states by death toll. From a writing perspective there were some points that could have been smoother, but i was easily able to overlook these as i read late into the night. Ghosts of the scofield mine disaster ghosts and ghouls. December 6, 1907 worst coal mine disaster in us history. The mine was located near the town of scofield, utah.
The beaconsfield mine disaster nicole ward, springboard. You can read the book and see the photographs online. Layland, west virginia, on march 2, 1915 fuller, craig, finns and the winter quarters mine disaster box folder contents summer 2002 vol. Read underground mine disaster survival and rescue. The beaconsfield mine disaster springboard 5 springboard reading 5 age 9. History to the scofield mine disaster internet archive. History of the scofield mine disaster book depository. One family devastated by the mine explosion was that of adam lee wakenshaw.