Farmington Mine Disaster
Encyclopedia
The Farmington Mine disaster was an explosion that happened at approximately 5:30 a.m. on November 20, 1968, at the Consol No. 9 coal mine
north of Farmington
and Mannington, West Virginia
, USA
.
The explosion was large enough to be felt in Fairmont
, almost 12 miles away. At the time, 99 miners were inside. Over the course of the next few hours, 21 miners were able to escape the mine, but 78 were still trapped. All who were unable to escape perished; the bodies of 19 of the dead were never recovered. The cause of the explosion was never determined, but the accident served as the catalyst for several new laws that were passed to protect miners.
, with its main entrances at James Fork, the confluence of Little Dunkard Mill run and Dunkard Mill Run, 2 miles (3 kilometers) north of Farmington, West Virginia
.(39°32′19.09"N 80°15′14.44"W) The Pittsburgh seam, is over 300 feet (100 meters) below the valley bottoms in this region, and is fairly uniform, generally about 10 feet (3 meters) thick.
This mine was originally opened in 1909 as the Jamison No. 9 Mine, operated by the Jamison Coal and Coke Company. The original entrance shafts were 322 feet deep. Even in 1909, it was noted that "gasses are liberating" from the coal in this mine, so that locked safety lamp
s were used at all times. Initially, compressed air power was used to undercut the coal, which was then blasted before horse power was used to haul the coal to the shaft, but within a year, compressed air locomotives were obtained for haulage.
Between 1911 and 1929, Jamison No. 9 produced over 100,000 tons per year, except in 1922, when production was just under 3000 tons. Production fell to just over 4000 tons in early 1930, after which the mine was closed for 3 years. Production resumed in 1934, climbing to over 1.2 million tons per year in 1956. On Nov. 14, 1954, an explosion ripped through the mine, killing 15 miners and leading to a temporary shutdown.
Under Consolidation Coal Company ownership, Coal production in 1977 was 98772 tons.
The fires continued to burn for over a week, and on November 29, rescuers finally admitted defeat after air samples from drill holes showed air unable to sustain human life. The mine was sealed on November 30 with concrete to starve the fire of oxygen.
In September 1969, the mine was unsealed in an attempt to recover the miners' bodies. Progress was slow because workers discovered cave-ins that they had to tunnel around. This recovery effort continued for almost ten years. By April 1978, 59 of the 78 bodies had been recovered. Unable to recover the other 19, the mine was permanently sealed.
The actual cause of the blast and fire was never determined. However, several contributing factors were found that may have caused the blast: inadequate ventilation, inadequate control of explosive methane gas and coal dust, and inadequate testing for methane.
's opening speech specifically referenced Farmington and concluded, "let me assure you, the people of this country no longer will accept the disgraceful health and safety record that has characterized this major industry."
As a result of the Farmington disaster, the United States Congress
passed the 1969 Coal Mine Safety and Health Act which strengthened safety standards, increased Federal mine inspections, and gave coal miners specific safety and health rights.
began a project to create a detailed account of the mine disaster by writing an all original play with the above title. Several students under the guidance of Director Dr. Francene Kirk (Associate professor of communication/theatre arts) spent the summer of 2008 conducting interviews and researching the disaster. During the course of the 2008-2009 academic year, the student researchers along with numerous other theatre majors at Fairmont State University began organizing all the information collected and devising a script. The play is devised as a museum theatre
piece; that focuses on accuracy and informing the audience of an important historical event. Fairmont State University researchers and students have published and update frequently a wikihttp://it.fairmontstate.edu/fsuwiki/index.php?title=Farmington_Mine_Disaster_Undergrad_Research_Project page detailing nearly every aspect of the project. The play first premiered at Fairmont State's Wallman Hall Theatre on May 1st, 2009. During the summer of 2009, student researchers and playwrights collaborated using feedback provided from the first production and revised the script for a second running of the play, which opened September 25th, 2009. The play has received great reviews by local critics, The Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival and those directly involved with the disaster more than 40 years ago.
An asterisk ( * ) indicates those unrecovered.
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
north of Farmington
Farmington, West Virginia
Farmington is a town in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 387 at the 2000 census. It is best known for being the site of the 1968 Farmington Mine disaster.-Geography:...
and Mannington, West Virginia
Mannington, West Virginia
Mannington is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States located in the hills of North-Central West Virginia. Known as Mannington since 1856, the town is rich with history and heritage – from Native American relics to frontiersmen and their settlements to Civil War legends...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The explosion was large enough to be felt in Fairmont
Fairmont, West Virginia
Fairmont is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. Nicknamed "The Friendly City". The population was 18,704 at the 2010 census...
, almost 12 miles away. At the time, 99 miners were inside. Over the course of the next few hours, 21 miners were able to escape the mine, but 78 were still trapped. All who were unable to escape perished; the bodies of 19 of the dead were never recovered. The cause of the explosion was never determined, but the accident served as the catalyst for several new laws that were passed to protect miners.
Consol No 9
The Consol No. 9 mine was developed in the Pittsburgh coal seamPittsburgh coal seam
The Pittsburgh Coal Seam is the thickest and most extensive coal bed in the Appalachian Basin; hence, it is the most economically important coal beds in the eastern United States. The Upper Pennsylvanian Pittsburgh coal bed of the Monongahela Group is extensive and continuous, extending over...
, with its main entrances at James Fork, the confluence of Little Dunkard Mill run and Dunkard Mill Run, 2 miles (3 kilometers) north of Farmington, West Virginia
Farmington, West Virginia
Farmington is a town in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 387 at the 2000 census. It is best known for being the site of the 1968 Farmington Mine disaster.-Geography:...
.(39°32′19.09"N 80°15′14.44"W) The Pittsburgh seam, is over 300 feet (100 meters) below the valley bottoms in this region, and is fairly uniform, generally about 10 feet (3 meters) thick.
This mine was originally opened in 1909 as the Jamison No. 9 Mine, operated by the Jamison Coal and Coke Company. The original entrance shafts were 322 feet deep. Even in 1909, it was noted that "gasses are liberating" from the coal in this mine, so that locked safety lamp
Safety lamp
A safety lamp is any of several types of lamp, which are designed to be safe to use in coal mines. These lamps are designed to operate in air that may contain coal dust, methane, or firedamp, all of which are potentially flammable or explosive...
s were used at all times. Initially, compressed air power was used to undercut the coal, which was then blasted before horse power was used to haul the coal to the shaft, but within a year, compressed air locomotives were obtained for haulage.
Between 1911 and 1929, Jamison No. 9 produced over 100,000 tons per year, except in 1922, when production was just under 3000 tons. Production fell to just over 4000 tons in early 1930, after which the mine was closed for 3 years. Production resumed in 1934, climbing to over 1.2 million tons per year in 1956. On Nov. 14, 1954, an explosion ripped through the mine, killing 15 miners and leading to a temporary shutdown.
Under Consolidation Coal Company ownership, Coal production in 1977 was 98772 tons.
Chronology
At 5:30 a.m on November 20, an explosion shook the mine. It was so strong that a motel clerk reported feeling vibrations 12 miles away. Miners living in the area heard the noise and, knowing what it meant, headed to the mine, where they discovered a rapidly-spreading fire with flames shooting 150 feet into the air. Within hours, 21 miners made it to the surface but 78 were still trapped underground.The fires continued to burn for over a week, and on November 29, rescuers finally admitted defeat after air samples from drill holes showed air unable to sustain human life. The mine was sealed on November 30 with concrete to starve the fire of oxygen.
In September 1969, the mine was unsealed in an attempt to recover the miners' bodies. Progress was slow because workers discovered cave-ins that they had to tunnel around. This recovery effort continued for almost ten years. By April 1978, 59 of the 78 bodies had been recovered. Unable to recover the other 19, the mine was permanently sealed.
The actual cause of the blast and fire was never determined. However, several contributing factors were found that may have caused the blast: inadequate ventilation, inadequate control of explosive methane gas and coal dust, and inadequate testing for methane.
Aftermath
The Farmington disaster was a catalyst for the passage of major changes in the U.S. mining safety laws. One month after the Farmington disaster the U.S. Department of the Interior held a conference on mine safety. Stewart UdallStewart Udall
Stewart Lee Udall was an American politician. After serving three terms as a congressman from Arizona, he served as Secretary of the Interior from 1961 to 1969, under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B...
's opening speech specifically referenced Farmington and concluded, "let me assure you, the people of this country no longer will accept the disgraceful health and safety record that has characterized this major industry."
As a result of the Farmington disaster, the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
passed the 1969 Coal Mine Safety and Health Act which strengthened safety standards, increased Federal mine inspections, and gave coal miners specific safety and health rights.
Remembering #9 - Stories from the Farmington Mine Disaster
Starting in 2008, student researchers from nearby Fairmont State UniversityFairmont State University
Fairmont State University is a public university located in Fairmont, West Virginia, USA. Enrollment of the university is about 7,700 and offers masters degrees in business, education, teaching, criminal justice and nursing in addition to 90 baccalaureate and 50 associate degrees...
began a project to create a detailed account of the mine disaster by writing an all original play with the above title. Several students under the guidance of Director Dr. Francene Kirk (Associate professor of communication/theatre arts) spent the summer of 2008 conducting interviews and researching the disaster. During the course of the 2008-2009 academic year, the student researchers along with numerous other theatre majors at Fairmont State University began organizing all the information collected and devising a script. The play is devised as a museum theatre
Museum theatre
Museum theatre is the use of theatre and theatrical techniques by a museum for educational, informative, and entertainment purposes. It can also be used in a zoo, an aquarium, an art gallery, and at historic sites. It is generally performed by professional actors...
piece; that focuses on accuracy and informing the audience of an important historical event. Fairmont State University researchers and students have published and update frequently a wikihttp://it.fairmontstate.edu/fsuwiki/index.php?title=Farmington_Mine_Disaster_Undergrad_Research_Project page detailing nearly every aspect of the project. The play first premiered at Fairmont State's Wallman Hall Theatre on May 1st, 2009. During the summer of 2009, student researchers and playwrights collaborated using feedback provided from the first production and revised the script for a second running of the play, which opened September 25th, 2009. The play has received great reviews by local critics, The Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival and those directly involved with the disaster more than 40 years ago.
Victims
- Arthur A. Anderson Jr.
- Jack O. Armstrong*
- Thomas D. Ashcraft
- Jimmy Barr
- Orval D. Beam*
- John Joseph Bingamon*
- Thomas Boggess
- Louis S. Boros*
- Harold W. Butt
- Lee E. Carpenter
- David V. Cartwright
- William E. Currence*
- Dale E. Davis
- Albert R. DeBerry
- George O. Decker
- Howard A. Deel*
- James E. Efaw
- Joe Ferris
- Virgil "Pete" Forte*
- H. Wade Foster*
- Aulda G. Freeman Jr.*
- Robert L. Glover
- Forrest B. Goff
- John F. Gouzd
- Charles F. Hardman
- Ebert E. Hartzell
- Simon P. Hayes
- Paul F. Henderson*
- Roy F Henderson Sr.
- Steve Horvath
- Junior M. Jenkins*
- James Jones
- Pete J. Kaznoski Sr.*
- Robert D. Kerns
- Charles E. King
- James Ray Kniceley
- George R. Kovar
- David Mainella Sr.
- Walter R. Martin
- Frank Matish*
- Hartsel L. Mayle
- Dennis N. McDonald
- Emilio D. Megna*
- Jack D. Michael*
- Wayne R. Minor
- Charles E. Moody
- Paul O. Moran
- Adron W. Morris
- Joseph Muto
- Randall R. Parsons
- Raymond R. Parsons
- Nicholas Petro
- Fred Burt Rogers
- William D. Sheme
- Robert J. Sigley
- Henry J. Skarzinski
- Russell D. Snyder
- John Sopuch*
- Jerry L. Stoneking
- Harry L. Strait
- Albert Takacs
- William L. Takacs*
- Dewey Tarley
- Frank Tate, Jr.
- Goy A. Taylor
- Hoy B. Taylor
- Edwin A. Tennant*
- Homer E. Tichenor
- Dennis L. Toler
- John W. Toothman
- Gorman H. Trimble
- Roscoe M. Triplett
- William T. Walker
- James H. Walter
- Lester B. Willard
- Edward A. Williams*
- Lloyd William Wilson
- Jerry R. Yanero
External links
- http://www.wvgenweb.org/wvcoal/disaster.html
- http://www.wvculture.org/history/disasters/farmington02.html