Normally, one person killed in a mine accident did not result in extensive news coverage. In this case though the victim was a well-known sports figure who had a brief, but very successful baseball career as a pitcher for a minor league team in Criswell, Maryland, where, in 1924, he played under contract with the St. Louis Cardinals (National League). By choice, after starring for one year, he gave up the opportunity to advance in the minor league system and decided to return to Wiconisco, Dauphin County, where financially he could do better by working in the mines.
That person was James “Jim” Clough (1897-1937), who came from a family of baseball players who played or were offered contracts to play by major league teams and who were members of local area teams into their late 30s. Clough was the son of Richard Clough (1866-1934), an immigrant from England, and his wife Mary Ellen [Snyder] Clough (1874-1923). Jim’s brother, Ed Clough (1906-1944), advanced to the major leagues and played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1924 through 1926. Another brother, Hal Clough (1908-1988), according to family stories, was offered a contract by St. Louis, but because of a need at home, decided to return from spring training before he ever played one professional game. A fourth brother, Allen Clough (1909-1997), was a regular in many Lykens Valley area league games.
Unfortunately, an accident in the mines, which occurred sometime after 1924 but prior to 1927, ended the possibility that Jim could ever return to the professional level. Two articles in the Lykens Standard, September 10, 1926, and October 1, 1926, reported that “the fall of a boulder on his shoulder” resulted in a loss of his “throwing power.” Research is on-going to obtain more information about that event and the exact nature of his injury.
The accident which killed James Clough occurred on March 24, 1937. At that time, he was the father of eight children. However, his wife, Mary [Kolva] Clough, was pregnant. She gave birth to Jim’s ninth child, Cecelia M. Clough on October 6, 1937.
Each of the articles presented below gives slightly different information on the accident.
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From the Shamokin News-Dispatch, 25 Mar 1937:
MINER FATALLY HURT IN MINE AT WILLIAMSTOWN
James Clough, Former Resident, Dies in Geisinger Hospital
COMPANION IS HURT
James Clough, 41, of Wiconisco, former resident of Shamokin, was fatally injured and his fellow worker, William Row, also of Wiconisco, slightly injured when they were caught in rushing coal of a collapsed pillar while at work as contract miners of the Susquehanna Collieries Company, Williamstown.
Clough was so badly injured he died a short time after he had been admitted to the Geisinger Memorial Hospital, Danville. Row was taken to the Pottsville Hospital, where after he received treatment for minor injuries he was discharged.
Clough and Row were preparing to set off a charge of dynamite when the pillar in which they were working suddenly collapsed, resulting in a rush of tons of coal. Both men were buried in the rush.
More than 50 miners from other sections of the colliery were rushed to the scene, and working frantically and in relays, they reached Row within a half-hour. Another half-hour was required to uncover Clough, who was nearest the pillar when the collapse occurred.
Physicians and ambulances were in waiting during the rescue work, and both men were ordered to hospitals. Clough had been badly crushed about the chest and abdomen. He was unconscious when taken to the hospital at Danville and died shortly after he had been admitted.
James Clough was a son of the late Richard Clough and Mary Clough and was born in Shamokin. When he was a young man the family located at Wiconisco where he married and had resided ever since.
Surviving are his wife and the following children: Helen Clough, Margaret Clough, Eleanor Clough, Kathryn Clough, Georgina Clough, Mary Clough; two sons, Thomas Clough and Joseph Clough, all at home. Six brothers: Edgar Clough, of Harrisburg; Harold Clough, of Tremont; Allen Clough and Wilbur Clough, both of Lykens; Walter Clough, of Wiconisco; Arthur Clough, of West Lykens; and two sisters, Mrs. Ross Bowman, of Lykens, and Mrs. Michael Molesky, of Wiconisco.
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From the Lykens Standard, March 26, 1937:
WICONISCO MAN DIES OF INJURIES SUSTAINED IN FALL OF ROCK AT WILLIAMSTOWN MINE WEDNESDAY
Fellow Workers Labor Two Hours To Free Critically Injured Man; Dies After Admittance To Geisinger Hospital, Danville; Survived By Wife and Eight Children
James Clough, 38, of Wiconisco, well known in baseball circles, having been one of this section’s outstanding exponents of the national sport, was critically injured in Summit Branch Colliery, Williamstown, at 10:00 A. M. Wednesday and died of his injuries 10 minutes after his admission to the Geisinger Hospital, Danville.
According to officials of Summit Branch Colliery, Clough was engaged in robbing pillars when a roll pushed out throwing him against laggings on top of the gangway timber, the terrific weight squeezing him and inflicting critical injuries.
Approximately two hours were required by fellow workmen before they succeeded in freeing Clough who was rushed to the surface and given first aid by the company surgeon, Dr. C. C. Bobb. He was immediately removed in the company ambulance to the Geisinger Hospital, Danville, where he died 10 minutes after admittance.
His injuries consisted of a fracture of the pelvis, dislocation of the right hip and possible internal injuries.
Mr. Clough was a life-long in Shamokin, a son of the late Richard Clough and Mary Clough. In 1919 he was a united in marriage to Miss Mary Kolva, of Coaldale, who with eight children, Helen Clough, Margaret Clough, Eleanor Clough, Kathryn Clough, Georgina Clough, Mary Clough, Thomas Clough and Joseph Clough, survive. Six brothers, Wilbur Clough and Allen Clough, Lykens; Walter Clough, Wiconisco; Arthur Clough, West Lykens; Edgar Clough, Harrisburg; Harold Clough, Tremont; and two sisters, Mrs. Ross Bowman [Hazel Bowman], Lykens, and Mrs. Michael Molesky [Dorothy Molesky], Wiconisco, also survive.
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From the Sunbury Daily, March 26, 1937:
MINER IS KILLED IN RUCH OF COAL AT WILLIAMSTOWN
Buried in a fall of rock and coal one miner was fatally hurt and another escaped serious injury at the Susquehanna Colliery near Williamstown, Wednesday afternoon.
James Clough, 41,, of Wiconisco, father of eight children, was fatally hurt and died a half-hour after being admitted to the Geisinger Hospital, Danville, as a result of a fractured pelvis.
William Row, also of Wiconisco, escaped with scratches and bruises, and was taken to the Pottsville Hospital, where he was discharged after receiving treatment.
Born in Shamokin, Clough was a son of the late Richard Clough and Mary Clough, who later moved to Wiconisco.
The article continues with the names of the other survivors, the same as reported in the previous articles presented here.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, Tower City, March 26, 1937:
WICONISCO MINER LOSES LIFE AT WILLIAMSTOWN
James Clough, 38, of Wiconisco, was totally injured at the Williamstown Colliery of the Susquehanna Collieries Company, on Wednesday morning about 10 o’clock. Clough, an experienced miner, was caught under a fall of rock, and crushed about the hips and lower part of the body. He died as he was being taken into the Geisinger Memorial Hospital at Danville, to which he was rushed in the colliery ambulance.
Clough was married and the father of eight children. he was a former well known baseball player.
This is the third fatality at Williamstown this year. A father and son, also of Wiconisco, were killed last month.
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From the Pottsville Republican and Herald, March 25, 1937:
MINER KILLED
Buried under tons of rock and coal when a pillar collapsed at the Susquehanna Colliery at Williamstown, James Clough, 41, Wiconisco, father of eight children, was killed, and William Row, Wiconisco, escaped with scratches and bruises. The miners prepared to set off a dynamite blast yesterday when the accident occurred.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, March 25, 1937:
FATALLY HURT IN MINE ACCIDENT WEDNESDAY
Caught in a rush of coal and rock, James Clough, 41, of Wiconisco, was fatally injured in the Williamstown mines of the Susquehanna Collieries Company, Wednesday afternoon.
A fellow miner, William Row, also of Wiconisco, sustained contusions and lacerations and was taken to a Pottsville Hospital where he was discharged after receiving treatment.
Workers in other sections of the mine hearing the crash, formed a rescue squad and after a half hour’s digging uncovered Row. Another half hour of work was required before they could reach Clough who was rushed to the Geisinger Hospital, Danville, where he died a short time after admittance….
Funeral services will be held Monday evening. Requiem mass will be held in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Lykens at 9:00 A. M. by the Rev. Father Leo Kirchner. Interment will be made in the German Catholic Cemetery, Lykens.
The article included the names of the survivors.
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From the Carlisle Sentinel, March 25, 1937, a wire service story. The headline incorrectly identified Clough’s residence.
WILLIAMSTOWN MAN KILLED IN MINE
Williamstown, March 25 [1937] (U. P.) — Buried under tons of rock and coal when a pillar collapsed at the Susquehanna Colliery, James Clough, 41, Wiconisco, father of eight children, was killed and William Row, Wiconisco, escaped with scratches and bruises. The miners prepared to set off a dynamite blast yesterday when the accident occurred.
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Some information for this blog post was contributed by Lynda Wiest, of Reno, Nevada, and formerly of Wiconisco.
News articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.