In early January 1906 the Lykens Standard reported that a record number of fatal accidents occurred in the Anthracite Region in 1905. A total of 610 persons were killed in and around the mines leaving 145 widows and 480 orphans. Non-fatal accidents numbered 1,500.
The death rate this year was largely increased by a series of accidents in which cages loaded with miners plunged down shafts. The calling of top rock or coal was the most prolific causes of the fatal accidents, there being over 200 deaths from this cause alone.
The count for 1906 started on January 1, 1906. By January 12, 1906, there were three published reports of non-fatal accidents in the Lykens-Wiconisco-Williamstown area.
_____________________________________________________
From the Lykens Standard, January 5, 1906:
MINE ACCIDENTS
Harry Grow of this place [Lykens], aged 24 years, employed as a miner’s laborer in No. 2 Counter, White’s Vein, Short Mountain Colliery, was seriously cut about the head and face, and bruised over the entire body by a fall of to slate about 1 p. m. Wednesday. Indeed, it’s a wonder that he was not killed outright, as it required the services of several men with levers to remove one of the pieces of slate from his body. He was taken to the home of his brother Frank Grow on Main Street, with whom he boards, and Dr. W. J. Smith summoned who dressed his injuries, and at present he is doing as well as can be expected. His principal complaint yesterday was severe pain in the region of the stomach.
Charles Welker of Main Street, this place, employed as a miner at East Brookside Colliery, was struck by a collar, Wednesday, and bruised on the right shoulder and back. He had his end of the collar in place and was assisting his “butty” to get his end up when his feet slipped on the sheet iron and the collar fell, striking his shoulder and sliding down his back. He will be out a day or two.
_________________________________________________
From the Lykens Standard, January 12, 1906:
JAMES BUGGY OF WILLIAMSTOWN, INJURED IN THE MINES
James Buggy, a driver at Bear Valley Slope, Summit Branch Colliery, was squeezed between mine cars, Saturday of last week, sustaining a fracture of four or five ribs. Dr. G. M. Stites, after a thorough examination, advised his removal to the Fountain Springs Hospital, Ashland, to which institution he was taken the same day on the 1:42 p. m. W. V. R. W. [Williams Valley Railway] train. He was accompanied by his mother, brother Michael Buggy, and John Maher and John Buggy. On their return on Sunday evening they reported his condition as critical, one of the fractured ribs having entered the lung. It was removed by Dr. Biddle. Mr. Buggy’s sister Annie Buggy paid him a visit Tuesday.
_______________________________________________
News articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.