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Bear Valley Mine Explosion Kills Six, 1908 (1)

This post is part of a series of articles on the explosion that occurred at Bear Valley, No. 1 Shaft, Summit Branch Colliery, near Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1908, in which six men were killed.

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From the Lykens Standard, July 17, 1908:

HORRIBLE MINE ACCIDENT!

Six Killed, 11 Injured by Explosion of Gas in No. 1 Shaft, Summit Branch Colliery

Between 11 and 12 o’clock Wednesday an explosion of gas occurred in No. 1 shaft, Bear Valley, a working of Summit Branch Colliery, Williamstown, by which six men were instantly killed and 11 others more or less seriously injured.  The shaft, which is on the North side of Big Lick Mountain, is 900 feet in depth, but the men were working at some distance from the bottom.  It being a gaseous working, employees were compelled to use safety lamps, but the cause of the explosion at present is unknown.  Mine Foreman Bond promptly notified Superintendent Auman of the accident and then proceeded to the scene of the accident.  Willing hands, in the face of danger from the after damp, joined in the work of rescue and were greatly encouraged a short time afterward by the arrival of Superintendent Auman and his assistant Michael Reddy, who from that time on led in recovering the dead and injured, and remained until all employed in the vicinity of the accident had been accounted for.

The dead are:

John Reilly, single.

Arthur Hawk, married.

Charles Rickert, married.

John J. Whittle, married.

James Bowman, married.

Michael Stakem, married.

Among those injured are William Meinhardt, Charles Parker, Martin Doyle, Harper Findley, John Walsh, Isaac Hess, Charles Hepler, and Monroe Shade.

Superintendent Auman summoned all the physicians of this place [Lykens], Wiconisco, and Williamstown to render any medical aid necessary, and the mine inspector of this and adjoining districts were notified of the accident.

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From the Lykens Standard, July 24, 1908:

THE BEAR VALLEY EXPLOSION

THE CAUSE UNKNOWN

Funerals of Those Killed Largely Attended

All the unfortunate victims of the explosion in No. 1 shaft, Bear Valley, Wednesday of last week were buried Saturday and Sunday, excepting John Reilly, whose funeral was held on Monday.  The injured numbered nine, all of whom are on a fair way to recovery.  The real cause of the explosion is unknown at present, but as soon as the injured are able to testify, an inquest will be held, and no doubt the cause made known.  Following will be found a brief obituary of the dead and an account of their funerals….

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From the Lykens Standard, August 7, 1908:

INQUEST HELD

Coroner Coover of Harrisburg, held an inquest in the office of Dr. G. M. Stites at Williamstown, on Wednesday evening to ascertain the cause of death of the six men who lost their lives by an explosion in No. 1 shaft Summit Branch Colliery, on July 15 [1908].  John Bowen, William Koenig, John Bowers, Thomas Dando, Joseph Baird, and Andrew Budd composed the jury.  Inspector Brennan of the 19th District assisted Inspector C. J. Price of this (the 20th) District in cross-examining the witnesses.  The examination was a most searching one, fair and impartial, and after all the witnesses had been questioned left no doubt in the minds of the jury as to the cause of the accident.  The verdict is:  That the six men met their death on the date above mentioned by an explosion of powder and a small quantity of gas, evidently ignited with a naked lamp.

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News articles from Newspapers.com.

Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.

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