Eccles Mine Disaster
Encyclopedia
The Eccles Mine Disaster was an explosion of coal-seam methane
that took place on April 28, 1914, in Eccles, West Virginia
. The explosion took the lives of at least 180 men.
and the Virginian Railway
, it mined West Virginia smokeless coal. The mine was owned by the Guggenheim family
. As with other West Virginia mines, the shafts pierced not only beds of coal but also pockets of natural gas
. Few coal faces at the time were lighted by electricity, and the miners lighted their work with helmets bearing carbide lamp
s that burned calcium carbide to produce flammable acetylene
.
About 2:30 p.m. on April 28, 1914, a series of massive explosions ripped through the mine. A later investigation indicated that the flame of a carbide lamp had touched off a pocket of coal gas, which in turn ignited other pockets. It was the second-worst mining disaster in West Virginia history (exceeded as of 2011 only by the Monongah Mining Disaster
).
At least 180 men lay dead, this being the death roll published as of 2011 by the National Coal Heritage Trail. A cemetery monument lists 183 victims, and the records of the county coroner
list 186.
The disaster assisted unionization efforts in the West Virginia coal fields. A similar disaster eighteen years later in Illinois, the 1932 Moweaqua Coal Mine disaster, helped spur efforts to end the legal use of flammable carbide-acetylene lamps in U.S. coal mines.
The Eccles No. 5 mine resumed operations after the disaster, and continued in operation until 1928; the coal seam utilized by the mine continued to be extracted for many decades afterwards from other shafts. The Eccles Disaster Memorial commemorates victims of the explosions.
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
that took place on April 28, 1914, in Eccles, West Virginia
Eccles, West Virginia
Eccles is an unincorporated census-designated place in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States. Eccles is located on West Virginia Route 3 west of Beckley. Eccles has a post office with ZIP code 25836. As of the 2010 census, its population is 362....
. The explosion took the lives of at least 180 men.
The disaster
The Eccles No. 5 mine was opened in 1905; served by the Chesapeake and OhioChesapeake and Ohio
Chesapeake and Ohio may refer to:*Chesapeake and Ohio Railway*Chesapeake and Ohio Canal...
and the Virginian Railway
Virginian Railway
The Virginian Railway was a Class I railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The VGN was created to transport high quality "smokeless" bituminous coal from southern West Virginia to port at Hampton Roads....
, it mined West Virginia smokeless coal. The mine was owned by the Guggenheim family
Guggenheim family
The Guggenheim family is an American family, of Swiss Jewish ancestry. Beginning with Meyer Guggenheim, who arrived in America in 1847, the family were known for their global successes in mining and smelting . During the 19th century, the family possessed one of the largest fortunes in the world...
. As with other West Virginia mines, the shafts pierced not only beds of coal but also pockets of natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
. Few coal faces at the time were lighted by electricity, and the miners lighted their work with helmets bearing carbide lamp
Carbide lamp
Carbide lamps, properly known as acetylene gas lamps, are simple lamps that produce and burn acetylene which is created by the reaction of calcium carbide with water....
s that burned calcium carbide to produce flammable acetylene
Acetylene
Acetylene is the chemical compound with the formula C2H2. It is a hydrocarbon and the simplest alkyne. This colorless gas is widely used as a fuel and a chemical building block. It is unstable in pure form and thus is usually handled as a solution.As an alkyne, acetylene is unsaturated because...
.
About 2:30 p.m. on April 28, 1914, a series of massive explosions ripped through the mine. A later investigation indicated that the flame of a carbide lamp had touched off a pocket of coal gas, which in turn ignited other pockets. It was the second-worst mining disaster in West Virginia history (exceeded as of 2011 only by the Monongah Mining Disaster
Monongah Mining disaster
The Monongah Mine disaster of Monongah, West Virginia occurred on December 6, 1907 and has been described as "the worst mining disaster in American History"...
).
At least 180 men lay dead, this being the death roll published as of 2011 by the National Coal Heritage Trail. A cemetery monument lists 183 victims, and the records of the county coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
list 186.
The disaster assisted unionization efforts in the West Virginia coal fields. A similar disaster eighteen years later in Illinois, the 1932 Moweaqua Coal Mine disaster, helped spur efforts to end the legal use of flammable carbide-acetylene lamps in U.S. coal mines.
The Eccles No. 5 mine resumed operations after the disaster, and continued in operation until 1928; the coal seam utilized by the mine continued to be extracted for many decades afterwards from other shafts. The Eccles Disaster Memorial commemorates victims of the explosions.