Oklahoma miners - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Federal Gov't link to old mining records & photos

schmarth — 2013-05-05 12:11:21Z

your post about the mines are great! thank you for you work,I love reading them.

Re: OKLAHOMA FATAL MINING ACCIDENTS, 1885-1962

Savoirefaire — 2013-01-31 16:38:47Z

Thank you-these are great leads!

Re: OKLAHOMA FATAL MINING ACCIDENTS, 1885-1962

shepard999 — 2013-01-31 13:38:00Z

There is no one with the surname STONE in the book Oklahoma Fatal Mining Accidents, 1885-1962.

Perhaps you can find help on these web sites:

http://www.linkpendium.com/

https://beta.familysearch.org/ “LDS Family Search” If you place your browser on the name on the left, more information comes up.

http://www.findagrave.com/

http://www.deathindexes.com/

http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=70734 “Billion Graves.com Burial Index”

From Jerry,
http://www.genealogy.com/users/s/h/e/Jerry-Sherard/ “Mining Accidents U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia”

Re: OKLAHOMA FATAL MINING ACCIDENTS, 1885-1962

Savoirefaire — 2013-01-31 06:35:05Z

Hi Jerry,
Could you please see if Grant Stone appears in the book "Oklahoma Fatal Mining Accidents, 1885-1962". We know Grant worked in the lead and zinc mines at Ottawa County, Oklahoma and was still there around June 1926.
Thank you for your help.

Re: "Fatalities in the Coal Mines" by Dr. T. Shuller - WILL LOOKUP

BonnieHardman66 — 2013-01-09 21:10:41Z

Could you look up Forrester GOODWIN?

He was working as a coal miner near Cameron. He was born in 1863, and died in March of 1899.

In some accounts his first name is listed as Forster or Bud.

Re: COAL AND MINING COMPANY

shepard999 — 2012-09-29 14:32:08Z

This is another mining accident web site:

http://www.genealogy.com/users/s/h/e/Jerry-Sherard/ “Mining Accidents U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia”

Re: COAL AND MINING COMPANY

gingermccall — 2012-09-19 19:00:34Z

Were any of your relatives killed in a mining accident? Names of some vicitims are listed in the links on the following website. I have found that the spellings are not always correct. I was told there are some records in St. Louis, Missouri of miners working in the area, but I am not sure how complete they are. There was also a College of Mining in Wilburton, OK before statehood. I have a class picture of one of the years, but with no names.

http://www3.gendisasters.com/mainlist/oklahoma/Mining+Explos...

Report: 1893/94-1906/07
By Indian Territory Mine Inspector
http://books.google.com/books?id=qhIwAAAAYAAJ&printsec=f...

http://www.swoknews.com/styles-new/miscellaneous/item/751-un...

http://arllib2.msha.gov/awweb/main.jsp?flag=collection&s...

Re: OSAGE COAL AND MINING COMPANY

a_cargo — 2012-08-19 02:11:43Z

Dear Mr. O'Dell,

I have been researching my Italian famiy members for nearly twenty years. Do you have, or know of a list of miners who worked for the coal mining companies in the Indian Territory? If so, could you please share that information with me. The names I am searching for are Petrocelli (aka Pietrocelli, Pictrocelli, Patricelli and other variations), the other name is Fornell (aka Frnel, Frnell, Fronal, Fronals, Fernell, and other variations). Thanks. acargo@ameritech.net

Re: Coal Mine Accident - September 27, 1929

shepard999 — 2012-01-07 22:40:47Z

September 27, 1929; Covington No.7 Mine, Tahoma, Oklahoma; 8 killed
(From Bureau of Mines report, by J.B. Hynal)
About 4:30 p.m., after the day shift had left the mine, the shot firer was firing shots at the face of the main slope, and the night shift was starting down. Six of these men were well down the slope, and a seventh was at the slope mouth when the explosion caught them, flowing the to man 200 feet and through the corrugated-iron engine house. Three of 5 holes charged with Cardox were fired in the face of the slope. They were fired singly from a 220-volt powerline at at switch about 50 feet from the face.

Gas accumulated at the face or released by the first shots, was ignited by the arcs as the firing cable nips were attached. Dust was ignited and propagated the explosion out the slope. The bodies were recovered by other employees with a short time. The mine was dry and dusty, sprinkling was ineffective, and no rock dust was used. The mine was examined for gas before the day shift entered, but no other examinations were made.

Page 55:
LATTIMER COUNTY NEW-DEMOCRAT, Friday, October 4, 1929 “Blast Hurls Person Through Engine room - Poisonous Gasses Rise”
Shady Point, OK, September 27. A gas explosion howled through the passageways of mine No. 7 on the Covington lease Friday afternoon, leaving violent death in its wake for eight miners.
Bill Cates of Jenny Lind was hurled 400 feet from the mouth of the slope through an engine house, crushing every bone in his body and mangling his features to such an extent that he could hardly be identified. The mangled body of Jeff Shelton was found a short distance down the slope.
Six other miners were underground when the explosion occurred and virtually all hope of finding them alive was abandoned Friday night as the deadly “after damp” quickly arouse.
The bodies of the men had not been recovered late Friday night as a rescue crew of about eight men were systematically searching the entries for the men. The men still in the mine are Robert Hanson, Jenny Lind; James Howard, Cameron; Herman Curiton, Panama; Willowby Wells, Shady Point; Houston Smith, Panama; and Joe Budoc, Shady Point.
Rescue workers had covered about 54 rooms in the mine without finding the bodies. The bodies of Shelton and Cates were sent to Ft. Smith. The explosion occurred at about 4:30 o’clock. Mine officials have not determined the cause of the explosion nor the extend of the damage.
Cates was about 40 years old and had made his home at Jenny Lind with R.L. Pearson, brother of Jim Pearson, day desk sergeant of the Ft. Smith police department. He was single and is survived by two brothers, Jack Cates of Poteau, and another who lives at Danville. He is also survived by a step-mother who is believed to live at Hot Springs.
Robert Hanson is a nephew-in-law of Jim Pearson and made his home at Jinny Lind, driving to and from his work each day. He had been working but a short time at Shady Point. Hanson has two children. His wife, Truschal Pearson Hanson, has supper prepared and was waiting his return when she received new of the explosion.
Ambulances Are Called: Both Fentress and Putnam ambulances were called from Ft. Smith Friday night to Shady Point where eight men perished in an explosion. The bodies of Bill Cates and Jeff Shelton were returned Friday night and the ambulances were ordered back to the mine to await recovery of other bodies.

Pages 147 and 209 (LeFlore County Sun, October 3, 1929)
Summary of fatalities:
Bill Cates, age 40, shot firer, residence Jenny Lind, AR, single, buried Jenny Lind
Jack Shelton (or Jeff Sheldon ), shot firer, residence Shady Point, OK, married, 4 children, buried Shady Point
James Howard, age 27, loader, residence Cameron, OK, married, 5 children, buried Jenny Lind
Herman Curetan, age 25, rope rider, residence Panama, OK, married, 2 children, buried Howe
Huston Smith, age 28, machine man, residence Shady Point, OK, married, 2 children, buried Shady Point
Robert Hanson, age 37, loader, residence Jenny Point, AR, married, buried Jenny Lind
Willowby Wells, age 35, driller, residence Shady Point, OK, married, 1 child, buried Shady Point
Joe Eudoc, age 43, loader, residence Shady Point, OK, single, buried Frontonac, Kansas

from Jerry

Re: Coal Mine Accident - September 27, 1929

shepard999 — 2012-01-07 13:52:12Z

Since this was a major Oklahoma mine disaster, there is a lot of information available about the accident. The accident in which 8 were killed occurred at the Covington Mine in Tahoma, Oklahoma, 1929Sep27.

The best source is Fatalities in the Coal Mines of Indian Territory and Southeastern Oklahoma (1885-1962) by Thurman Shuller, 228 pages, 1990, see pages 55, 56, 147 & 209. This source gives names, accident details, etc.

Source:

In 1998 (Reprinted 2001), the Mine Safety and Health Administration published a three volume index, Historical Summary of Mine Disasters in the United States:

Volume I - Coal Mines - 1810 - 1958, 280 pages
SEE PAGES 117 & 118

These publications contain listings of both fatal and nonfatal accidents by date, name and type of mine, location, number killed or injured, and nature of the accident. Names of miners are not provided. However for the fatal accidents, there usually is provided a summary from the official federal accident report. These books usually only cover major fatal accidents claiming three or more lives and do not cover most nonfatal accidents. These books were initially issued as nine microfiches and are available at large libraries in the Government Publication Reference section under Call Number L 38.2:H 62/SUM./V.1-3.

Source:
This MSHA library has a fatality archive database of accident investigation files for the United States mining industry:

http://www.msha.gov/TRAINING/LIBRARY/FatalRecordsSearch.asp
If you click on “Related Information” on the right more information about the record shown will come up.
09/27/1929, Covington Coal, # 7 Slope Covington Coal Company
Accident Classification: Ignition Or Explosion Of Gas Or Dust
City: Tahona
Related Information
Click Here to View Related Info: 17715
County: Leflore
Date of Accident: 09/27/1929
Division: Coal
Mine Name: # 7 Slope Covington Coal Company
Mining Company Name: Covington Coal
Narrative: Cause of Explosion: Electrical arc at point if connection to cardox shell or a knife switch to an auxiliary fan used for a blasting power. NOTE: No list of victims except Mr. Shelton and Mr.. Cares in newspaper article.

George Rogers is not mentioned in any of the above sources.

If you do a Google search "Covington Mine" Tahoma 1929 some of the information will come up.

If you wish to have a copy of some of the articles, you would need to contact me directly.

From Jerry, email: shepard364@gmail.com

http://www.genealogy.com/users/s/h/e/Jerry-Sherard/ “Mining Accidents U.S., Canada and Australia”

Re: Coal Mine Accident - September 27, 1929

audreyhancock — 2012-01-06 17:02:54Z

Thank you for posting this information. In helping my sis-in-law do her HOWARD FAMILY HISTORY this validates the oral and written family history that her grandfather, James Howard, was a casualty in this explosion.

Audrey

Re: "Fatalities in the Coal Mines" by Dr. T. Shuller - WILL LOOKUP

shepard999 — 2011-11-14 14:13:42Z

I would like to add, keep your email address up to date in your ancestry.com account. However, I suspect that many people cease paying their annual subscription and fail to register as a “Registered Guest”. Consequently when someone replies years later, they never know that a response to their query has been posted.

From Jerry,
http://www.genealogy.com/users/s/h/e/Jerry-Sherard/ “Mining Accidents U.S., Canada and Australia”

Re: "Fatalities in the Coal Mines" by Dr. T. Shuller - Please look up MORGAN

Debra697 — 2011-11-13 23:52:56Z

I am looking for information on my GGrandfather Thomas MORGAN.
He was a miner in Coalgate, OK area.
He immigrated to US from Wales about 1863
he died sometime between 1910 and 1930.
His sons were also miners.

Thank you

OKLAHOMA FATAL MINING ACCIDENTS, 1885-1962

shepard999 — 2011-11-11 23:28:51Z

OKLAHOMA FATAL MINING ACCIDENTS, 1885-1962, can provide date, miner’s age, mine and reference source.

From Jerry,
http://www.genealogy.com/users/s/h/e/Jerry-Sherard/ “Mining Accidents U.S., Canada and Australia”

Re: CARTER, James C. b. 1874 Coryell Co., Texas - coal miner

carolannharder — 2010-04-12 19:28:38Z

My grandmother was the daughter of James Carter and Mary Gower Carter. Please get in touch with me at carolann_harder@yahoo.com

Re: Coal Mine Accident - September 27, 1929

shepard999 — 2010-04-12 19:27:08Z

Source:
United States Government Publication Reference section under Call Number L 38.2:H 62/SUM./V.1-3
by the Mine Safety and Health Administration
Volume I - Coal Mines - 1810 - 1958, 280 pages
September 27, 1929; Covington No.7 Mine, Tahoma, Oklahoma; 8 killed
(From Bureau of Mines report, by J.B. Hynal)
About 4:30 p.m., after the day shift had left the mine, the shot firer was firing shots at the face of the main slope, and the night shift was starting down. Six of these men were well down the slope, and a seventh was at the slope mouth when the explosion caught them, flowing the to man 200 feet and through the corrugated-iron engine house. Three of 5 holes charged with Cardox were fired in the face of the slope. They were fired singly from a 220-volt powerline at at switch about 50 feet from the face.
Gas accumulated at the face or released by the first shots, was ignited by the arcs as the firing cable nips were attached. Dust was ignited and propagated the explosion out the slope. The bodies were recovered by other employees with a short time. The mine was dry and dusty, sprinkling was ineffective, and no rock dust was used. The mine was examined for gas before the day shift entered, but no other examinations were made.

Source: Fatalities in the Coal Mines of Indian Territory and Southeastern Oklahoma (1885-1962) by Thurman Shuller, 228 pages, 1990
Page 55:
LATTIMER COUNTY NEW-DEMOCRAT
, Friday, October 4, 1929 "Blast Hurls Person Through Engine room - Poisonous Gasses Rise"
Shady Point, OK, September 27. A gas explosion howled through the passageways of mine No. 7 on the Covington lease Friday afternoon, leaving violent death in its wake for eight miners.
Bill Cates of Jenny Lind was hurled 400 feet from the mouth of the slope through an engine house, crushing every bone in his body and mangling his features to such an extent that he could hardly be identified. The mangled body of Jeff Shelton was found a short distance down the slope.
Six other miners were underground when the explosion occurred and virtually all hope of finding them alive was abandoned Friday night as the deadly "after damp" quickly arouse.
The bodies of the men had not been recovered late Friday night as a rescue crew of about eight men were systematically searching the entries for the men. The men still in the mine are Robert Hanson, Jenny Lind; James Howard, Cameron; Herman Curiton, Panama; Willowby Wells, Shady Point; Houston Smith, Panama; and Joe Budoc, Shady Point.
Rescue workers had covered about 54 rooms in the mine without finding the bodies. The bodies of Shelton and Cates were sent to Ft. Smith. The explosion occurred at about 4:30 o'clock. Mine officials have not determined the cause of the explosion nor the extend of the damage.
Cates was about 40 years old and had made his home at Jenny Lind with R.L. Pearson, brother of Jim Pearson, day desk sergeant of the Ft. Smith police department. He was single and is survived by two brothers, Jack Cates of Poteau, and another who lives at Danville. He is also survived by a step-mother who is believed to live at Hot Springs.
Robert Hanson is a nephew-in-law of Jim Pearson and made his home at Jinny Lind, driving to and from his work each day. He had been working but a short time at Shady Point. Hanson has two children. His wife, Truschal Pearson Hanson, has supper prepared and was waiting his return when she received new of the explosion.
Ambulances Are Called: Both Fentress and Putnam ambulances were called from Ft. Smith Friday night to Shady Point where eight men perished in an explosion. The bodies of Bill Cates and Jeff Shelton were returned Friday night and the ambulances were ordered back to the mine to await recovery of other bodies.
Pages 147 and 209 (LeFlore County Sun, October 3, 1929)
Summary of fatalities:
Bill Cates, age 40, shot firer, residence Jenny Lind, AR, single, buried Jenny Lind
Jack Shelton (or Jeff Sheldon ), shot firer, residence Shady Point, OK, married, 4 children, buried Shady Point
James Howard, age 27, loader, residence Cameron, OK, married, 5 children, buried Jenny Lind
Herman Curetan, age 25, rope rider, residence Panama, OK, married, 2 children, buried Howe
Huston Smith, age 28, machine man, residence Shady Point, OK, married, 2 children, buried Shady Point
Robert Hanson, age 37, loader, residence Jenny Point, AR, married, buried Jenny Lind
Willowby Wells, age 35, driller, residence Shady Point, OK, married, 1 child, buried Shady Point
Joe Eudoc, age 43, loader, residence Shady Point, OK, single, buried Frontonac, Kansas

I sent this information recently to Christina (Rogers) Carter.

from Jerry
contact through www.roagk.com

Gale/Gayle-Robinson or Robertson-? Pennsylvania

Champlain99 — 2010-04-12 19:23:51Z

Does anyone know of a Gale or Gayle Robinson, born around 1915, raised in an orphanage, then worked as a Miner, prior to enlisting?

Does anyone know of which orphanages were sited close to mine workings, when the people would leave the orphanage to work in the mines?

Any input is greatfuly appreciated.

Kind regards

Re: Qualls or Thompson

shepard999 — 2010-04-12 19:22:51Z

Below is a couple of nonfatal Oklahoma mine accidents:

Date of Accident / Name of Person / Age / City or Mine (County) / N=Nonfatal / Page / Reference Source

1895FEB15 THOMPSON, JAMES 25 HARTSHORNE N 70
1893OCT19 THOMPSON, WILLIAM COALGAGE N 68

If any of the above are of interest to you, get back with me. I do have a little more information about these specific accidents.

I never found a falal accidents that fit your critera.

from Jerry

Re: Qualls or Thompson

gingermccall — 2010-02-25 20:13:41Z

I am looking for a Qualls who might have died between 1899-1902 near Wilburton. First name is unknown.

Also, looking for a Thompson who might have died before 1900 near Wilburton. First name is unknown. Wife was named Mattie.

Re: "Fatalities in the Coal Mines" by Dr. T. Shuller - WILL LOOKUP

bernitagilmore — 2009-02-15 20:15:52Z

Harvey L Bayard - born Sep 1861 - died 30 Jun 1919

He died from injuries suffered in a mine accident but did not die at the time of the accident. I'm not sure exactly how much time passed between the accident and his death.

I'm not sure where the accident occured. He was living with family members in Lexington, Cleveland County, Oklahoma Territory on the 1900 census. He was living with an aunt (Lucy Scofield) in Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma on the 1910 census. He is buried with other family members in Galena, Cherokee County, Kansas.

Thank you for your time with this lookup request - Ann

Re: Coal Mine Accident - September 27, 1929

carter1975 — 2009-01-10 03:35:54Z

Oops, I forgot to leave my email - sacramento1975@yahoo.com

Coal Mine Accident - September 27, 1929

carter1975 — 2009-01-10 03:35:02Z

I am not sure if the mine was in Oklahoma, Arkansas, or Missouri, but my Grandfather did not stray far from Oklahoma until he got married. He worked with explosives is all I know about his actual duties. As the family story goes, on the morning of September 27, 1929, George E. Rogers woke from a dream that told him to never enter the mine again. He called in to his supervisor and quit that morning. About 4:40 PM that day an accident at the Covington Coal Mine killed 8 men that were on what should have been my Grandfather's shift.
A handwritten note from what I believe was the shift supervisor (or mine manager?) lists the names of the 8 that died. The script is difficult to read, but my best guess is:

"Covington Lane 9-27-29
Accident - 94

On the Above date, 8 men met their deaths about 4:40PM in mines NOT of the Covington Coal Cos... A blown out or windy shot seems to have been the cause of the accident.
The names and Occupations of the unfortunates are
James Howard Age 29
Bill Catis " 45
Bob Hanson " 32
Joe Udo/Machine Man " 43
Hunton Smith " 33
Willoby/Well Driller & Short Lighter " 40
Jeff Sheton/Coal Loader " 35
Hamon Cureton/Rofi (??) Rider " 25

Signed: F....McGuire" (or something close - I am guessing at the uire)

The back of the note says
"No. 7 - Explosion
Sept 27 - 29"

If anyone has any cooroberating information or places that I can research...? Just confirming that the mine exists is a great start, Please help.

Re: "Fatalities in the Coal Mines" by Dr. T. Shuller - WILL LOOKUP

Carlyon2004 — 2007-10-29 06:41:37Z

Thanks Treepig! I appreciate it! Carlyon McKinney

Re: "Fatalities in the Coal Mines" by Dr. T. Shuller - WILL LOOKUP

SandyTreepig — 2007-10-29 04:58:54Z

There were a few mentions of TANNER and HALL names in the book's index, as follows:

1. John TANNER, age 51, died of unknown causes on November 26, 1937 at the Bell Coal Company Mine No. 8 in LeFlore County. He left a wife and five children.

2. Earnest TANNER, age 44, was killed at the No. 2 mine of the Blackjack Coal Company on October 17, 1935 by falling rock. It doesn't say where this mine was other than being in "DISTRICT THREE."

3. On page 136 is this:

May 13, 1919 William HALL, age 45, American, miner, McAlester Coal Co., McAlester, fall of rock.

4. and on page 187 is this:

5-12-1919 HALL, William 41 m accident at N. McAlester, buried at Old Town. (This last reference was taken from the Cheney Funeral Home Records in McAlester, Oklahoma.

(I copied the above two references "as is" and you will note the differences in dates and ages of Mr. Hall.)

There are no other references, but this book is only a collection of a very small number of surviving records. It is not in any way comprehensive. I wish you well in your search.

Re: "Fatalities in the Coal Mines" by Dr. T. Shuller - WILL LOOKUP

Carlyon2004 — 2007-10-14 04:43:31Z

Hi Sandy! Would you mind looking up some coal miners for me with the surnames of Hall and Tanner? I don't have their first names. They were my relatives. The story that I heard is that they were killed in a coal mine explosion somewhere in the Haskell or LeFlore or Sequoyah counties area in Oklahoma before 1930.

According to what I heard, a ball of fire went from one end of the mine to the other burning everyone in it's path. I was not told this directly though. I overheard this over 40 years ago by listening to my dad and mother and my great-aunt talking on my great-aunt's front porch one day. I was child who loved to listen in on grown-ups conversations. No one ever said anything to me about it but I've been curious about it ever since.

Can you tell me anything about it? I will appreciate whatever information that you can find about them.

Thank you,

Carlyon Sue McKinney

Mine death 1905

CarolHuff17 — 2007-08-23 01:29:46Z

My Great Uncle Robert Lafayette Williams was supposedly killed in a mining accident in OK in 1905. I would assume, as he was only 18 or 19 that he would have been in either Latimer, Pittsburg or LeFlore Co., OK., as his brothers and sisters lived in those Counties. Family names Graddy, Sevier, Mankins, Padgett.
Robert's brother Daniel Lewis Williams died in a mining accident. His death date is June 21, 1921. He apparently died at Howe, LeFlore Co., and/or is buried there.
His name is listed on a tribute to mining deaths at McAlester, Pittsburg, OK.

Wheatley mine explosion, McAlester, Oct. 27, 1930 - articles with names

SandyTreepig — 2007-08-13 21:17:35Z

Below are transcriptions of three (3) newspaper articles concerning the Wheatley Mine explosion of October 27, 1930, outside of McAlester, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma.

I copied these from Thurman SHULLER's manuscript, page 61, "Fatalities in the Coal Mines of Indian Territory and Southeastern Oklahoma 1885--1962."

NOTE: surnames were capped by me--and did not appear that way in the articles.
______________________

This article from "The Hartshorne Sun" newspaper on October 30, 1930:

THE BODIES OF 25 MINERS TAKEN FROM STRICKEN MINE

Up to about 9:00 o'clock this morning, 25 bodies of miners entombed in Wheatley Mine No. 4 located just west of the state penitentiary at McAlester, killed by an explosion Monday night, had been removed. There were 29 men in the mine at the time of the explosion, which, counting William DONLEY, who was in charge at the mine entrance, and was also killed by the force of the explosion, makes a total toll of 30 men, as there is positively no hope of finding a single man alive. The work of removing bodies were made necessarily slow on account of the after damp in the mine, and because of the wreckage, which almost clogged some oft he passages. It is another terrible toll of life, given for the coal industry, and every person deeply sympathizes with the wives and orphans of the dead miners. Following are the names of the miners in the mine, as given out by the company:

Nick ZONTIC,
Nick ZONTIC, Jr.,
Sam ROBERTS,
B. LEWIS,
Barney BLUE,
Isam COLE,
J. P. HAMMAN,
Marcellus ROSS,
Joe McCAULEY,
Richard FAUCKNER,
Bob CORRITER,
Frank HUSTED,
Seth HEATHCOCK,
Steve DELUGAS,
Tony CAMPBELL,
John WRIGHT,
Harry LEHMAN,
Bob LOUERO,
Dominic MOLET,
Ernest FEARS,
Frank POPPY,
T.B. MEREDITH,
W.H. McMURTRY,
Tom HOLT,
Lige McBEE,
Phillips BIETZ,
John GHIGO,
Homer BOND, and
Augus MASCO.
____________________

--from the Tulsa World newspaper, Tulsa, Oklahoma (no publication date given)

24 WIDOWS, 78 CHILDREN ARE LEFT BY THE MINE BLAST

McALESTER, Nov 1---The Red Cross workers carrying on the mine disaster relief work in McAlester under the direction of Mrs. C.V. SHUMAN of St. Louis report that there are 24 wives and 78 children surviving the miners whose lives were snuffed out in the explosion of the Wheatley No. 4 mine. Immediately after the disaster mine officials set about paying the wages due the miners to their families.

"The death of a man," explained Mrs. SHUMAN, "does not instantly alter the pantry supply, the shelter and the physical condition of the families, so there is no emergency. State people will have plenty of time to send in their contributions."

Not all families will be dependent on the Red Cross. After the survivors have gotten over the first pangs of grief, Mrs. SHUMAN and Miss Frances BLACKBURN, an experienced relief worker, will set about the task of going to each home and thoroughly investigating the situation. A file index already has been completed, containing the names, ages and addresses of the members of the various families.

"We are concerned very much about the mothers with several small children," went on Mrs. SHUMAN. One mother has seven children under 16 years of age, another nine under 11 years, and still another five young ones. And several of the grief stricken ones are expectant mothers."

The work being done by the two Red Cross women has brought to light several stories that excite sympathy. The Mrs. Nick ZONTIC, Jr., lost her father, her husband and her father-in-law in the explosion.

It was discovered that several of the coal diggers who lost their lives had begun work at the mine as late as October of this year. Phillip DITCHAVAGE, 21, single, had been standing in line ever day for two weeks trying to get work to support his mother and father. When the night shift went down into the mine on that fatal night, DITCHAVAGE started his fifth night of work.

Mayor J.B. McALESTER and the chamber of commerce selected W.H. GOODNER as chairman of the mine disaster relief committee; J.G. PUTERBAUGH, president of the McAlester Fuel Company, treasurer, and I.E. GUYMON, secretary. Mr. E.A. COLLIER, national accountant of the Red Cross from Washington, D.C. is here to handle the financial side of the situation. All the money is sent to Washington and the accounts are checked through the war department. Mrs. SHUMAN declared Saturday that she and her helpers would remain in McAlester until all of the families have been properly taken care of.
____________________

OCTOBER 27, 1930: WHEATLEY NO. 4 MINE, MCALESTER, OKLA., 30 KILLED
(From Bureau of Mines report, by C.A. Herbert)

About 9:30 p.m. the underground night shift of 30 men was all killed by an explosion. One, a trip rider, was killed at the mouth of the slope as he was loading material into a car. Almost every stopping in the mine was blown out, as was much of the timbering, resulting in heavy falls of rock, except along the slope. Rescue crews and equipment arrived during the night and temporary stoppings of brattice cloth were put in to restore ventilation into the section where the night shift had been working. The work was done without the use of apparatus except for the recovery of the last 3 bodies in the 15th west, removed by a crew at 4:00 p.m. October 30.

Explosive gas had accumulated in the face of a crosscut and aircourse after the line curtain was removed while coal was loaded out. A mining machine cut into the crosscut from the other side, and the gas was carried over the controller and ignited. The explosion was propagated by coal dust over the entire mine. Rock dusting was so limited in extent that the effect was negligible. Ventilation was inadequate and carelessly maintained. Figure 81 gives details of the explosion.

If you need me to look up a name, email me with "Oklahoma coal miner" in your email's subject line.

Federal Gov't link to old mining records & photos

SandyTreepig — 2007-05-28 03:22:02Z

The Dept. of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration website is:

http://www.msha.gov/TRAINING/LIBRARY/mshaPortal/index.html

"The MSHA Digital Library features materials related to the Mine Safety and Health Administration's mission of ensuring the health and safety of the nation's miners. These collections include historical and modern mining photographs, mining research materials, videos, and a full collection of Accident reports dating back to the 1840s."

See the search engine at the bottom of the page and type in "Oklahoma" to see, for example, the many available records.

Re: "Fatalities in the Coal Mines" by Dr. T. Shuller - WILL LOOKUP

SandyTreepig — 2007-05-11 00:41:11Z

In answer to your second question, there are no listings for miners who died of black lung disease in my copy of Dr. Shuller's book. This book only reports on miners who were injured or died in Indian Territory (now eastern Oklahoma) and southeastern Oklahoma--not Texas.

But I did find mention of a M.G. McKELVEY on page 204, as follows:

---------------

Mar. 16, 1914 M.G. McKELVEY, driver, a young man, married only a year, found dead, apparently due to electrocution in Whitehead #2 near Henryetta. (The Henryetta Standard, Mar. 19, 1914)

----------------

That paragraph was listed on a page among several pages containing brief data about many other deceased miners. The beginning of that section on Page 201 is entitled:

"SUPPLEMENTAL DEATH REPORTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Published March 1991 - Compiled by Thurman Shuller, M.D."

I found no other mention of this McKELVEY in Dr. Shuller's book. Perhaps you could get a copy of the newspaper article itself? I do not know if that paper was microfilmed and available for requests. You might contact someone on the Okmulgee County message board on Rootsweb or Genforum.com/ and/or contact the Oklahoma Historical Society. OHS has hundreds of old newspapers on microfilm.

Re: "Fatalities in the Coal Mines" by Dr. T. Shuller - WILL LOOKUP

vbgoodwin — 2007-05-06 22:10:59Z

I have been told that my uncle, Malcolm McKelvey, was electrocuted in a mine accident in Oklahoma or Texas around 1910 or later. Can you find a record of this?

Also, Malcolm's father died of black lung disease around 1894. I have no first name for his father. He was a miner also. Are you able to look up deaths from black lung disease? I believe the family was living in Bridgeport, Texas when he died.

Savanna mine deaths of April 4, 1887

SandyTreepig — 2006-12-12 05:17:02Z

April 4, 1887; Old Savanna No. 2 Mine, Savanna, Okla.; 18 Killed --from Adventures in the Mines, by T.T. O'MALLEY, 1891, pp. 251-253.

The explosion killed 6 miners, and 12 of their comrades lost their lives in attempting to rescue the bodies through chokedamp. The torrent of flames forced from the mouth of the slope was over 100 feet in length. * * * It was followed by a fearful concussion. The engine house, over a 100 feet long and 2 stories high, was blown into splinters and in a few minutes it was enveloped in flames. . .

KILLED IN EXPLOSION:

BARNES, Willie
DOOLEY, Hugh
FRENCH, Burt
JARED, Miles
JONES, Davie
PARSONS, Charlie

SUFFOCATED IN RESCUE EFFORTS:

BARTZ, Freddie
DANIEL, Tom
FAGAN, Pat
GLANCY, Pat
HILL, George
HUDSON, Billie
KELLEY, Mike
McINNIS, James
MILLER, Robert
NEEDHAM, Tommie
WARD, James
WILLIAMS, Jack

Excerpted from "FATALITIES IN THE COAL MINES OF INDIAN TERRITORY AND SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA 1885-1962" - Thurman SHULLER, M.D., published by the Pittsburg County Genealogical and Historical Society (Pittsburg Co., Oklahoma) in 1990 and copyrighted in 1990.

Have YOU mining disaster stories to share here?

1893 explosion at Alderson, I.T. – Choctaw Coal Company

SandyTreepig — 2006-12-12 05:14:40Z

The "Indian Citizen" newspaper in Atoka, Oklahoma reported nine deaths in the Choctaw Coal Company Mine No. 1 caused by a windy shot fired by one of the victims on March 13, 1893. In this March 16, 1893 publication, it noted the names of:

LOVE, Warren
MATTHEWS, Earnest
McFADDEN, John
SCANLON, John R.
TRIOLORI, Jules
WARREN, W.E.
(Names of three other victims not given)

"The mine is owned and operated by the Choctaw Coal Co. on the line of the Choctaw Coal and Railroad Co. and was located by Edwin D. CHADWICK in 1888 and opened in May 1889, and has been in operation since. It is considered the best of the lot of the shafts run by the company." uh-huh.

Excerpted from "FATALITIES IN THE COAL MINES OF INDIAN TERRITORY AND SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA 1885-1962" - Thurman SHULLER, M.D., published by the Pittsburg County Genealogical and Historical Society (Pittsburg Co., Oklahoma) in 1990 and copyrighted in 1990.

I hope this helps another researcher.

McAlester mine explosion - Jan. 7, 1892

SandyTreepig — 2006-12-12 05:12:22Z

The following list of miners killed on the evening of January 7, 1892 in McAlester, Indian Territory also included their age, marital status, number of children left in each family of the dead miner, and a column indicating if their body would be interred at the "Catholic" or "Union" cemetery. I've only listed names below. Reply here TO THIS BOARD if you wish more details about a particular miner. Rootsweb will then send me a notification and I will respond at my first opportunity.

[spelling as is]

BLAU, Louis
BRANDON, Ed.
BULLETTO, Thos.
CHARLES, Frank
CIOCCA, Angelo
CLARK, Joe
COLLINS, Pete
COMPASSO, Barney
COMPASSO, Jean
CORRANTO, Joe
CORRANTO, Joe (listed twice)
CORRENTO, Alev.
EDWARDS, Joseph
FALLOTH, Mike
FARMER, Jas.
FICCOLLETI, John
FRENZIA, Sam N.
GENISOT, Ant.
GENISSIO, Joe
GIACOMO, Gande
GIACOMO, Mike Jr.
GREEN, John
GREGORY, Charles
GREGORY, George
GREGORY, Pete
HARBON, George
HARLEY, John
HATHAWAY, Frank
HENRY, John
HOPKINS, Wm.
HUNT, Larry
KAIN, Thos.
KENNEDY, Mike
KIBBLE, Ed.
LINDSAY, George
LINDSAY, John
LORENZO, Barney
MASSATTO, Peter
McCONNELL, Robt.
McDONALD, John
McSHAIM, Mike, Jr.
McSHAIM, Mike, Sr.
MITCHELL, Wm.
MOSS, Bennett
NICCOLU, Joe
OLINGER, Albert
OREBRIZIO, John
PASTOTO, Antonio
PASTOTTO, Jim
POWERS, Pat
QUINN, Jas.
QUINN, John
QUINN, Mattock
ROCCO, Joe
RUSSELL, Wm.
SINTINO, Lorenzo
SPERSA, Salver
SPEUA, L. (Speua?)
TARRO, Dominec
THIERY, Alphonso
TRAUBE, Louis
TRAUBE, Louis (yes, this name was listed twice)
VASSELLO, Peter
VERRINO, Steve
WALTON, William
WILLIAMS, John
WINN, Pat

-----------------------

Excerpted from "FATALITIES IN THE COAL MINES OF INDIAN TERRITORY AND SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA 1885-1962" - Thurman SHULLER, M.D., published by the Pittsburg County Genealogical and Historical Society (Pittsburg Co., Oklahoma) in 1990 and copyrighted in 1990.

12 killed, 1885 explosion, McAlester, Indian Territory

SandyTreepig — 2006-12-12 05:09:37Z

From the Muskogee Indian Journal newspaper on April 2, 1885, page 1, column 4:

"Twelve men were killed in an explosion in a mine at McAlester, I.T., recently. The cause was believed to be the accidental igniting of giant powder, but it could not be positively asserted, as all the men working in the action where the explosion occurred were killed. There was no fire-damp in the mine. The dead are:

James AIKENS
Sam AIKENS
John WILLIAMS
Joseph PELL
John MARTIN
Robert MASTERSON
John GOLD
A. McCOY
W.C. PETERSON
Joseph STEVENSON
Brat COX "

Excerpted from page 2, "FATALITIES IN THE COAL MINES OF INDIAN TERRITORY AND SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA 1885-1962" - Thurman SHULLER, M.D., published by the Pittsburg County Genealogical and Historical Society (Pittsburg Co., Oklahoma) in 1990 and copyrighted in 1990.

"Fatalities in the Coal Mines" by Dr. T. Shuller - WILL LOOKUP

SandyTreepig — 2006-12-12 05:07:10Z

I have a copy of a manuscript "compiled and abstracted" by Thurman SHULLER, M.D. that was first printed by the Pittsburg County Genealogical and Historical Society (Pittsburg Co., Oklahoma) in 1990 and copyrighted in 1990. The title:

FATALITIES IN THE COAL MINES OF INDIAN TERRITORY AND SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA 1885-1962

Dr. SHULLER provides a valuable record for researchers and descendants of miners who were injured or killed while working as employees of coal mine companies in early Oklahoma. For several decades prior to statehood in late 1907, much of the eastern half of Oklahoma was known as "Indian Territory," as the land was owned in common and governed by several tribal nations (Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Osage etc.). This manuscript concerns miners who worked in Indian Territory and southeastern Oklahoma from 1885-1962.

The 232 page book is only a partial compilation of newspaper articles, church records, individual reports and a few mining company records. The author, Dr. SHULLER, indicates that many many coal miners died. But scant records were kept by mining companies other than mere lists of the number of men or boys who were lost in a particular month or year. Names and personal information were seldom kept by their employers. Newspapers of the day would list the number of dead--but not always list their names, ages or hometowns. Families of survivors who did not live nearby remained unaware of their loved one's death. A few local churches started collecting data, but many of their records were not preserved over time.

INDEX: There is a lengthy INDEX in the book and I am willing to do lookups if you provide me with a SURNAME (last name) and any other data you may know about the miner. (I've found that not all names mentioned in the book are contained within the INDEX) Dr. SHULLER writes that records were often difficult to read due to fading print or damaged papers. Names of foreign workers (yes, there were many immigrants seeking employment in the Territories) were often misspelled. Nicknames were sometimes all that was known about a coal miner.

So if I do not find your ancestor mentioned in the book, please do not stop researching. Have you "googled" his name, using the "advanced" feature at Google?

http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en

Try posting a query to this message board. In the "subject" line AND in the message itself, type all last names in caps so that they can easily be seen. Most people JUST read the Subject lines, and don't bother to click open the messages unless they find a relevant Subject or KEYWORD. And put your miner's surname in the SURNAME box. Separate surnames by comma, such as: DIMINYATZ, THOMPSON, MARIANI, COFFEY

Why? Surnames in the Surname box will be entered into Rootsweb's search engine, enabling others to quickly find your post.

Messages I've posted on Rootsweb or GenForum.com's message boards have often brought helpful replies years later. Post your query here or at the board created for your miner's surname. And if you find data about him, please SHARE it here. It will help another researcher.

Sandy

April 29, 1901 deaths at ALDERSON mine

2006-09-21 02:33:29Z

CARTER, James C. b. 1874 Coryell Co., Texas - coal miner

NanaCFH — 2006-05-29 23:40:11Z

I am searching for information on James C. Carter (1874-?) married to Mary Gower. They were married in Atoka, OK in 1898. James's parents were John Rayford Carter and Cerro Gorda Couch Carter. James was born in Coryell County, Texas. His siblings are George Rayford Carter, Mary Frances Carter Strahan, Ida Evelyn Carter Towry. James and Mary had two daughters and I do not have their names. James worked as a coal miner in OK. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Re: CARTER, James C. b. 1874 Coryell Co., Texas - coal miner