Browder Mine Disaster 1910

Date: 1 Feb 1910 [unknown]
Location: Browder, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky
Surnames/tags: Mining_Disasters Kentucky Disasters

Disasters | Mining Disasters | United States Mining Disasters | Southeast United States Mining Disasters | Browder Mine Disaster

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Contents 1 History and Circumstances 1.1 Rescue Efforts 1.2 Results and Findings 1.3 Victims 1.3.1 Injured 1.4 Sources

History and Circumstances

• Date: 1 Feb 1910
• Location: Browder, Kentucky
• Victims: 34 deaths
• Cause: Coal mine explosion

Rescue Efforts

:Within a few minutes after the explosion the fans had sucked the shaft almost clear of deadly gases and rescue parties were able to descend and begin to dig through the wreckage. No fire followed the explosion and the ventilating apparatus was fortunately unharmed by the shock.

The rescue parties found a scene of destruction that left no doubt as to the fate of the men. First bodies recovered were in fairly good condition, the men having been smothered to death and not mangled by the explosion but as the party pushed on they found bodies so mutilated that they were unrecognizable. Cars and debris of all description had been tossed about by the explosion. The rescue party worked without interruption all night, while women, children and men formed to the darkness a shadowy ring which never left the mouth of the shaft.

Results and Findings

This mine is reputed to be gaseous and black powder was taken into the mine areas where ventilation was poor. The black powder found an accumulation of gas and caused an explosion.

The evidence seems to point to an ignition of gas with the resuIting local explosion spread by the flame coming into contact with black powder. ^[1]

Victims

Miners Name Sourced Bio Connected Category Alex Ray Bennett William Reno Peter Thomas Kelley Matthew Lloyd E. Mack English James Arthur Richardson Ray Martin Hilas L Sprole Yes Yes No Yes Columbus M Sprole Yes Yes No Yes Alexander Sweat Alex Hughes Ezro Mayfield Obie Jones Raymond Browning William Jones John Duffy George Duffy Terry Cash Bud H. Smith William Berry Richard Henry Mason Estill E. Cornette H. Eugene Cornette Benjamin Leslie Warner Johnson Alexander Williams Estill Browning James Mat Allen Will M. Whitaker James L. Williams J. Riley Thomas James Dudley Empson Levy Duvall

^[2]

Injured

Walter Williams

Sam Bard

Edgar Mitchell

Charles Williams

John O. Steel

Charles Whitney

James Whitney

Will Richardson

Columbus Jones

Sam Oates

Harris Borah

M. Edwards

Floyd Avery

Herschell Sheffield

Joe James

George Estes

Burgess Mason

Jesse Jernigan

James Lemon

Sources

1. ↑ Final Findings, USMRA
2. ↑ Browder Mine Disaster 1910, USMRA