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1951 West Frankfort, Illinois mine disaster...
1951 West Frankfort, Illinois mine disaster...
Item # 722284
December 23, 1951
THE DETROIT NEWS, December 23, 1951
* West Frankfort - Lakeland
* Franklin County, Illinois
* Coal mine explosion disaster
The top of the front page has a six column headline: "60 ENTOMBED MINERS ALL FEARED DEAD" with subheads. Three related photos are on page 6 of section II. (see images)
Complete with 40+ pages, rag edition, small binding holes along the spine, nice condition.
background: The 1951 West Frankfort mining disaster occurred on December 21, 1951, at the Orient No. 2 coal mine in Illinois, when a buildup of methane gas in abandoned sections of the mine ignited, triggering a massive explosion that propagated through coal dust and destroyed large portions of the underground workings. The blast struck shortly after the evening shift had entered the mine, killing 119 miners, making it the deadliest coal mine accident in Illinois history since 1928. Only a few miners survived, with one man rescued after 56 hours underground. The disaster devastated the local community, leaving numerous widows and fatherless children, and prompted national attention on mine safety. Investigations revealed that inadequate ventilation, non‑permissible equipment, and poor coal dust control had contributed to the catastrophe, ultimately influencing the passage of the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act of 1952. Memorials in West Frankfort, including the Coal Miners Memorial Park, continue to honor the victims, and the tragedy remains a defining moment in the town’s history, remembered as a night that “ended Christmas” for many families.
Category: The 20th Century
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