The Daily Worker

COAL COMPANY CARELESS OF WORKER LIVES: SEVEN ARE DEAD

By GERRY ALLARD.

Seven coal miners were blown to death in a terrific explosion December 1 at Old Ben No. 8 mine, at West Frankfort, Ill. Old Ben has some 15 large mines concentrated mostly in Williamson and Franklin counties. The explosion was caused by gas pockets that had accumulated, due to lack of proper ventilation. The blast gained greater impetus through coal dust that lies along the entries, and with cyclonic force rocked the four corners of the pit.

The victims of the catastrophe were blasted beyond recognition, identification being possible only through numeral checks on their so-called "safety" bug-lights that miners wear to work by in the mines.

The victims of the disaster are:
Jewel Baker, 31, survived by wife and two babies.
Dewey Baker, 29, a brother, survived by wife and also two babies.
Henry Isaacs, 25, survived by wife and seven months old infant.
E. E. Bearden, 34, survived by wife and two children.
Veto Gerirdini, 32, survived by wife and one child.
Thomas McDermott, 60, single.
James Tabor, missing as yet, although it is considered virtually certain that he also lost his life.

More Might Have Died.

The blast occurred during the night shift, where maintenance crews work keeping the mines in shape for the day shift that employs some 500 men. The company announced that 22 men were in the mines at the time of the explosion. Fifteen miners narrowly escaped death.

In spite of the cold blistering winds that swept through this section, with four inches of snow, hundreds of miners with women and children watched for hours the hoisting of relief crews. The grim, tough faces of the miners, the whimpering sobs of women and children, created a melancholy picture familiar to all coal diggers in hundreds of other such catastrophes. The officials of the coal company quietly whispering to one another added to the cold, bitter gloomy drama.

Rescue teams, composed of coal miners from Benton, Herrin and Johnston City, slowly but bravely worked through the hazardous debris. Progress was halted due to the blown-out brattices that had to be rebuilt. Gases and the dangerous "black damp," suffocating fumes further handicapped the work of reaching the stricken area.

Five of the bodies were not brought to the surface until late Sunday morning. The body of McDermott was found and brought to the surface late in the afternoon. The body of James Tabor has not been discovered, due to the absence of roof supporters, it is thought by rescue teams that Tabor's corpse is buried under hundreds of tons of rock that fell after the blast.

Four Overcome.

During the rescue work four miners were overcome by the deadly fumes, the gases and smoke. They were rushed to the hospital for treatment; their condition is not definitely known.

A. D. Lewis, brother of President John L. Lewis, of the United Mine Workers, by the way, and director of mines and minerals in Illinois, has arrived prepared to make an "investigation." It will be recalled that Lewis acquitted the coal company of all responsibility of the explosion that occurred two years ago at No. 18, Peabody. The disaster at that time killed 21 coal miners. Mr. Lewis made the statement, "My opinion is that the explosion is purely a gas explosion." He declined to make any statement as to what were the exact reasons for the disaster.

The National Miners' Union issued a statement that the coal company's negligence of the air circulation as well as the general condition of the mines was responsible for the death of the seven miners. "The speed-up system, the bug-light which enables the company to neglect the proper circulation of air, and the so-called efficiency, the lowering cost of production are responsible for the victims. Only through the organization of the coal miners in the National Miners' Union, where the miners will fight to perfect working conditions to their own satisfaction, will mine explosions ever be prevented," the statement continued.

The National Miners' Union will hold memorial services in an open-mass meeting, where the fatal negligence of the coal company will be exposed.