Ledford, IL Mine Explosion, Mar 1927

EIGHT MINERS BURNED TO DEATH WHEN GAS POCKET IS IGNITED.

BODIES CHARRED ALMOST BEYOND RECOGNITION -- 300 WORKMEN ASCEND TO SURFACE IN SAFETY.

SHAFT IS 9,500 FEET DEEP.

By Associated Press.
Harrisburg, Ill., March 30. -- Eight miners were burned to death in a gas explosion this morning in the Saline County Coal corporation mine No. 2 at Ledford, five miles south of here. The bodies, charred almost beyond recognition. were found by rescue workers late today.
The victims were:
JOE TOTH, 42.
WILLIAM FILBER, 34.
CLAUDE LYNCH, 23.
LEE MORRIS, 39.
GEORGE AMBROC, 30.
CECIL REYNOLDS, 22.
SIMON SIMATIS, 32.
PETER DORRIS, 40.
The bodies were found two miles northeast of the bottom of the main shaft, which is 9,500 feet deep. Those of AMBROC and REYNOLDS were found together, about fifty feet from the other six.
The explosion was due to ignition of a pocket of gas, presumably from an open light used by miners.
About three hundred miners employed in other sections of the workings ascended to the ground level in safety after the explosion. Rescue workers for a time had held the slender hope that the eight victims, who were reported missing, had retreated to safety, but were unable to leave the mine.

Titusville Herald Pennsylvania 1927-03-31
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!