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Terre Haute, IN Spring Hill Coal Mine Explosion, Apr 1947

Posted December 29th, 2008 by Loraine Jordan

Eight of Eleven Miners Die in Blast Near Terre Haute

TERRE HAUTE, IND. – (AP) –
Eight of 11 men working in the Spring Hill coal mine near here were killed by an explosion yesterday.

Bodies of the dead, all brought to the surface last night, were identified as CALVIN WILSON, about 70, pit foreman, STEVE SUMMERS, about 55, MORT GATES, about 55, JOHN BROWN, 55, FERN EARHART, about 50, BARNEY RIGGS, 67, DESIRE LETE, 58, and CHAUNCEY BLACKBURN, about 50.

Rescue squads said the bodies, found about 15 feet apart, indicated the men were walking toward the shaft when the explosion occurred.

Three men who escaped unhurt from the shaft said they were knocked to the mine floor by a dynamite blast which the miners 1,000 feet back in the tunnel were setting off just 12 minutes before quitting time yesterday.

The Maryville Daily Forum, Maryville, MO 1 May 1947
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Transcribed by Loraine Jordan. Thank you, Loraine!

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