Reserve, BC Coal Mine Explosion, May 1915

NANAIMO MINE DISASTER.

THIRTEEN LIVES BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN LOST AS RESULT OF EXPLOSION IN RESERVE MINE -- THREE BODIES RECOVERED.

Nanaimo, B.C., May 27. -- The long immunity which Nanaimo has enjoyed from serious accidents in local mines was rudely broken today, when a disastrous explosion occurred at the Reserve mine of the Western Fuel company, at 4 o'clock this afternoon, just after the change of shifts. At the time of the explosion there were 86 men in the mine, and of this number thirteen escaped unhurt and reached the surface safely. WIthin an hour four others were recovered, of whom three were dead and one fatally injured. This left nine men unaccounted for and there is no hope of any of them being saved. The total casualty list, therefore, is 22, and hope is entertained for the injured man, who was brought out and is now lying in a local hospital.
Following the explosion smoke at once poured out of the upcast shaft leaving doubt as to what had really occurred. As to what caused the explosion, nothing can be said definitely at present. All indications point to an ignition of a body of inflammable gas. The explosion developed great force. Members of rescuing parties said that the bottom of the intake shaft is piled up with cars and the body of the cage man has not yet been recovered. There are evidences of a greater forces farther in and signs of flames and intense heat, with here and there the usual cave-ins. It is thought that the origin of the explosion will be found in the west level. All the missing men are in this section. Further examination of the mine as soon as ventilation is restored will throw more light on this point.
The first casualty list issued was as follows:
The rescued men were:
R. WILSON.
J. S. JONES.
A. GOLD.
J. VULLOSIO.
T. PATTERSON.
W. THOMPSON.
T. J. NEEL.
A. COOK.
H. CLARKE.
J. GRAHAM.
A. J. MASA.
J. DAVIS.
The injured:
J. FLORETTS.
The dead are:
WILLIAM BALL, miner.
EPHRAIM WALISHFIL, miner.
ALFRED WILLIAMS, miner.
HIRAM GUFFOGG, miner.
FREDERICK CREW, miner.
JOHN LEACH, miner.
JAMES McEWAN, miner.
WILLIAM McEWAN, miner.
NICK SELEK, miner.
FRED LESCHEK, miner.
THOMAS HARKER, miner.
THOMAS BEWLEY, miner.
ROBERT KIRKBRIDE, driver.
EDMUND BECK, driver.
ROBERT McMILLAN, pumpman.
ROBERT HADDOW, cager.
JAMES L. MASS, rope-rider.
J. W. DAVIS, bratticeman.
PAUL VITTER, timberman.
THOMAS SUTTER, timberman.
ROBERT BROOM, overman.
LEWIS SHAW, pusher.

Manitoba Free Press Winnipeg 1915-05-28
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!