Nanaimo, BC Coal Mine Explosion, June 1884

TWENTY-FOUR MINERS KILLED BY AN EXPLOSION AT NANAIMO.

SIXTEEN OF THE BODIES ARE RECOVERED.

Victoria, June 30. -- A terrible explosion took place this morning in No. 3 shaft of the Wellington Colliery at Nanaimo, by which 24 white miners lost their lives and a large number were burned and injured.
At the time of the explosion there were fifty men in the mine. At 1 o'clock eleven bodies had been recovered, whose features were unrecognizable; at 9 o'clock P.M. fifteen bodies had been taken out. It is supposed that nine miners are still in the mine.
The cause of the explosion is supposed to have been accumulations of gas in the mine. The disaster is without parallel in the mining history of British Columbia. The scene at the mouth of the shaft was heartrending. Mr. Dunsmier, the owner, left by special steamer for the scene of the accident this afternoon.

Morning Oregonian Portland 1884-07-01

Listing of the Casualties:
JOHN ENO.
MICHAEL WILKINSON.
BEN F. JOSE.
JAMES DONAHUE.
JOHN GILL.
JOHN JONES.
BARNEY McGINNES.
JOHN WINDERS.
JOHN FREAR.
JAMES COUNDLEY.
THOMAS PETTIGREW.
DANIEL EVANS.
HAROLD ARNOLD.
CHRISTOPHER HOSKINS.
DOMINICO RICONO.
VITTORIA BERDOTTI.
BETTONI LAZARRO.
MILLETTO DOMIONICO.
MARTIN LOWRY.
JOHN LOWRY.
PETER TRAFFO.
ROSETTI VERGINO.
ROBERTO VERGINO.

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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!