Degnan, OK Coal Mine Explosion, Aug 1920

TAKE LAST BODY FROM DEATH PIT.

RESCUERS WORK HARD IN WILBURTON MINE TO SAVE TRAPPED MINERS; TEN KILLED.

Wilburton, Okla., Aug. 23. -- The last of the ten men who were killed in an explosion in the Degnan-McConnel Mine No. 19 at Degnan, three miles west of here Saturday afternoon, was removed late yesterday afternoon. The explosion is believed to have occurred when fans in Mine Shaft 4-E ceased to work. Volunteer rescuers worked throughout Saturday night and Sunday morning in an attempt to reach the entombed men, hoping to bring the victims out alive.
A complete list of the dead:
CLARENCE WILLIAMS, single.
A. SULLIVAN, who leaves widow and two children.
SAM PAGLERI, who leaves a widow.
BILL LENORE, who leaves a widow and three children.
JOHN FIFER, who leaves a widow and five children.
LASSON ROBINSON, who leaves a widow and two children.
RALPH DISSOLVO, who leaves a widow and four children.
ROBERT DISSOLVO, single.
JIM LENORE, who leaves a widow and three children.
PAUL CHAKAT, single.
The explosion is said to be the largest in the history of the district, and in one of the oldest mines of the field. The explosion tore a great avalanche of dirt and rock from the roof and walls of the shaft, blocking it completely and making rescue work much slower. From the location of the body of LASSON ROBINSON, a driver in the shaft, it appeared that he had gotten but half way down the shaft to warn the men of the idle fans, when the explosion came.

Muskogee Times Democrat Oklahoma 1920-08-23
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!