Mining Disasters and Rescues

Considered the worst mining disaster in American history, this West Virginia  
explosion claimed just short of 1,000 lives on December 6, 1907. After methane ignited coal dust in two mines in the West Virginia town of Monongah, rescue workers tried to save the lives of any surviving coal miners, but could only work for 15 minutes at a time due to lack of proper breathing equipment. Some of the rescuers also perished after inhaling the poisonous smoke, leading to a reported 956 total deaths, many of whom were Italian immigrants. Stanley Urban was one of many the Monongah blast claimed, but his twin did not suffer the same fate. Peter Urban was the explosion’s only known survivor after he was able find a small fox-hole to shelter him from the toxic gases. He was found four days after the initial blast, lucky to be alive. But in an eerie twist of fate, approximately 19 years later, Peter Urban was killed in a different mine cave.