Banner Mine disaster
The Banner mine disaster of April 8, 1911 near Littleton, Alabama was a coal mine explosion that killed 128 people. The event ranks among the 15 deadliest coal mine disasters in U.S. history.[1]
The exact cause of the early-morning blast is unknown. It is likely that an accidental spark ignited gas in the air, which directly killed seven men and knocked out a ventilation fan. Without the fan, levels of blackdamp rose in the mine. Another 121 miners suffocated. About 40 other workers were able to dig their way through rubble and escape.[2]
The Banner Mine was run by Pratt Consolidated Coal Company, then owned by Tennessee Coal & Iron. Seventy-two of the casualties were black convicts leased from the state and from Jefferson County.[3] The explosion brought enough attention to horrific mine conditions for new governor Emmet O'Neal to push a mine safety bill through the legislature.[4]
References
- ^ "Coal Mining Disasters: 1839 to Present". Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ^ Jones, Adam (8 April 2011). "State's larger mining accident claimed 128 men 100 years ago". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ Flynt, Wayne (February 5, 2016). Poor But Proud. 2990: University of Alabama Press.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Ward, Robert David. "Banner Mine Tragedy of 1911". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
33°41′19″N 86°59′54″W / 33.688714°N 86.998225°W / 33.688714; -86.998225
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- Monongah, West Virginia, 1907 (362 killed)
- Dawson, New Mexico, 1913 (263 killed)
- Cherry, Illinois, 1909 (259 killed)
- Jacobs Creek, Pennsylvania, 1907 (239 killed)
- Fraterville, Tennessee, 1902 (216 killed)
- Scofield, Utah, 1900 (200 killed)
- Mather, Pennsylvania, 1928 (195 killed)
- Eccles, West Virginia, 1914 (180+ killed)
- Cheswick, Pennsylvania, 1904 (179 killed)
- Castle Gate, Utah, 1924 (171 killed)
- Hanna, Wyoming, 1903 (169 killed); 1908 (59 killed)
- Marianna, Pennsylvania, 1908 (154 killed)
- Frontier Mine disaster, Kemmerer, Wyoming, 1923 (138 killed)
- Banner Mine disaster, Littleton, Alabama, 1911 (128 killed)
- Saunders, West Virginia, 1972 (125 killed)
- Dawson, New Mexico, 1923 (123 killed)
- Hastings, Colorado, 1917 (121 killed)
- West Frankfort, Illinois, 1951 (119 killed)
- Benwood, West Virginia, 1924 (119 killed)
- Layland Mine disaster, Layland, West Virginia, 1915 (115 killed)
- Johnstown, Pennsylvania, 1902 (112 killed)
- Hueytown, Alabama, 1905 (112 killed)
- Pocahontas, Virginia, 1884 (112 killed)
- Centralia, Illinois, 1947 (111 killed)
- Plymouth, Pennsylvania, 1869 (110 killed)
- Everettville, West Virginia, 1927 (109 killed)
- Mammoth Mine disaster, Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, 1891 (109 killed)
- Krebs Mine disaster, Krebs, Oklahoma, 1892 (100 killed)