St. Nicholas de Bari – The Monongah Disaster

Thursday, December 19, 1907 – St. Nicholas Day, Morning

Today is St. Nicholas Day for those who recognize the Greek Orthodox calendar, particularly Polish Catholics.

During the Morning

In Palermo, Italy:

A powder explosion destroys several houses and 4 hotels. It is thought that a hundred are hurt and many will die. It is feared that many of the bodies will only be found as the wreckage is cleared. (FWV 12.20.07 pg. 1)

In Huntington, WV:

A terrible accident at Holden results in the death of Harry J. Fitch, chief electrician for the U.S. Coal and Oil Company. “Mr. Fitch who is well and favorably known here, was testing some new machinery when his coat sleeve became fastened in a cog wheel and pulling his arm out of the socket. Death ensued within an hour.” He is survived by a wife and little daughter. (FWV 12.20.07 pg. 1)

In Parkersburg:

The Parkersburg Mill Company is completely destroyed by fire. 300 men are thrown out of work. (FWV 12.19.07 pg. 5)

In Fairmont:

The Fairmont West Virginian reports the weather as being: Fair tonight and Friday, slightly colder tonight.

The remains of John Neary are taken to his home in Latrobe, PA for interment. “His son and a friend, Edd. O’Neill, arrived here last night and accompanied the remains.” (FWV 12.19.07 pg. 4)

The Joint Legislative Committee prepares to make one more trip into Monongah and examine the mines. (Inquiry)

building 5 - The Tavern - fairmont map — Building 5 is “The Tavern” aka Skinner’s Tavern

Mayor Arnett is introduced to the contractor for new bridge, Mr. Ed. A Meredith, who gives him a check for $50 to add toward the Monongah relief fund. (FWV 12.18.07 pg. 1)

6 women from Fairmont and the Union Relief Association go to Monongah to give aid and distribute clothing. (FWV 12.19.07 pg.5)

In Monongah:

“Everything is very quiet around the scene of the great disaster and the people are trying to adjust themselves to the changed conditions as rapidly as possible.” (FWV 12.19.07 pg. 1)

11:30 am

In Van Meter/Jacobs Creek, PA:

The Darr mine becomes #4 on Bloody December’s list.

“The Darr mine has been operated for twenty years and was known as a very gaseous mine.” (TS 12.20.07 pg. 1)

The mine had undergone “a brief shut down…having been closed down on Tuesday and Wednesday.” (AR 12.20.07 pg. 1)

“There have been two Greek Church holidays and hence the mine was all but closed down for two days. Today was the first working day and many of the Greeks were not in condition to go to work.” (TS 12.20.07 pg. 1)

“It was just 11:30 o’clock, on the tenth trip of loaded cars to the tipple, and then came an awful rumbling sound, followed immediately by a loud report and a concussion that shook nearby buildings and as felt within a radius of several miles. At the same time there came out of the mouth of the mine an immense cloud of dense smoke and dust that floated across the Youghiogheny River.” (AR 12.20.07 pg. 1)

12.20.07 - pg 4 - Darr cont. 2 — NYTb 12.20.07 pg 4

“Intuitively, everyone in the vicinity knew what had happened. All started for one place, the mouth of the mine. The river separates the mine and the homes of many of the miners, so that only a portion of those who started for the scene were able to reach it there being scant facilities for crossing the stream. To those who could not cross the water the smoke and dust pouring from the mine’s mouth told a story of seething flames and death back in the workings and from this source came reports that were persistent until late in the day, that the mine was burning. Ventilation fans were kept in operation almost without interruption, however.” (AR 12.20.07 pg. 1)

Jacobs Creek and Naomi map — Several miners who had been put out of work by the Naomi disaster on December 1st sought work at the Darr mine, less than 8 mines away.

“400 men are entombed. The mine is on fire and it is believed all are dead.” (FWV 12.19.07 pg. 1)

“In the observance of the church festival many of the 400 or more men regularly employed in the mine did not go to work this morning. Those who escaped through this reason are members of the Greek Catholic church.” (AR 12.20.07 pg. 1)

“This makes the 3rd big disaster for this small mining town of late years.” (FWV 12.19.07 pg. 1)

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Bibliography

Disclaimer and Guide

Introduction

Issues with the Monongah Timeline

About the Author

Contact Information

Friday, December 6, 1907, 10:15 am – 10:29 am

10:15 am

Outside #6

J.H. Leonard is just outside of the fan house and watches the trip of coal cars come out of the mine mouth, pass by the derailing switch, and begin to travel up the trestle toward the tipple. (McAteer, Inquiry) ◊

10:19 am

In East Monongah:

William Finley is standing on the street by the coal company’s office at the south side, not far from #6. (Inquiry)

10:20 am

Outside #6

Nick Smith is working at the forge in the blacksmith shop. (Inquiry)

Inside the fan house, the gauge for the fan pressure rises .4 inch. This is normal, typically caused either by general workings vibrations or the loaded trip of cars going, “with and against the current” of air being pushed through the mines. (Inquiry, Victor)

In Traction Park (between #6 and #8):

George Bice is walking down to the Traction Park interurban station to catch the trolley into Fairmont. George is a tracklayer in #8, but he is not scheduled to work today. (Inquiry)

Inside #8

Orazio DePetris notices a fire boss come into his area for a few moments and then leave. (Inquiry)

Angelo DePetris has just finished putting in a shot and begins picking from the roof. (Inquiry)

Peter and Stan Urban sit down to eat some lunch. (Inquiry)

Outside #8

Lee Curry, the stationary engineer, just finished dropping a trip of empty coal cars into #8 mine and has stopped it still. (Inquiry)

Carl Meredith is on the same loaded track, looking toward the mouth of #8 mine. (Inquiry)

On the opposite side of the river:

E.P Knight, #6 tipple foreman, is in the shanty under #6 tipple. He is talking on the phone with John Talbot in the shipping department discussing coal cars, or probably the lack thereof. (Inquiry)

Pat McDonald is walking on the haulage bridge, facing the mouth of #6. (Inquiry)

Outside #6 on the trestle:

The trip of cars gets stuck at the knuckle of the tipple; the rear car is about 50’ from the knuckle. (Inquiry)

10:21 am

A warning light in the engine room, connected to the main current line, which indicates that the train of cars is in motion turns off. (McAteer, Inquiry)

10:25 am

Outside #6

J.H. Leonard watches the stuck trip of cars and waits by the derailing switch. (McAteer, Inquiry)

Luther Toothman is on #2 tipple (directly opposite of #6). (Inquiry)

10:26 am

Christina Cerdelli is standing in the door of her home. (Inquiry) ◊

10:27 am

Levi Martin is at his home on Willow Tree Lane (just past Thoburn post office, above and behind #8). (Inquiry)

10:28 am

On the West side of Monongah:

George Bice reaches Traction Park interurban station. He is about 330 feet from #8 and ¼ mile from #6. (Inquiry) ◊

On the East side of Monongah:

George Peddicord is walking onto the Iron bridge with buckets of chains from the East end of town. (Inquiry) ◊

Outside #6:

Will Jenkins has just finished replacing one shoe on a horse in the blacksmith shop and is preparing to shoe the other foot. (Inquiry)

J.H Leonard hears a noise from fan house and, fearing the fan was stalling, turned away from the derailing switch and ran back to the fan house to check the fan engine. (McAteer, Inquiry)

10:29 am

Outside #6:

J.H Leonard barely gets into the fan house when he hears a large *snap*. (Inquiry)

At the top of #6 trestle:

The loaded tip of coal cars has been stuck for almost ten minutes when the coupling pin on the first car of the train snaps. (McAteer, Inquiry)

In #6 engine house:

Ed Fry notices the engine speed up once the trip breaks free of the rope. (Inquiry)

Across the river from #6:

E.P. Knight, who is still on the phone with Talbott, feels the #6 tipple jar and sees the wench rope jerk back. Before Knight can tell Talbott that the train broke loose, Talbott has already sat down the phone and started outside. (Inquiry)

On the trestle:

The loaded trip of cars begins careening back down the trestle toward the mine mouth. (McAteer, Inquiry)

Pat McDonald hears the trip break loose, turns and looks up to see it racing back down the trestle. He begins to sprint towards the derailing switch. (McAteer, Inquiry)

Outside #6:

J.H. Leonard turns around, runs out of the fan house and back toward the derailing switch. (McAteer, Inquiry)

Nick Smith watches the runaway trip speeding toward the #6 mouth from the blacksmith shop. (Inquiry)

The trip makes an “unusual noise”, startling the horse in the blacksmith shop causing the horse to trample Will Jenkins to the ground. (Inquiry)

Alonzo Shroyer is 50-60 feet away from the mine mouth and only notices the trip when it is passing right by him. (Inquiry)

J.H. Leonard makes it back to the derailing switch just in time to watch the last two cars go into the mine. (Inquiry)

In #6 engine house:

The lights in the engine room flicker off and back on. Ed Fry turns off the wench engine. (Inquiry)

At the mouth of #6:

J.H. Leonard thinks someone could get caught on the slope of the mine in the wake of the runaway train. He and Alonzo Shroyer run to the mouth of the mine and look down into the portal. Leonard braces himself for impact. (Inquiry)

Outside #6:

The power goes out in the blacksmith shop. (Inquiry)

Outside #8:

The interurban car, south-bound for Clarksburg, passes by and below the trestle to #8 mine mouth.

On the West side of Monongah, between #6 & #8:

George Bice sees the trolley heading south, passing by #8. He is worried he is too late and has missed the trolley into Fairmont. He turns north, toward #6, to see if it is already on its way to Fairmont. (Inquiry)

Inside #8:

The DePetris brothers are just bending over to pick up and load the coal they just shot down. (Inquiry)

Peter Urban is finishing up his lunch when he hears a noise in the distance and suggests to his brother, Stan, that they should run. Stan hears nothing over the noise of his work, shrugs off his brothers concerns and goes back to digging coal. (McAteer, Inquiry)

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Friday, December 6, 1907 – Early Morning, 6:30 am – 9:30 am

6:30 – 7:00 am

Inside #8

Fire Boss P.J. McGraw leaves his fire boss shift after filling out his report.

Outside #8

Pat Kerns comes out of the mines and talks with P.J. McGraw for a bit. (Inquiry)

Carl Meredith arrives to work as Tipple Foreman. (Inquiry)

Inside #6

Andrew Daran arrives for work and proceeds to F face, 4th right, rooms #12 & #13. Despite seeing no mark to indicate that either Fire Boss had been in that area and inspected it prior, he proceeds to work. (McAteer, Inquiry)

Outside #6

Lester Trader has finished cleaning himself up and stops by the Post Office to mail the letter to his father in Pennsylvania that he finished during his lunch break before walking home. (McAteer, Inquiry) ◊

Will Jenkins gets called down to the mine to shoe a horse. He leaves the blacksmith shop, walks over to #6 pit mouth and rides one of the motors down. (Inquiry) ◊

7:00 – 7:30 am

In Monongah:

Several men leave their homes for work at the mines. (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 7)

These men are not paid according to the tonnage they mine, like the diggers who showed up hours earlier. Rather, they are paid a flat wage for a special job or skill performed through the day.

A miner says goodbye to his family and walks off to the mines singing ‘Nearer My God to Thee’. They can hear him singing “as far’s it carried.” (Kellogg) ◊

Lester Trader arrives home and eats the breakfast that Mayme, his wife, has prepared. (McAteer, Inquiry) ◊

Inside #6

Will Jenkins arrives to 2nd left, east heading to shoe a horse. (Inquiry) ◊

7:30 – 8:00 am

In Monongah:

Fire Boss Trader checks on his 2-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, then heads to bed himself. (McAteer) ◊

8:00 – 8:30 am

Inside #8:

The DePetris brothers are working in 2nd right south, room #15, when they are told by a boss, one they are not familiar with, to stop working and move elsewhere. The brothers tell this boss they want to go to a section where they can “start the room” and work the 100’ long wall (a.k.a. the “long-ton”). (Inquiry) ◊

Leo Dominico is working alone in south, 2nd right, 1st south but changes his location to 3rd left south. (Inquiry) ◊

Inside #6

Andrew Daran is still working at F face, 4th right, rooms #12 & #13 and has occasionally noticed a little gas in his area throughout the morning. (Inquiry) ◊

8:30 – 9:00 am

Inside #6

Andrew Daran is still working at F face, but is starting to feel ill. (Inquiry)

9:00 – 9:30 am

A life insurance salesman enters one of the mines to sell insurance policies, a common practice of the day. (McAteer) ◊

Outside #8

Hyre Stalnaker is working in the shop across the river from the mine opening. (Inquiry)

Lee Curry is running the hoist in the engine house. (Inquiry)

Inside #6

Andrew Daran leaves work for the day, feeling too sick to continue on. (Inquiry)

Will Jenkins is called to 4th left by Frank Moon to check on shoeing another horse. (Inquiry)

In Fairmont:

FCC offices are open and running.

General Manager L.J. Malone is working in the general offices on 12^th street.

J.O. Watson II, a company officer, is in Downtown Fairmont along with S.L. Watson, company treasurer.

◊ = Time of event is ‘best guess’ by author based on available information

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December 5, 1907 – Eve of St. Nicholas Feast Day

“The dawn of a new era of prosperity is here.” (FWV 12.5.07 pg. 1)

During the day:

The country is beginning “to recover from the severe shock of the recent panic” on Wall Street. “Naturally there was a little scare at first, but when the people saw that there were rotten spots only here and there they quickly recovered from their fright.” (FWV 12.5.07 pg. 1)

In Pennsylvania:

12.5.07 - pg 1 - Naomi — FWV 12.5.07 pg 1

In Washington D.C.:

Gov. Dawson of West Virginia gives the opening speech at the river convention. (FWV 12.5.07 pg. 1)

“He said his state was particularly interested in the comprehensive improvement of the inland waterways of the country…The governor referred particularly to the resources of West Virginia, the State being second in the production of coal and fifth or sixth in hard wood timber. The bulk of the coal has to find a market outside of the State and if, by water transportation, the state could save the ten cents a ton it would aggregate $3,000,000 a year.” (FWV 12.6.07 pg. 1)

“’We are one people and have a common destiny,’ said he, in conclusion. ‘We want nothing in West Virginia that is forbidden to any other part of the country; but I say to you, gentlemen, that we want to be ready for the Panama Canal when the great waterway is ready for us.’” (FWV 12.6.07 pg. 1)

In Grafton:

“Sam Furk, an Italian, has been held for the grand jury on the charge of extorting money at the point of a revolver from several of his fellow countrymen of this section.” An Italian witness from the same area of Italy as Sam Furk ‘testifies’ that Furk is wanted on two murder charges back in Italy, “so it is probable that the local authorities will take up this matter with the Italian embassy at Washington.” (CDT 12.5.07 pg. 1)

“The hearing developed the fact that Furk had been playing the hold-up game among members of his race successfully at Brooklyn, N.Y., Rowlesburg, Manheim, Fairmont, Clarksburg and Grafton.” (CDT 12.5.07 pg. 1)

“Furk is in jail here.” (CDT 12.5.07 pg. 1)

In Fairmont:

The Fairmont West Virginian reports the weather as: Fair tonight and Friday, warmer Friday

In Monongah:

Mines #6 & #8 are not running at full production today but the fans continue running for the skeleton crew inside. Due to the recent stock market crash, there is still a lack of orders & a majority of the working immigrant population will be celebrating the eve of St. Nicholas Feast Day tonight. In these days of “miner’s freedom”, many miners would choose not to go to work during their holidays.

In the Afternoon

In Fairmont:

The Isabella Davis Circle of King’s Daughters opens their annual Christmas Bazaar in the Sunday school room of M.E. Church on Main Street in Fairmont. “The different booths are all decorated in the Christmas colors red and green the color scheme being carried out by the use of crepe paper and autumn leaves in the colors.” (FWV 12.5.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

Anestis Stamboulis & several Greek miners take advantage of the holiday and good weather. They take a walk up into the hills surrounding the town and pick some wild mushrooms to be used for dinner. (McAteer)

~5:30 pm – 6 pm

In Monongah:

The Who’s Who Club of Wahoo (a neighborhood of Monongah) holds its monthly meeting where they “disposed of large quantities of the amber fluid, red liquor and refreshments of all varieties.” 8 members will not go into work tomorrow but will end up digging graves. (McAteer)

Homer Pyle and his mother are “sitting before the bright blazing fire” at their home,“…he said let us have a song for it is too cold to go over in town tonight, so he and his mother sang two or three songs and the last song was ‘Will There be Any Stars in My Crown?’”

“But little did Homer think that the next evening he wouldn’t be alive to sing with his mother.” (FWV 12.19.07 pg. 2)

At the mines:

The night shift skeleton crew comes onto work.

Over the next 12 hours these workers will do various jobs throughout the mines.

Inside #8

Peter J. McGraw came in for his fire boss shift around 6 pm.

He does his examinations of the mine alone.

He finds water in 4th left so significant that he can’t get in there to properly examine the heading. (Inquiry)

Inside #6

22-year-old Lester E. Trader arrives for his fire boss shift around 6 pm. (Inquiry, McAteer)

Trader inherited his job when the previous fire boss got sick during Trader’s apprenticing. Trader lacked 3 years necessary experience, training, and certification for his official position so he was kept on the night shift so as to “not run into the inspector”. (McAteer)

Trader worked alone like most fire bosses. He led a horse drawn water cart to sprinkle the mine walls in order to dampen any renegade coal dust.

To check for dangerous gas levels, he used a Wolf Safety Lamp to check for methane. However, due to the size of #6 mine, Trader cannot check everywhere.

~7:00 pm

At the mines:

Libberato Delesandro works the night shift, “helping to get #6 and #8 through together”. (Inquiry)

Inside #8:

Tony Pasquaele arrives to work and drives the horse-drawn water cart in #8 through the night. “The watering carts carried large wooden barrels filled with 300 gallons of water; perforated ends of the barrels were plugged by wooden combs that could be removed to allow water to sprinkle out.” (McAteer)

As he is leading the horse and water cart, he notices that the heading is “a little dry” for this time of year. (Inquiry)

Tony is also responsible for pumping out any rising or standing water which had seeped into the mines. His pattern is systematic; he “would start the pumps then go water mines for a bit, and then would check back on the pumps every 2 hours to see how they were doing.” (Inquiry)

Inside #6:

Ludwig Strezelecki works at F face: 1st right, room 15. His task for the night involves working with his brother-in-law taking out stumps and finishing the headings.

Night

It is the eve of St. Nicholas Day for Italian Catholic and some Polish Catholic immigrants.

At night, the families gather around their coal stoves or fireplaces (if they are fortunate enough to have a fireplace) and tell stories, sing hymns, or verse simple rhymes about St. Nicholas De Bari.

Polish- St Nick rhyme-mamalisa — Polish rhyme to St. Nicholas

Italian - St Nick rhyme - mamalisa — Italian rhyme for St. Nicholas

Children leave their shoes lined up side-by-side next to the door, window, or hearth. If possible, some would place bits of carrot, oat, or hay inside as a gift for the trusty mule/white horse which traveled along with St. Nicholas as he delivered small gifts.

8:00 pm

In Clarksburg:

At the Bacon & Godfrey skating rink a “Who’s Who” Carnival is held. “Upon entering the rink, you will be furnished with a false head or some contrivance of that kind which will make it almost impossible for your mother to even know you. With everybody thus attired the big show will start, with everyone wondering who is who.” (CDT 12.5.07 pg. 1)

~10:00 pm

Inside #8:

Homer C. Palmer (electrician) arrives for his night shift.

Through the night:

Inside the mines:

The main ways of the mines are watered.

Fire bosses like Lester Trader and P.J. McGraw walk their respective mine checking for dangerous conditions in both #6 and #8.

Inside #8:

George Bice dug coal (pick work) on 5th right, 2nd north in #8

Inside #6:

Fred Cooper (motorman) sprinkled headings in #6. (Inquiry)

In Monongah:

Not long after the children have fallen to sleep, several parents quietly replace the bits of hay or carrot in their children’s shoes with a sweet treat, like candy or fruit, and a small present—typically a (gold) coin.