~Noon
In Edri, PA:
Two men are injured in a coal mine accident and sent to the Allegheny General Hospital. “One had his leg torn off, the other was severely injured.” (FWV 12.31.07 pg. 1)
In Carthage, NM:
“A terrible explosion of either fire damp or dust occurred during the noon hour in the big Bernal coal mine of the Carthage Fuel company at the little mining town of Carthage, N.M., western Socorro county, in which anywhere from ten to twenty miners were killed, wounded or buried in the mine.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“The force of the explosion was terrific. It blew the men a distance of five hundred yards, carrying them from where they stood clear to the tipple of the mine.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“…James Richardson, the pit boss who has been mining in New Mexico for over 25 years. He had just left the mine and his feet had barely touched the ground to the side of the slope when the force of the explosion reached the mouth of the mine. Richardson had just calmly walked from in front of a terrible death. Charles Wilcox, who was following Richardson just a few feet behind, stepped to the mouth of the mine just as the escaping gas emerged. He was tossed like a feather fully three hundred feet in the air and every bone was broken when he fell.” (AC 01.02.08 pg. 1)
“The ground was shaken for miles in the vicinity and window glass was broken all over the mining camp.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“The rush of gas from the mouth of the mine was accompanied by a spurt of flame, a roar and a great mass of coal dust. This dust shot out across space and let a deep black stain on the side of a hill near the engine house a thousand fee from the mine. Another miracle was that no one was in the path of that flame and dust, although men crossed and recrossed that space many times daily.” (AC 01.02.08 pg. 1)
“Refegio Villanuza, who was so badly injured that his death is hourly expected, had not been at work in the mine twenty-four hours when the accident occurred. He had just been employed and had only a few days ago, bade his family farewell in Mexico. He was just preparing to leave the mine for his noonday meal and the force of the explosion hurled him along the narrow track and threw him with terrific force against the mine timbers.” (AC 01.02.08 pg. 1)
“The miners at dinner rushed to the mouth of the mine and the wives and children of men in the mines crowded about weeping hysterically or calling pitifully for their loved ones.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“W.L. Weber, the mine superintendent, headed a heroic little rescuing party and with his men risked his life in an effort to penetrate the workings to the succor of any men who might be imprisoned there.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
During the next few hours
At the Bernal mine in New Mexico:
“The scene following the explosion was one of terrible confusion and grief.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“Parties of rescuers are relaying each other in an effort to reach those still in the mine.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“The wildest excitement prevailed in the mining camp while the rescuers were at work and the greatest heroism was displayed, not only by those who went below but by the women and children and men who waited above for news of the missing miners.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“Deadly gases in the tunnels, it is said, are preventing the rescuers from advancing far into the workings.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
~3:00 pm
At the Bernal mine in New Mexico:
“The mine is said to still contain dangerous gases so that the work of rescue is difficult and very dangerous.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“At 3 o’clock a telephone message to The Citizen from Socorro, stated that the rescuers had removed eight bodies of miners and that six wounded miners had been brought from the mine—probably none of whom will live.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“A short time later, a special to The Citizen from San Antonio, a town about twelve miles from Carthage, stated that seven bodies and three injured miners had been removed from the mine. The special said it was believed that the explosion resulted from dust in the tunnels.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“At San Antonio it was stated that seven men were still in the mine entombed in the lower workings or dead.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
~4:00 pm
At the Bernal mine in New Mexico:
“At 4 o’clock it was stated that the following had been identified among the dead:
-
- L. Wilcox, an American mine boss.
- Angelo Ligorno, an Italian miner.
- T. Nasterson, an American miner.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“It is not known at 4 o’clock this afternoon just how many men are still in the mine but a conservative estimate places the number at not over ten. The rescuers say they do not believe any of those still in the mine can be alive.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“Dr. Bacon, the company physician, worked strenuously caring for the injured and those suffering from hysteria. He soon had all as comfortable as it was possible to make them. He was ably assisted by a number of brave hearted women in the camp who made bandages and took up the work of nursing as soon as he had dressed the wounds of the injured.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“Despite the prompt medical assistance, it is feared that a number of the injured will die.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“Among the most dangerously injured are the following:
-
- Barnedino Vavaretta
- Benito Cuchildessa
- Max Walker
- Mat Brooks
- George Jockocich” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
“Five other bodies had not been identified. Their remains were horribly mangled and burned and it may be impossible to ever identify with any certainty. In some instances, the limbs were separated from the trunks.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
~4:30 pm
In New Mexico:
“At 4:30 this afternoon the following special was received by The Citizen from its correspondent at San Antonio:
“In the work of rescuing those still in the mine and caring for those injured, no attempt had been made to ascertain the damage to the mine. It is probably considerable and will no doubt entail a severe loss.” (AC 12.31.07 pg. 1)
During the afternoon
In Rivesville, WV:
A Box social is held at Pharaoh’s Run school house. “Proceeds for the benefit of the distressed of the Monongah disaster.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 3)
In Kenova, WV:
Jennings Adams, 12 years old, is on one of the tracks at the Kenova railroad bridge over the Big Sandy, just outside of Huntington, WV. Jennings “stepped off onto another (track) to dodge an approaching freight train, when he was struck by the engine of the (C&O) passenger train and hurled more than thirty feet landing on the foot of the embankment which leads up to the approaches of the bridge.” He was killed instantly. (FWV 12.31.07 pg. 2)
At the Bernal mine in NM:
“Superintendent C.F. Wesser, with a party of rescuers, numbering several dozen, has been busy working all the afternoon, in spite of the gases.” (BDR 01.01.08 pg. 1)
“Women and children are with difficulty kept from the mouth of the mine and scenes when bodies of the dead were brought up were most harrowing.” (BDR 01.01.08 pg. 1)
More on the Monongah Disaster of 1907
How Death Gloated!: A Timeline of the Monongah Disaster and Bloody December of 1907
Who is Guilty?: A Timeline of January 1908 and the Coroner’s Inquiry
The Monongah Disaster 