Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Mining
Five Killed in Explosion
Central City last Wednesday experienced its first serious mine explosion, when five men were killed and the property of the Central Coal & Iron Co. seriously injured. About 4.30 o'clock, soon after the shot-firers had begun their work, the explosion occurred supposedly from the ignition of dust that had been raised by the succession of shots fired in knocking down the coal. This or a “windy shot” is the only thing that could have caused the accident. As every man who was in the mine was killed, it will never be known just the cause. A fortunate thing was that about 225 men had left the mines a short while before, or the calamity would have been the worst that ever occurred in the state. The dead:
David Doss, unmarried.
Ira Allen, widow and two children.
Wm. Matthews, widow and two children.
Eric Lundquist, a Swede, widow and three children.
George Ruby, widow and three children.
The deaths caused the greatest sorrow, and the attendance at the burials was large, and composed of people from all parts of the county.
Source: “Five Killed in Explosion.” The Record [Greenville, KY], 25 Jan 1912, p. 3.
Related: Article Image.
Kentucky Death Certificates: Ira Allen
Updated April 23, 2020