Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Mining
Seven Miners Die in Mine of Nelson Creek Coal Company
Five Miners Die in an Attempt to Save Two Others
Two are Sons of First Two Victims at Nelson Creek, Ky. Three Others Suffering from Gas Fumes.
Nelson Creek, Ky., February 17. - Five miners made the supreme sacrifice here Tuesday when they attempted to rescue two other miners, who were killed by a premature explosion of a shot at the coal mines of the Nelson Creek Coal Co. here.
Two of them - Archie Huter and Carl Brandon - were sons of the first two victims.
Three others today were suffering from effects of deadly gases that filled mines after the explosion but are expected to live.
The first explosion occurred as the members of the day shift were leaving the mines. Hearing the explosion, Huter and Brandon, accompanied by Tom Richardson, Gabe Woodruff and Mathew King, rushed to their rescue. The second explosion then occured, killing them. Accumulated coal dust from the “windy shot” caused this explosion.
Other miners, undaunted by the fate of their companions, descended in the mine which was rapidly filling with gas.
Another of Huter's sons, Leonard, with Leonard Richardson, son of Tom, and Cecil Fulkerson, mine foreman, were severely gassed.
The explosions were not heard on the surface, but the miners felt a slight blast which they knew could be caused by nothing but an unusual explosion. Later a puff of smoke found its way out of the shaft, giving the only visible signs of the disaster below.
Physicians called to the scene also encountered trouble, muddy roads making the mines inaccessable. They left their cars two miles from the scene and plowed through the mud to the mine, where they made heroic efforts to save the lives of the gassed victims.
Officials stated that little damage was done to the mine and operations will be resumed after the funerals of the victims.
Source: “Seven miners die in mine of Nelson Creek Coal Company.” The Public Ledger [Maysville, KY], 18 Feb 1926.
Updated April 23, 2020