Cambria County PA Archives News.....A Mine Explosion April 13, 1906 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jan Kuhn kuhn_j@firn.edu November 6, 2008, 4:01 pm ---------------------------------------------------------------- Weekly Tribune Johnstown, PA 13 Apr 1906 A MINE EXPLOSION ONE MAN KILLED IN GAS LET-GO NEAR GALLITZIN NAKED LAMP IGNITED POCKET Assistant-Foremen Thomas Jones was alone inside heading of Pennsylvania Coal & Coke Company's No. 16 Opening when sudden death overtook him - only three other men were at work Cresson, April 12, - Thomas Jones of Amsbry, aged thirty-six years, was instantly killed about 8 o'clock Tuesday morning by an explosion of gas in the Pennsylvania Coal & Coke company's No. 16 Mine, about six miles this side of Gallitzin. Three other men, who composed the entire working force in the mine at the time, escaped without injury, and the damage to the operation itself is reported almost inconsiderable. Jones, who was assistant to Richard Bland, the mine foreman entered the working about 7 o'clock Tuesday morning to direct three foreigners who were to do some rock drilling in the main heading. an hour later one of the foreigners rushed out to say that there had been an explosion in a side heading which he had seen Mr. Jones enter. Mine-Foreman Bland, John St. John, John North, Peter Malone, and David Wiley immediately formed a rescue party, and within a very few minutes, came upon Mr. Johes' lifeless body lying in a side passage about 1,000 feet from The opening. The remains were badly burned, but, as no rock or coal had fallen were not otherwise disfigured. The cause of the explosion is a mystery, as the mine had always been reported free of dangerous gases. It is believed, however, that Mr. Jones must have ignited with his naked lamp a pocket of the fatal vapor which had gathered during the week or more that the mine has been practically idle. The accident was reported to Coroner W. B. Prothero,who decided that an investigation would not be necessary. The unfortunate victim had been employed by the Pennsylvania Company for nearly four years and was considered a very careful miner. He is survived by a wife and six children. Additional Comments: Thomas Jones was the son of Jonathan Jones of Clearfield County. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 2.5 Kb