When I put together the addendum list of disasters, to append to the Popular Science list of ten worst natural disasters in the last century in the U.S., I found it difficult to make a natural cutoff of mine disasters. From growing up in Utah I recalled the 1924 Castle Gate mine fire, which was covered fleetingly in Utah history texts, but became relevant during the 1963 potash mine incident. Local newspapers opened their archives, people who had roles in the incidents gave new interviews, and history came alive in the newspapers for a brief period.
A few years later, when I worked public policy for Utah politicians, in discussions of mine safety and the expansion of coal mining, I discovered that the history of Utah accidents had once again slipped from general public recall, and from the text books.
Once again, an accident of unbelievable proportions occurred in a massive coal mine in Utah, in an out-of-the-way place; a handful of people are trapped, and the nation hopes for their safety and prays for their rescue.
To its credit, the Salt Lake Tribune opened its archives again, and provides some historical context; somebody will need this list of Utah mine accidents in a few months, so I preserve it below the fold.
Utah’s six worst mining disasters
Article Last Updated: 08/07/2007 01:16:33 AM MDT
WINTER QUARTERS NEAR SCOFIELD: (May 1, 1900) An explosion at the Winter Quarters coal mine near Scofield in Carbon County killed 200 men and boys. It is considered the worst mining accident in Utah history. The cause of the explosion was never determined, but it may have been caused by leaking methane gas or errant coal dust. As many as four people survived. The mine reopened in June or July of the same year, but is now closed.
CASTLEGATE: (March 8, 1924) An explosion at the Castlegate coal mine near Helper in Carbon County killed 171 miners and one rescue worker. The explosion is considered the state’s second worst mining accident. There were no survivors and the cause of the explosion was never determined. The mine reopened several months later but is now closed.
STANDARDVILLE: (Feb. 6, 1930) An explosion at the Standardville coal mine killed 20 miners and three rescuers. Investigators believe the cause was leaking carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide gas. At least nine people survived.
SUNNYSIDE: (May 9, 1945) An explosion at the Sunnyside coal mine in Carbon County killed 23 miners. Investigators believe the cause was leaking methane gas.
KANE CREEK: (Aug. 28, 1963) An explosion at the Kane Creek potash mine in Moab killed 18 people. It is considered one of the five worst metal and nonmetal mine disasters since 1940.
WILBERG: (Dec. 19, 1984) A fire at the Wilberg coal mine killed 26 men and one woman. Investigators believe a faulty air compressor overheated when it was allowed to run unattended. It took about a year to recover all the bodies. The mine never reopened.
Sources: The Salt Lake Tribune archives; Mine Safety & Health Administration; Western Mining & Railroad Museum.
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 
Dear Ed:
I should have been more careful writing my comment. It is Kane Creek. Thank you for the information you sent and I will certainly check out those sources. I have not checked the University of Utah for information, but will do so this week. I believe I’ve read every news clipping on this disaster, but I have also found discrepencies in some articles that I have read.
Again, I appreciate your taking the time to relay this information to me.
Regards,
Debra
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Debra, did you mean “Kane Creek?”
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For mine disasters: As Only Crook mentioned, the Denver Public Library has a list, and they may have more. I’m not sure how easy it is to get into the Utah Archives, but I imagine they have all the official reports there (it used to be near the Capitol Building in Salt Lake City).
I suspect the University of Utah Library might have a substantial amount of one-of-a-kind stuff, because of the Utah School of Mines on campus, because the Utah Geological Survey is housed there, and in the Western Americana section. You could probably check on line, but get a librarian on the phone.
Also, the Utah Historical Society may have files on mine disasters.
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The Vulcan mining accident in New Castle, Colorado was a terrible tragedy. Considering that of the 49 people killed in that accident, most were children is simply heartbreaking. At that time, I don’t believe child labor laws had been passed and if they had, the were violated — another crime.
My father was killed in the Crane Creek mine disaster in 1963, in Moab, Utah. I was nine years old at the time, and I am still haunted by my father’s death and the other men killed in that accident. I’ve done a considerable amount of research on this disaster, but still there is missing information. My family has refused to give me the details that I am still searching for. If anyone has any information, whether they consider it important or not to this case, please contact me and inform me about what you know. I would greatly appreciate it.
Regards, Debra
rowleyda3@comcast.net
or call: (801)883-9304
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My father died in the 1945, Sunnyside mine accident on the carrier side. I was later adopted out and have no information on him or my mother. Do you know where I can learn more about this accident and about my father, Nathan Carrier?
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For Colorado, Denver Public Library has a list of mining fatalities. http://history.denverlibrary.org/research/mining/major_accidents.html
For me, the Vulcan mining accident in New Castle, Colorado that took place in 1896 became personal because a descendant of one of the miners contacted me for more information. In the New Castle News (now available online through http://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/ ), I looked up a birth announcement. It turns out that a few weeks after the birth, the father was killed in the mining accident, so the mother and her newborn returned to Illinois. Of the 49 people killed in that mining accident, a large percentage were children.
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