FIVE KILLED IN EXPLOSION AT PERRY MINE LAST SATURDAY

 

Weaver Sharp, Samuel Patrick, Edward Hamidy, Henry Wagner and C. Testas were the men killed. The remains of Messrs. Sharp, Patrick and Hamidy were recovered about midnight Saturday, about 500 feet from the entrance, indicating that they were on their way out at the time of the explosion. The remains of Mr. Testas were found in the West slope about 7:45 p.m. Monday. The remains of Mr. Waggoner were found in No. 6 room on L slope, at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday.

 

H. H. Hyde, night engineer at the entrance of the Argo mine, heard rumblings for a few minutes before the force of the explosion reached the entrance where it completely demolished a part of the shed and threw dirt and debris for 300 feet. He immediately called Superintendent John Alexander, who had heard the explosion. Mr. Alexander went to the scene immediately upon ascertaining that a great amount of damage had been done and as it was impossible to enter the drift or even get close to the entrance, ordered the fans started in No. 1 mine, which joins No. 2 so as to clean the air of “after damp” and allow him to send rescue men through this way in order to get the men out quicker. He then returned to the office where telephone connections can be made with all parts of the mines. The lines in No. 2 were down. He started men, who were acquainted with the mine, into No. 1 with instructions to keep together and not penetrate beyond good air without helmets and to keep in communication with the office by stationing a man at each telephone passed, in order that the most effective work could be accomplished by keeping in touch with the different crews. Men were also put to work replacing the explosion door over No. 2 fan, after which this fan was started to try and clear the air which had become filled with the deadly “white damp”. He also allowed plenty of time for the entrapped men to put up brattic on both sides of them, if by any chance they were alive and were in a place where they had good air, so as not to start the fans and draw their air away from them. Mr. Alexander is a coal miner of wide experience and used every precaution possible to accomplish the most and still ran no chance of losing more men or endangering those within, if they were alive.

 

The men entering No. 1 mine met Albert Bacco, shot firer of that mine, coming out. Mr. Bacco had been thrown some distance by the explosion and landed unconscious between two cars. He had come to quickly and with all possible haste had made for the entry where he met the first rescue party. Mr. Bacco was scratched and bruised but not affected by the after damp, which had not reached No. 1 mine.

 

As soon as it was determined that it would be some time before there was any hope of penetrating the mine to any distance, Mr. Alexander called for help from the mines in the lower country and a special train was run from Phippsburg to Mr. Harris, picking up experienced rescue men from Mt. Harris and MacGregor.

 

NAME                                    AGE                BURIAL

 

Edward Hamidy                     21                    Oak Creek Cemetery

Samuel Patrick                       36                    Bruseville, Indiana

J. Weaver Sharp                    36                    Oak Creek Cemetery

Celestin Testas                      31                    Oak Creek Cemetery

Henry Wagner (Waggoner)    64                    Oak Creek Cemetery

 

Source: excerpt Oak Creek Times, February 19, 1921