Hastings, Colorado April 27, 1917 No. Killed - 121
(From Bureau of Mines report, by D. Harrington)
The workings are reached by a rock slope. The coal is undercut by hand, except that an electric cutting machine is used in slope entries. All workings are gaseous, and firebosses are employed. Prior to the explosion all places were reported "clear" unless tests with a flame safety lamp gave a cap greater than 5/8-inch in height.
A continuous current is used for ventilating the mine. Non-permissible electric cap lamps are used by all miners, inspectors carry key-locked flame safety lamps, and firebosses carry magnetic locked Wolfe lamps. The mine is generally quite damp.
Two firebosses made their rounds preparatory for the day shift on that morning and made written reports that the mine was clear of gas. A trip of cars on the rope going in after 9 o'clock had reached a point 1,300 feet inby the mouth when the explosion occurred. The trip rider neither heard or felt anything unusual, but the explosion caused the signal wires to cross and rang the bell to stop the trip. He then saw smoke coming up the slope and ran out to give the alarm of fire. He was the only man in the mine who escaped.
Smoke issued from the main slope and the south manway, and an investigating party of officials followed fresh air until the affected area was reached. Oxygen-breathing-apparatus crews were then required, as practically all stoppings in the "B" seam were totally wrecked and heavv falls had occurred.
Gas and dust had spread the explosion to every section of the mine. One apparatus man died under the severe strain, and another collapsed from overexertion but recovered. The explosion was caused by a mine inspector striking a match to relight his safety lamp about 120 feet from the face of 7 South entry.
Recommendations were made for adequate ventilation, competent inspection, permissible electric equipment, cap lamps and safety lamps, exclusion of matches and smoking materials, and regular sprinkling or rock dusting.
Source:
Historical Summary of Mine Disasters in the United States - Volume I
