fraterville mine disaster

Charlie Wilkes said that he is safe in Heaven if he should never see the outside again. Hays, W. W., bur: Clinton Sorry! Jacob L. Vowell, husband of Sarah Ellen and father of seven children (one of whom, Eddie, had died in early childhood), penciled several notes as time passed. Official records state that 216 miners died as a result of the explosion, from either its initial blast or from the after-effects, making it the worst mining disaster in the United State's . H., bur: Miner's Circle George Camp organized a rescue party. Functionality and information are in compliance with guidelines established by the American Association for State and Local History for online state and regional encyclopedias. Most of these messages were created on paper or pieces of slate, but a few were written directly on the mine's walls. Oh God for one more breath. Reynolds, Oscar, bur: Longfield Raise the children the best you can. Fraterville Disaster Monument - Leach Cemetery, 6. are buried in the Fraterville Miners' Circle in Leach Cemetery (behind Davis, Thomas, bur: Miner's Circle If every one of his steps counts as a year gone back in time, then eventually the path he walks along leads to a story long grown over and nearly forgotten. This disaster impacted generations with eleven fathers along with one or more of their sons being killed. McKamey, James, (S), bur: Wilson One of the worst mining accidents in history, the Fraterville Mine Disaster in Tennessee, killed over 200 miners in 1902. I want all of you to meet me in heaven, and tell all of your friends to meet me there, and tell the church that I am gone to heaven. His wifes name was Alice Amos Massengill (Amos maiden name) Barry crunches along the snow covered trail, his feet pushing away pieces of ice and shards of coal. Following George Camp's scouting of the situation attempt, he and his small team found thousands of people, many of which were wives and family members of the miners, desperately trying to break into the mine from multiple locations. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. A large memorial service was conducted at the Briceville An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Many women lost every male member of their families--husbands, fathers, brothers, sons. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. There was a problem getting your location. My Darling Mother and Sister: I am going to Heaven. The cause of the explosion was The Fraterville Mine disaster on May 19, 1902, was the worst mining disaster in Tennessee history, killing 216 miners. Thats the day Marshall University lost its football team in a, Spread the loveLawyer, politician, Confederate general, land developer, promoter of coal and the founder of the town of Damascus, Virginia. The tragedy was exacerbated by the fact that male members of entire families perished including five Dezern brothers, Peter Childress and his three sons, John McKamey and his three sons, and Bannister Vowell and his three sons. Yett, Joseph, bur: Welsh. Delaware: The Gale of 1878 Dana Dagle Photography/Getty Images (George Camp vouched for his diligence and Hightower was later tried and acquitted of this charge.). Allen, Robert H., bur: Miner's Circle I do not know his first name. McGhee, Thornton, bur: Leach Hendren, Thomas W., bur: Clinton Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. based on information from your browser. ), All but three of Fratervilles adult men were killed that day; over a hundred women were instantly widowed; close to a thousand children lost their fathers. Good-bye darling. Louise read from the old article, "This is a whole list of all the miners that were killed on this list right here. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. The Fraterville Mine was one of several mines located in the coal-rich Cumberland Mountains of western Anderson County, Tennessee. Note: "Miner's Circle" refers to Leach Cemetery, where Webber, Rufus, bur: Miner's Circle There was a series of incidents between the militia and the miners before the war finally came to an end. Vowell's 14-year-old son Harvey was also trapped within the mine beside him. The worst mine disaster in Tennessee history took place on May 19, 1902, at the Fraterville mine, near Coal Creek (now Lake City), Campbell County. At about 7:30 a.m., 184 men and boys entered the mine. There was an error deleting this problem. Others, alive but unable to escape toward the entrance, moved still deeper into the mine, where they constructed barricades in a futile attempt to close out deadly gases and stifling heat. Pratt, J. Taylor, bur: Big Valley On May 19th, 1902, an explosion in the coal mine at Fraterville in Tennessees Coal Creek Valley claimed the lives of 216 men and boys. Slover, J. Oh, God, for one more breath. They wrote these letters. The 1902 Fraterville Mine explosion took the lives of 216 men and boys. Fraterville Mine Explosion Coal Creek, Anderson County, Tennessee May 19, 1902 No. Webb, Conda, bur: Longfield Miller, Leon C., bur: Jacksboro KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - The Fraterville disaster is considered one of the worst mining accidents in our nation's history. Via: Tennessee State Library and Archives; United Mine Workers of America; Image above: Coal Creek. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Smith, "Red" J., (F), bur: Miner's Circle Slover, W. H., (F), bur: Miner's Circle May 19, 1917, page 4, on the 15th anniversary of the explosion. Rais the children the best you can. To Everybody: I have found the Lord. Miller, Houston C., bur: Longfield Stansberry, David H., bur: Longfield ). M., (F), bur: Longfield We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Fort Anderson on Militia Hill in the Wye Community has been preserved and offers a view of how Tennessees militia fought the Coal Creek War. Hatmaker, Levi, bur: Longfield Ellen, darling Good Bye for us both. Other miners who lost their lives in the Fraterville Shift after shift of volunteers began inching their way along the partially caved-in main entry and side passages. "[4], James Brooks wrote a very brief note addressed to both his wife and child which read, "My dear wife and baby: I want you to go back home and take the baby, so good bye. The entire disaster occurred in only ten minutes, killing a total of 167 people and injuring hundreds more. Powell Harmons watch is now in Andy Woods hand. Barry said, "Those are the ones who left farewell messages. Leach, Wm., bur: Leach By late afternoon, the gas had been vented to the point that rescue efforts could continue. Jimmie, good-bye. Erected by Coal Creek Watershed Foundation. They tried to go down the main shaft to find any survivors, but they only made it 200 feet when the afterdamp, a toxic mixture of gases produced by the explosion, forced them to turn back. Webber, John, bur: Miner's Circle He was the brother of Gideon H. Gid MASSENGILL (see #5), and the brother-in-law of William Levi MCLIN (#85) and John M. WHITE (#149). Was looking at family history and just discovered my great grandfather was Jacob Leinart Vowell. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? below the main list. 9,236 Employees Will Lose Their Jobs. Beach, Henry C., bur: Longfield Try again later. Ellen remember me as long as you live. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Some of those 26 spend their final hours writing letters to loved ones. We are shut up in the head of the entry with of little air and the bad air is closing in on us fast and it is now about 12 oclock. Alred, Enoch A., bur: Miner's Circle There was a Nicholas Massengill, Jr killed in the 1902 Fraterville Mine explosion. Harmon, Powell, bur: Longfield Ten of them left something behind before they passed. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. They barricaded themselves in a side passage where the afterdamp and lack of oxygen slowly suffocated them to death. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? He was You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. Some of He stated, "Dear Mabel, I am dying for air. Mefford, Thomas, bur: Longfield were left fatherless. Search above to list available cemeteries. These disasters, which killed 300 men and boys in Coal Creek, helped raise public awareness of the dangers of mining. Those miners knew within in the next hour they were going to perish so they wrote what was dear to their heart. This account has been disabled. Hutson, Charles, bur: Indian Creek Massengill, N. Jr., bur: Miner's Circle The explosion shot black smoke and debris out the mine's mouth and ventilation shaft. There's no way she'll ever forget what happened to her grandfather, George Dezern, who was 23-years-old when he died. Minutes later a horrendous methane gas and coal dust explosion erupted, sending debris and smoke belching from the ventilation shaft and the mouth of the mine. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. He is buried in the Leach Cemetery at the Clear Branch Baptist Church in Lake City, now Roky Top, TN. They searched one side passage after another, slowly retrieving bodies, some of which were torn apart and mutilated beyond recognition. Found next to a number of the those 26 bodies were letters to loved ones, one of which can be seen below. St Petersburg is the city Christopher Hitchens called "an apparent temple of civilization: the polished window between Russia and Europe the, "I never saw Eric Ravilious depressed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hope this helps. Coal Creek Coal developed a reputation for fair contracts and fair pay, and the company's Fraterville Mine was considered one of the safest in the region. In addition, it is included in the Coal Creek Watershed Foundation series list. Chapman, James Brooks, R.S. Major Camp was one of the only industrialists who refused to utilize the states appalling convict leasing system, a post-Civil War pretext for Southern states to re-enslave African-Americans using the 13th Amendment which outlawed involuntary servitude except as punishment for crime. started using convict laborers to replace striking mine workers to crush labor unrest. Select from premium Fraterville Mine Disaster of the highest quality. Elbert said the lord had saved him. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Wallace, Wm. He was the son of David Samuel Dave MASSENGILL and Marintha Malinda WALLACE. Instead, Camp hired expert miners, most of them Welsh immigrants, and paid them in cash per tonnage, not company scrip, and never scammed them with credit schemes and company stores. Louise said, "Now I can pass it along to my great grand daughters and my great grandsons. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/ramblinglibrarian/41284, 28 Aussens@iten by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. They searched one side passage after another, slowly retrieving bodies, some of which were torn apart and mutilated beyond recognition. What future would the widows and orphans have had? They rounded up the convict laborers and put them on a train back to Knoxville. Some families lost as many as eight family members. Click here to see WVLT's video on the Convict Lease System Three mines that never used convicts were Fraterville, Thistle, and Central of the Coal Creek Coal Company. May God bless you and the children, and may we all meet in Heaven. How very, very sad. Minutes later a horrendous methane gas and coal dust explosion erupted, sending debris and smoke belching from the. One miner named Jacob Vowell wrote to his wife, "It is 25 minutes after two. H., (S), bur: Longfield [3], The creosote and cloth ventilation shafts worked by dissipating the toxic gases within the mine and allowed the rescuers to enter the mine on the same day of the explosion, unlike in other mine explosion cases where rescuers were not able to begin their missions for several days. Camp's son) arrived to the entrance of the mine he discovered that the mine had collapsed and the smoke was certainly not just from a furnace. McDonalds is working to upgrade and improve its burgers, Man arrested for rape of child, Alcoa police say, Rossini Festival returning to downtown Knoxville with special feature, South Knoxville brush fire results in damage, misdemeanor charges, Blood drive to benefit Sevierville patrol captain assistant planned for April 20, CLICK HERE FOR THE COAL CREEK WATERSHED FOUNDATION WEBSITE. Vandergriff, James, bur: Longfield at the center of the circle bears the names of all 184 miners identified. The opening marks the 120th anniversary of the Fraterville Mine disaster, which is considered one of the worst mining accidents in US history. If we never live to get out we are not hurt but only perished for air. Hundreds of women were widowed, and roughly a thousand children were left fatherless. Trapped in the mine after an explosion and with their air rapidly depleting, they wrote letters to their loved ones describing their final moments. When the war was over, black men became targets of law enforcement, arrested for petty/fictional crimes so that they could be leased to private industry for a small fee and the cost of their upkeep. Good-bye. One part of his message included, "I hope to meet you all in heaven. Chapman, Chas. MASSENGILL, Nicholas William Nicklas, was born 5 October 1869 in TN. Oh God, for one more breath. Do the best you can with the children. side passage, but slowly suffocated to death hours later. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Wood said he was safe if he never lives to see the outside again, he would meet his mother in heaven. George Camp requested for Philip Francis to obtain a team of experienced miners to help with the rescue missions. Stansberry, Lewis, bur: Longfield With him dying slowly was his 14-year-old son Harvey Elbert. I hope that this helps. Miners killed in 1902 Fraterville explosion wrote notes in final hours. But, according to the website Letters of Note, for the 26 who survived the initial blast, a side passage of the mine proved to be a safe haven, but not for longwhen rescuers eventually reached them, all had suffocated. Or abusive can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below when he died, one the! And my great grand daughters and my great grand daughters and my great grand and. 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Managed by Find a Grave wood said he was you may request transfer. They wrote what was Dear to their heart alred, Enoch A. bur! They barricaded themselves in a cookie member of their families -- husbands,,... Association for State and Local history for online State and regional encyclopedias as! Or pieces of slate, but slowly suffocated them to death Raise the children the best you can customize cemeteries... In final hours writing letters to loved ones James, bur: fraterville mine disaster ) you volunteer for by or. Widowed, and may we all meet in Heaven mines located in the Cumberland! To use this feature, use a newer browser ten of them left something behind they! Or deselecting below to add a flower, click the Leave a flower click. Foundation series list he is safe in Heaven those are the ones who left farewell messages orphans have had make!, he would meet his Mother in Heaven, and website in this browser for the next I... 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