1951 — Oct 31, Truax-Traer Coal Co., No. 1 Mine Dust Explosion, near United, WV — 12

–12 US Bureau of Mines. Coal Fatality…[WV], Truax-Traer Coal Co., United Gas No. 1…Oct 31, 1951
–12 United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States.
–12 WV Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training. WV Mine Disasters 1884 to Present

Narrative Information

US Bureau of Mines: “An underground dust explosion happened at 1:35 A.M. Below is a list of names who were killed.

John Andy Barker, a widow and a child.
Farrier Lloyd Butler, a widow and a child.
Bert C. Clendenin, a widow and a child.
Frank Thomas Davis, a widow and a child.
Albert DeRaimo, a widow and two children.
Lawrence Arlie Hawks, a widow and four children.
Eugene Debs Jarrett, a widow and two children.
Estle Bee Postalwait, a widow and a child.
Orville Postalwait, a widow and three children.
Leslie Milton Slack, a widow and a child.
Dennit Shirden Stanley, a widow.
James Garfield Stone, a widow and seven children.

(United States Bureau of Mines. Coal Fatality, Kanawha County, West Virginia, Truax-Traer Coal Company, United Gas No. 1 – #20167, October 31, 1951.)

Newspaper

Oct 31, AP: “Kayford – A rescue worker said that three bodies had been found shortly before noon today in a blast-redden mine of the Truax-Traer Coal Company near here. Crews wearing oxygen equipment inched on in search of nine more men whose fate was unknow. Mine officials said there was virtually no chance they were still alive. The 12 maintenance workers were trapped about three-fourths of a mile underground in the company’s No. 1 mine at nearby United about 2 a.m. Four other men managed to make their way to safety.

“Company spokesmen did not make public an official casualty list immediately, but various other miners agreed that these 12 men were missing:

Foreman Lawrence Hawks,
Orville Postlewaite,
Bernard Postlewaite,
Bert Clendenin and
John Barker, all of United [unincorporated area]
Section Boss Albert DeRaimo, of Cheylan;
Frank Davis and
James Stone, of Sharon;
Lloyd Butler, of Miami;
Eugene Jarrett, of Ronda;
Lester Slack, Dry Branch, and
Dennit Stanley of Ohley.

“….The rescue crews were handicapped seriously by roof falls. The mine is a fully mechanized operation, less than a year old.

“Some 40 rescue workers inched their way laboriously toward the entombed men. At 10:30 a.m. they were about 800 feet from where it is believed the blast occurred. They carried with them their own air because of the foul atmosphere following the blast….

“It was the second major mine disaster to strike West Virginia’s bituminous coal fields within two weeks. Ten men died Oct. 15 in what apparently was a gas ignition at the Trotter Coal Company’s mine near Morgantown.

“Cuthbert [Company spokesman] said the explosion at Truax-Traer was not a gas explosion because the United No. 1 operation was not a gassy mine. He explained that only gas and coal dust are the basic causes of mine explosions. A State Mines Department spokesman at Charleston earlier had indicated that dust might have caused the blast.

“The scene of the disaster is about 35 miles east of Charleston on the very edge of Kanawha County.

“The company offices are located here, while the mine operations are some 12 miles distant at a mine camp called ‘United.’ The main entry is about half-way up a rugged, wooded hillside.

“The coal is shuttled down a chute to a railroad tipple below. There is a tortuous, difficult road up to the mine entrance but this was closed during today’s emergency.

“….Cuthbert fixed the time of the blast at 2 a.m. At that hour, only maintenance workers were underground, getting the mine in readiness for the next shift. Cuthbert said his best information was there were 15 men inside, but there many have been 16. All but 12 definitely were known to have made it to the surface….” (Associated Press. “12 Miners Trapped By Explosion in Kanawha Mine; 3 Bodies Found.” The Raleigh Register, Beckley, WV. 10-31-1951, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “12 Miners Trapped By Explosion in Kanawha Mine; 3 Bodies Found.” The Raleigh Register, Beckley, WV. 10-31-1951, p. 1. Accessed 6-21-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/beckley-raleigh-register-oct-31-1951-p-1/

United States Bureau of Mines. Coal Fatality, Kanawha County, West Virginia, Truax-Traer Coal Company, United Gas No. 1 – #20167, October 31, 1951. Accessed 6-21-2023 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/1951_United_Gas_Report.pdf

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Truax-Traer Coal Company United Gas No. 1 Mine Explosion. United, Kanawha County, West Virginia, October 31, 1951. No. Killed – 12.” Accessed 6-21-2023 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/united_gas_news_only.htm

West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training. WV Mine Disasters 1884 to Present. MHS&T, October 9, 2008 update. At: http://www.wvminesafety.org/disaster.htm