1921 — Aug 31, Harco Coal Mine, Harrisburg Coal Co., Gas Explosion, Harrisburg, IL– 12

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-18-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–12  Blanchard. 11 miners killed in gas explosion and one rescuer killed by gas.

–12  Decatur Daily Review, IL. “Lack of Teeth Causes Death.” 9-3-1921, p. 1.

–12  Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals. Eleventh Inspection District – 1922.

–12  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC. Mining Disasters.

–11  United Press. “Will Determine Cause of Blast.” Daily Gazette, Sterling IL. 9-1-1921, p. 1.

–11  United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. Harco 1921.

Narrative Information

Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals. Eleventh Inspection District – 1922:

“Hon. Robert M. Medill,

Director, Department of Mines and Minerals,

Springfield, Illinois.

 

“SIR: I have the honor of submitting to you the annual report of this, the Eleventh Inspection District, comprising the coal producing counties of Gallatin, Saline, Wabash, and White.

….

Fatal Accidents

[Notes 12 deaths, but names eleven, leaving out John Smith.]

….

“August 31, 1921, a gas explosion occurred in Harrisburg Colliery Company’s Harco mine, in which twelve men lost their lives. The name, age, occupation, and conjugal relation of the men are as follows :

David Stewart, miner, age 42 years, married, leaves a widow and six children ;

Herbert Reeder, miner, age 28 years, married, leaves a widow and three children ;

Herschel Vaughn, miner, age 26 years, married, leaves a widow and two children ;

John Luther, miner, age 48 years, married , leaves a widow and one child ;

Hiram Brown, miner, age 27 years, married, leaves a widow and two children ;

Lyman Bulkley, miner, age 18 years, single ;

George Hunter, miner, age 32 years, married, leaves a widow and one child ;

George Warwick, miner, age 30 years, single;

Ernie Goodrich, miner, age 34 years, widower, leaves three children ;

Mike Mosco, miner, age 38 years, married , leaves a widow and four children ; and

Charles Mosco, miner, age 36 years, single.

 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC. Mining Disasters:

“08/31/1921…Harco…Harrisburg…IL…12…Coal…Explosion…UG [underground]…Coal.”

 

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. Harco 1921:

Names of Fatalities (from 1921/22 Illinois Fatalities (alphabetical)

 

  1. Brown, Hiram 27        suffocation
  2. Bulkley, Lyman 18        suffocation (“Fatal Casualties, 11th 6-30-1922)
  3. Goodrich, Ernie 34        suffocation
  4. Hunter, George 22        suffocation
  5. Luther, John 48        suffocation
  6. Moss [or Mosco[1]], Charles 36  suffocation
  7. Mosco, Mike 38        suffocation
  8. Reeder, Herbert 28        suffocation
  9. Smith, John 47        suffocation  [Not in lists above and below.]
  10. Stewart, David 42        suffocation
  11. Vaughn, Hershel 26        suffocation
  12. Warwick, George 30        suffocation

 

Newspaper

 

Sep 1, UP: “Eleven Miners Were Killed In An Explosion Yesterday at Harrisburg

“Harrisburg, Ill., Sept. 1 – (United Press) – State investigation to determine the cause of the explosion in the Harco Coal Company mine at Harco Station, near here, which claimed the lives of eleven men, began today.

 

“The dead:  [We alphabetize, number and place names in separate lines.]

 

  1. Hershel Baughn [Vaughn]
  2. Hiram Brown
  3. J. Lyman Buckey
  4. Goodrich
  5. George Hunter
  6. John Luther
  7. Charles Mosco and
  8. Michael Mosco
  9. Herbert Raeder
  10. George Steward
  11. George Warwick

 

“Seven miners are in a hospital here suffering from black damp. They are expected to recover.

 

“State authorities sealed the mine early today.

 

“Four hundred and thirty-six miners were at work in the pits when the explosion occurred. All escaped save eleven. The victims were entombed at a depth of 445 feet from the mouth of the mine and their bodies were brought to the surface several hours after the blast.

 

“The miners were believed to have been killed by a dynamite charge in a new coal bed which crushed the ole veinwalls.

 

“Volunteer rescue teams experienced great difficulty in extricating the trapped men because the black damp drove them back time and time again….” (United Press. “Will Determine Cause of Blast.” Daily Gazette, Sterling IL. 9-1-1921, p. 1.)

 

Sep 1, Decatur Daily Review: “Harrisburg, Ill., Sept. 1. – Lack of teeth cost Thomas Ritzon [unclear], aged 34, member of the mine rescue team investigating the explosion which killed 11 miners in the Harco mine last Wednesday, his life last night. Ritzon was killed by mine gas because he was unable to hold the mouth-piece of his helmet in proper fashion.” (Decatur Daily Review, IL. “Lack of Teeth Causes Death.” 9-3-1921, p. 1.)

 

Sources

 

Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals. Eleventh Inspection District – 1922. Accessed 5-18-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/1921_Harco_Explosion_Victims.pdf

 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Safety and Health Research..  Mining Disasters (Incidents with 5 or more Fatalities). NIOSH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2-26-2013 update. Accessed 5-18-2025 at:

https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NIOSH-Mining/MMWC/MineDisasters/Table

 

United Press. “Will Determine Cause of Blast.” Daily Gazette, Sterling IL. 9-1-1921, p. 1. Accessed 5-18-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sterling-daily-gazette-sep-01-1921-p-1/

 

United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Harrisburg Coal Company, Harco Mine Explosion, Harrisburg, Saline County, Illinois, August 31, 1921, No. Killed – 11.” Accessed 5-18-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/harco.htm

[1] Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals. Eleventh Inspection District – 1922.