Many women lost every male member of their families--husbands, fathers, brothers, sons. Roberts, Walter, bur: Miner's Circle Additionally, the contents of some of the letters have not become public information for privacy reasons or because they were lost. 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 . To do this, they had to construct a venting system of bratticing, a conduit made of cloth fabric impregnated with creosote, to remove bad air. On Friday morning, archaeologists from the University of Tennessee, accompanied by students from Briceville Elementary, used ground-penetrating radar to confirm his story. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. They wrote these letters. Webb, Wm. There was a Nicholas Massengill killed in the Fraterville Mine explosion in 1902. One miner named Jacob Vowell wrote to his wife, "It is 25 minutes after two. D'Zern, David, bur: Miner's Circle Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Fraterville Mine Explosion Coal Creek, Anderson County, Tennessee May 19, 1902 No. Horace. Rutgers Strike Called Off As Both Sides Reach A Deal, Easter and Passover Union-Made Shopping List, Go Union-Made During National Nutrition Month. father, William Franklin Massengill. But, the longest any of these miners survived was seven hours and they too died from suffocation. 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. The report issued by the Tennessee Commissioner of Labor stated that the explosion occurred when volatile gases that "had accumulated because of inadequate ventilation" were ignited by an open light. Today was the 100th anniversary of the Cross Mountain Mining Disaster where 84 men and young boys perished. When the non-profit Coal Creek Watershed Foundation was established in 2000, Bailey told them about the miners buried in his backyard. and James Elliott. W., bur: Longfield 93. Shift after shift of volunteers began inching their way along the partially caved-in main entry and side passages. D'Zern, John, bur: Miner's Circle It is now 1/2 past 1. Pitman, Hillery C., bur: Miner's Circle An estimated 216 men and boys died in the Fraterville Mine explosion on 19 May 1902 in Anderson County, TN, near Briceville. Required fields are marked *. Eckhardt, S. T., bur: Miner's Circle Do the best you can with the children. M., bur: Miner's Circle Goans, F. Oscar, bur: Indian Creek To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Elbert said the Lord has saved him. When. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Failed to delete flower. Before that fateful day, the Fraterville Mine had been operating without incident for over 30 years. Output Formats. Chapman, John C., bur: Miner's Circle Rhea, Robert M., bur: Welsh Dear Wife and Children: My time has come. Along with Hightower, superintendent George Camp was also charged with negligence, but was acquitted after several hours of tearful testimony. The Cross Mountain mine disaster occurred less than a decade after another nearby coal mine catastrophe. Hatmaker, W. O., bur: Miner's Circle You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. Entrance to Fraterville mine through which over 200 men and boys passed last Monday morning in good health and spirits to be brought out mangled corpses. Journal and Tribune, May 23, 1902, Six Letters Written in Chamber of Death in Fraterville Knoxville Sentinel, May 21, 1902. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Find Fraterville Mine Disaster stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Click here to see WVLT's video on the Convict Lease System If you enjoy what we do, please consider becoming a patron with a recurring monthly subscription of your choosing. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. McClain, Sampson, bur: Welsh We are together. The last body was carried from the mine four days after the ordeal began.At the mine entrance, a crowd of some 2,000 relatives, friends, neighbors, nearby miners, and spectators anxiously awaited word of the fate of the unaccounted-for miners. Barry sees what many might miss, what the passage of time has nearly erased at Coal Creek. Oh how I wish to be with you, goodbye. Resend Activation Email. Early in the morning, a coal dust explosion sent debris and toxic methane gas belching from the air flow shaft and out of the mouth of the mine. Some of the men within the group of 26 that barricaded themselves within a side passage of the mine wrote final letters to their families. O how I wish to be with you. He will save. So good bye dear loving father, mother, brothers, and friends. Charles Winfrey, an expert on the local mining. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. R., bur: Miner's Circle D'Zern, Samuel, bur: Miner's Circle To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. "My sense of purpose is I dont want these men to be forgotten. U.S. Newspapers, 50-State Full Search (1690-current), worst The town lost all but three of its adult males. these miners had scribbled out notes to their loved ones, which George Camp organized a rescue party. Ellen, good-bye. Horace, Elbert said for you to wear his shoes and clothing. They probably lived for a short time before suffocating from the buildup of toxic gases and lack of oxygen. The following information is provided for citations. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. -- The worst disaster in the history of Tennessee mining occurred at 7:30 o'clock this morning when between 175 and 225 men and boys met instant death at the Fraterville coal mine, two miles west . Elbert said the Lord had saved him. The obelisk in the center records all 184 names of the identified miners. GREAT NEWS! One hundred and eighty four were identified. A couple of these letters were not discovered for some time, as the miners had placed the papers inside their pockets and the messages were not found until their pockets were checked. From Henry Beach: Alice, do the best you can; I am going to rest. For a while, 26 miners survive in a side passage. Barry said, "Those are the ones who left farewell messages. But they suffocate before rescue workers can reach them. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Adkins, Geo. There are but a few of us here and I dont know where the other men are. Online Edition 2002 ~ 2021, The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee. Gross, Wm. It was the worst mining disaster in Tennesee's history. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. H., bur: Miner's Circle Davidson, Jas., bur: Welsh Is 25 minutes after two. Vowell, Levi, (S), bur: Miner's Circle Wallace, Jas. So good bye everybody. Griffitts, Preston, bur: Knoxville It wasnt until 4:00 that the rescue party was able to jury-rig a venting system and reach the main site of the explosion. W., bur: Miner's Circle Manage Settings In a book that became to be known as 'The People of the Abyss' London described the time when he lived in the Whitechapel district sleeping in workhouses, so-called doss-houses and even on the streets. Evans, Wm. Barry runs the Coal Creek Watershed Foundation, charged with preserving the rich history of the area and improving the quality of life for people who live there. Wood said he was safe if he never lives to see the outside again, he would meet his mother in heaven. By late afternoon, the gas had been vented to the point that rescue efforts could continue. Eighty-nine of the deceased miners are buried in the Fraterville Miners' Circle in Leach Cemetery (behind Clear Branch Baptist Church) just off U.S. 25W at Rocky Top. [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. It is now ten minutes to 10 o.clock, Monday morning, and we are almost smothered. Click here for a map of the trail. Bullock, John, Jr., bur: Murrayville H., bur: Leach The foundation has erected a historic marker next to the itinerant miners graveyard. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? So heart wrenching to read of the mine disaster. That morning coal miners walked down the very path that Barry walked, they entered the mine, and all 216 of them were killed. Ellen, I want you to live right and come to heaven. 3. After a series of failed negotiations, the free miners of Anderson County went to war. A monument Reynolds, J. Frank, bur: Longfield Brooks, George Hutson, Frank Sharp, and James Elliott all left heart-wrenching notes behind for their loved ones, some of which recorded the time. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. The dead left many widows & orphans behind. 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. Brantly, Roscoe, bur: Miner's Circle Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Fraterville Disaster Monument - Leach Cemetery, 5. Tell father to pay all I owe, and you stay there at home or at my house, and bury me at Pleasant Hill, if it suits you all. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. He married Nancy Alice AMOS before 1897. are buried in the Fraterville Miners' Circle in Leach Cemetery (behind (Perhaps not coincidentally, that mine had been worked by leased convicts.) Slover, Jas. Via: Tennessee State Library and Archives; United Mine Workers of America; Image above: Coal Creek. Briceville Community Church built in 1888 by Welsh immigrant miners. Yes I have a dark side, doesnt everyone? 3612.317N, 8410.033W. Marker is in Fraterville, Tennessee, in Anderson County. Wilson, Ernest, bur: Miner's Circle How very, very sad. Murray, Wm., bur: Miner's Circle Vowell, B., (F), bur: Miner's Circle Weve updated the security on the site. Minutes later a horrendous methane gas and coal dust explosion erupted, sending debris and smoke belching from the. E., bur: Miner's Circle Fraterville, Tennessee Tools Leach Cemetery which serves as the final resting place of 89 miners killed in the Fraterville Mine disaster. When the gas exploded, probably kindled by the open flames of the miners' lamps, coal dust was blown into the air and subsequently ignited, adding even more force to the explosion. Do change your way of living. Cheerfulness kept creeping in." It says, 'Oh god for one more breath, Ellen remember me as long as you live.'. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. You can always change this later in your Account settings. 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. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Slover, J. One of the worst mining accidents in history, the Fraterville Mine Disaster in Tennessee, killed over 200 miners in 1902. We have set your language to Webb, Hust. Oh, how I wish to be with you. Scott, Alex B., bur: Wiley Godbye Ellen, goodbye Lily, goodbye Jemmie, goodbye Horace. Good bye News. Those who wrote notes Fielden, Wm., bur: Wilson The Fraterville Mine was one of the first in the world to adopt this concept and it drew in many miners. Historic Places. Henry, and you Condy, be good boys and stay with your mother and live for Jesus. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Failed to delete memorial. Hundreds of women were widowed, and roughly a thousand children were left fatherless. However, locals claim that the true number of deaths is greater than this because many miners were unregistered and multiple bodies were not identified. The town lost all but three of its adult males. He was the son of David Samuel Dave MASSENGILL and Marintha Malinda WALLACE. Macklin, J. Clay, bur: Miner's Circle They noticed that the rock was layered similar to how it was back home. I will soon be gone. Legend: Ellen remember me as long as you live. Other miners who lost their lives in the Fraterville Wallace, W. G., bur: Concord A temporary morgue was established at the Farmers Supply Company in Coal Creek. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Fraterville Mine Explosion Memorial I found on Findagrave.com. There is but a few of us here and I dont know where the other men is. [4] Immediately, many men who were not working at the time of the explosion began trying to rescue the trapped miners while organized rescue efforts were quickly being put together by George Camp and a Welsh mine operator from nearby Jellico named Philip Francis. For One More Breath: The Fraterville Mine Disaster. Slover, S. H., (S), bur: Miner's Circle ), 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. Brooks, George Hutson, Frank Sharp, and James Elliott. Elbert said for you to meet him in Heaven. At Briceville Elementary School, children file into the library to learn about Anderson County's coal mining history. My boys, never work in the coal mines." (By Leean Tupper, AC Mayor's Office) Officials gathered on May 19th, to conduct a wreath ceremony in recognition of the 120 th Anniversary of the Fraterville Mine disaster, considered one of the worst mining accidents in the history of the United States. While the report stated that the shutdown of the mine's ventilation system over the previous weekend had allowed the dangerous build-up of the gases, ventilation furnace operator Tip Hightower was acquitted of negligence at a subsequent inquest. Whatever the source of the gas, the miners oil wick lamps open flames hooked into their hats ignited it causing a massive explosion. Trapped in the mine after an explosion and with their air rapidly depleting, they wrote letters to their loved ones describing their final moments. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Weaver, Elijah M., bur: Knoxville Clear Branch Baptist Church) just off U.S. 25W at Rocky Top. This account has been disabled. Slover, Sam L., bur: Miner's Circle started using convict laborers to replace striking mine workers to crush labor unrest. Functionality and information are in compliance with guidelines established by the American Association for State and Local History for online state and regional encyclopedias. The Fraterville Mine disaster was a coal mine explosion that occurred on May 19, 1902 near the community of Fraterville, in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Ellen lost her husband, son and two brothers in the disaster. Charlie Wilkes said that he is safe in Heaven if he should never see the outside again. Is 25 minutes after Two. Three mines that never used convicts were Fraterville, Thistle, and Central of the Coal Creek Coal Company. Some families lost as many as eight family members. The opening marks the 120th anniversary of the Fraterville Mine disaster, which is considered one of the worst mining accidents in US history. Sharp, Alex, bur: Miner's Circle Hudsons Wife: If I dont see you any more, bury me in the clothing I have. We are all praying for air to support us but it is getting so bad without any air. [3], E.C. Wallace, W. Thanks for your help! Vowell, George, (S), bur: Briceville Poignant farewell messages were found on the bodies of Jacob Vowell, Powell Harmon, John Hendren, Harry Beach, Scott Chapman, James Brooks, R.S. 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