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11 Men Trapped in Lehigh Coal Mine

Posted: Sat. Sep. 26, 2015 9:57 am
by Den034071
Monday, September, 27, 1915, a lil after noon a blaring whistle screamed at Fosters tunnel in Coaldale, PA. The sound brought terror to every woman & child in Coaldale. Likely a cave in or gas explosion. The news spread like wildfire in town. A miner fired a shot up the chute which opened old flooded workings. 1000's of gallons of water broke thru carrying timber, plank coal & silt, flooding the gangway 300 feet. Somehow the 11 men managed to climb to a higher chute waiting the unknown. Immediately the Colliery boss formed a plan to get to the men. Some 150 men, volunteers, doctors & nurses came to Fosters Tunnel. A miners unwritten law is "Never leave a buddy behind". Family's kept a vigil day & night at the mine, but still no news. Worked progressed slowly as the gangway was compacted with debris & an overturned mine car, & water still pouring in. By the third day many gave up, they thought the miners were drowned or dead from gas. On the fourth & fifth day work went on, no sounds or voices of the entombed men were heard. On the sixth day the rescurers paddled a raft up the gangway yelling "hello, hello. A faint answer , "we're here, we're here" The rescuers screamed, "They are alive, yes alive." All the men were weak but slowly brought down the chute, then carried out on stretchers. Some 5000 people greeted them with a thunderous roar as they exited the one by one. Church bells rang. Fosters tunnel has been closed since 1938. I walk there in mushroom season. I was born & raised here & proud to be a "Coalcracker". Jack

Re: 11 Men Trapped in Lehigh Coal Mine - Monday, September, 27, 1915

Posted: Sat. Sep. 26, 2015 10:26 am
by Hambden Bob
Thanx,Jack ! As usual,Your stories of Anthracite's Storied Past keep us All well grounded in the Present !

Mining sure isn't a Luxury Cruise ! :gee:

Re: 11 Men Trapped in Lehigh Coal Mine - Monday, September, 27, 1915

Posted: Sat. Sep. 26, 2015 3:29 pm
by freetown fred
Nice ending Jack, thanx for the post my friend.

Re: 11 Men Trapped in Lehigh Coal Mine - Monday, September, 27, 1915

Posted: Sat. Sep. 26, 2015 3:29 pm
by McGiever
One hundred year anniversary... With a happy ending! :)

Re: 11 Men Trapped in Lehigh Coal Mine - Monday, September, 27, 1915

Posted: Sat. Sep. 26, 2015 3:32 pm
by Scottscoaled
Great Story! Thanks, Jack :D

Re: 11 Men Trapped in Lehigh Coal Mine - Monday, September, 27, 1915

Posted: Sat. Sep. 26, 2015 6:09 pm
by samhill
Good story for sure, to bad not all turn out for the good so let us never forget the lives that are lost.

Re: 11 Men Trapped in Lehigh Coal Mine - Monday, September, 27, 1915

Posted: Mon. Sep. 28, 2015 8:08 am
by stovepipemike
It has to be the brotherhood shared among the miners to keep the rescue going when some gave up. I don't doubt that it still exists 100 years later. Thank You for the story. Mike

Re: 11 Men Trapped in Lehigh Coal Mine - Monday, September, 27, 1915

Posted: Mon. Sep. 28, 2015 4:23 pm
by coalminerfarmerbob
This is why today we are required to drill exploratory bore holes in advance of the intended next cut of coal to be fired. It is much easier to plug a one and half inch hole than have this happen.

Re: 11 Men Trapped in Lehigh Coal Mine - Monday, September, 27, 1915

Posted: Mon. Sep. 28, 2015 5:50 pm
by lsayre
Heart and soul touching 100 year old story there Jack! Thanks for sharing it. Amazing ending.