I mourn for those men killed in West Virginia, and I pray that people do not keep forgetting because we seem to keep repeating these awful scenarios over and over again...
Over 100 years ago on January 27, 1891, 116 Miners were killed in the Mammoth Mine owned and operated by famous Robber Baron Henry Clay Frick. (between the two web links below you will find that initially it was thought to be 107 miners but it was in reality 116 mines killed.
http://patheoldminer.rootsweb.com/mammoth.htmlThey too were killed in an explosion and in the "afterdamp" (carbon monoxide).
Most of those killed were of Eastern European extraction and many were faced with either starving or working in unsafe mines.
And...the State inspectors found in favor of the Company....so they had no obligation to the survivors...
"State mining inspectors declared that the H.C. Frick Coke Company was not at fault in the Mammoth Mine disaster, as was usually the case, claiming that the mine had been adequately ventilated, but that a sudden concentration of gas in one part of the shaft entry mine sparked the explosion. One mine inspector testified that while a number of miners appeared to have been killed by the force of the explosion, "a great majority of the bodies showed clearly that they died from the effects of after-damp." The Pennsylvania State Mine Inspectors, as they usually did after most mining disasters, sided with the coal company in declaring the company "not-at-fault." "
http://patheoldminer.rootsweb.com/mammoth1.htmlThen there were the 7 MINERS who were KILLED by either the Sheriff's people or the Pinkertons that Frick hired...
"On the night of April 2, 1891, about 450 miners marched on the Morewood Mine near Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, and were met by armed deputies who fired on the crowd, killing seven strikers and wounding several others. When Frick learned of the events, he passed on the telegram to another mine owner with a note that reveals in powerful fashion the ruthless, icy businessman he was: "I have no further particulars. This will likely have a good effect on the riotous element up there."
http://patheoldminer.rootsweb.com/morewood.html