It was on this day 101 years ago that a mining disaster claimed the lives of 55 workers at coal mine near Kemmerer. The event happened on September 16, 1924 at the Kemmerer Coal Company’s mine near the town of Sublette, which was located near Kemmerer. An apparent explosion rocked the mine, blocking the main entryways into the No. 5 mine. The explosion was said to have been a “resounding roar that reverberated throughout the little mining camp.” Many of the miners were about to take a lunch break and their remains were found sitting in the mining cars that were to carry them out. Death was said to be instantaneous, and recognition afterward was not possible. The miner’s bodies that were recovered were identified but the number on their lanterns.

Below is a new article published by the Associated Press two days after the incident. Also images of newspaper clippings from around the nation that reported on the story.

A.P. – September 18, 1924

Kemmerer, Wyo., Sept. 17. – Rescue workers gave their opinion Wednesday night that the explosion in the Kemmerer Coal Company’s mine at Sublet, near here, Tuesday, took a toll on thirty-nine lives.

No hope was held that any of the miners who were within the workings when the great blast occurred shortly before noon were alive.  Twelve men escaped alive Tuesday night.

Twenty-two bodies of the victims are in Kemmerer morgues, while other bodies taken out of the mine property still are at Sublet.  Some of the funerals will be held Thursday.  In a number of cases, however, it has been impossible to identify the victims, some of whose bodies were so badly mutilated that embalming will be impossible.

Much time was spent Wednesday by the rescue workers in cleaning out the main entry ways, which were clogged with thousands of tons of rock after the explosion.  The work was very slow.

The coal company had not made public a list of names of the men who were in the mine at the time of the explosion up to Wednesday night.

Dr. F. Flinn, in charge of the United States Bureau of Mines rescue car here, declared Thursday night that rescue work was going forward as rapidly as possible.  Two additional Bureau of Mines men from Salt Lake City reported to the car during the day and E. H. Denny, engineer from Denver, is hurrying here to aid the rescue work.