By J. J. Cooper
“The explosion picked us up and rolled us like
footballs,’ said Jerry Cox, one of the men who escaped. “Some of my buddies
were thrown against the wall and they had no chance at all.” [1] The Glendora Cole
Company’s Baker Mine was located five miles northeast of Sullivan, Indiana.
Sullivan County, which the Baker mine was located in, was a blue collar county
that thrived from the production of agriculture, oil, and coal. The county was
known as one of the state’s largest coal producers. However, on the morning of
July 15th, 1937 coal production came to a halt as the town of
Sullivan was shaken by a tragedy. The horrific event shocked hundreds of people
as the lives of twenty men were taken. This mine explosion raised the Indiana
mining accidents to 1,794, according to the records of State Bureau of Mines.[2] The Baker Mine explosion
not only directly affected the lives of the families but, led to a disruption
in the county’s main export; which in turn impacted the economy of Sullivan
County.
The city of Sullivan is located in the county of
Sullivan. The character of Sullivan County can be seen from the exports they
produce. Sullivan County is on the southwestern border of Indiana. Sullivan County
devotes nearly the entire western half of the county to the productions of
agriculture. For example, melons were specially noted for being one of
Sullivan’s best products. However, on the eastern side of Sullivan County lies
the mining industry. Coincidentally, the Glendora Coal Company’s Baker Mine
happens to be one of those. [3]
A man
by the name of John A. Templeton was president of the Templeton Coal Company.
John Templeton had been in the mining business for decades working as an
employer and an employee. He worked for a man named Mr. Tanney until he was
capable of owning and creating his own mining company. Eventually through hard
work and determination he created the Templeton Coal Company in 1920. As a family-run
business, Mr. Templeton had his brother and three sons helped him to build the
Templeton Coal Company. John Templeton’s brother, Robert, was vice president,
while his son Charles was secretary and treasurer. His other sons, Cecil and
Phil worked as salesmen for the Sterling-Midland Coal Company. There, Cecil and
Phil helped to create a name for his father’s company by spreading the word
about the high quality of coal that the Templeton Coal Company was producing
out of its mines. The Templeton Coal Company operated the Glendora, Peerless,
St. Clair, and the Penna Mine. The Sterling-Midland Coal Company was in charge
of the coal output. Through chemical analysis and many hard practical tests,
the Sterling Midland Coal Company labeled the Glendora Mine’s coal as “The
wonder coal of the west.” Eventually the Glendora coal was established as the
number one domestic fuel for eight different states. At the top of its
popularity, Templeton Coal Company noted that the Glendora and Peerless
outputted two thousand five hundred tons of coal combined daily with a
potential capacity to output at around five thousand tons of coal daily. John A
Templeton was at the peak of success during this time and was highly regarded
for producing some of the best coal ever seen in every way.[4] However, Charles Templeton wanted to branch out and found his own
company. Therefore, he founded the Glendora Coal Company and bought the Baker
mine in 1921. They operated the Baker mine, Consolidated #28 Mine, Baker #28
Mine, and the Glendora #28 Mine. The Baker Mine was built and expected to have
an output capacity of around 4,000 tons of coal a day.[5] Hopefully, with the
Glendora signature name, Charles Templeton would be able to live up to his
Father’s successful reputation.
The County of Sullivan houses many mines and has become a
major county for the production of coal and oil. Most of the mines in Sullivan
are deep-shaft mines. These mines contain two tunnels for transportation of
workers and coal. They are known as deep-shaft mines because the coal to too
far down to do surface mining. Furthermore, deep-shaft mines are very dangerous
since there is only one way in and out and in order to extract the coal, miners
must go very far into the mine. Due to these tough conditions, fatalities are
likely to occur. For instance, in December of 1925, 36 men were killed in an
explosion in the Francisco mine. This mine was located in the south eastern
part of Sullivan County, and around 50 miles south of the town of Sullivan. The
next disaster to occur in Sullivan County wouldn’t happen until another 6
years. On January 29, 1931, an explosion in the Little Betty Mine claimed the
lives of 29 people. Unfortunately, the next disaster was July 15th,
1937, eighteen years after the opening of the Glendora Coal Mine.[6] All of these disasters
changed the Sullivan community and during each disaster, thousands of
relatives, friends, and rescue crews helped and waiting anxiously to see if
everyone was ok and who was injured or dead.
On the morning of July 15th, 1937, two hundred
and three men began to work their 7 o’clock shift at the Baker Mine.
Previously, at around five a.m. the fire boss named, Rollie Fair began to test
for gas. This test was done frequently to prevent the build-up of gas and the
possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning.[7] Suddenly at around 7:06
a.m. a giant explosion went off, launching twenty-nine men against the walls immediately rendering
most unconscious. After the initial explosion men from all around the Baker
mine began to run frantically out of the mine to see where the blast occurred.
One of the men working in the mine during the explosion, named Wesley Bond,
gave a first-hand experience of what happened inside the mine. He said, “My
lamp was blown out. Then I smelled gas. I tipped off my shirt, dampened it in
some water from the mine floor and put it over my face.” Furthermore Bond
continued by saying, “I got out alive, but I don’t know how. There was one big
blast that mashed me against the wall. It was followed by a big wind. How it
blew. It beat against my ears until it felt like railroad spikes were being
driven into my head.”[8] Wesley Bond and eight
other miners survived the blast that day. During his interview, Wesley spoke
about one of his friends who died right in front of him in the middle of having
a conversation. His friend’s name was Curt Miller and was only twenty feet away
from Bond during the explosion. Bond was fortunate enough to have the insight
to begin running towards the entrance after the first blast and yelled at
others in the mine to run as well. Following the initial blast came two or
three slight blasts. After the second blast a wave of flames came bursting
through the tunnel scorching anyone in its path.[9]
One hundred and seventy-four men stationed in different
sections and rooms escaped injury although some were knocked off their feet.
There were twenty-nine men stationed where the blast occurred. The explosion
claimed the lives of twenty individuals including the fire boss, Rollie Fair.
Nine others were injured and three were in critical condition.[10] Miners who were unharmed
from the blast began to gather at the entrance of the mine were the explosion
occurred. Many attempted to help retrieve miners that were injured or
struggling to come out. Shortly after the explosion, exploration parties
descended into the mine to retrieve the bodies and to determine the cause of
the blast. Jack Ogilvie was the safety engineer of the Indiana Coal Operators
Association. Trained rescue crews arrived that evening but were only able to
remove three bodies. The remaining seventeen were piled in the corner of mine
shaft. However, the search and rescue party was delayed when high levels of
methane gas were discovered.[11] Jerry Cox, who survived
the blast, remained at the scene until all of the bodies were recovered. He
refused to leave until all of his “buddies” had been brought out. When news
reached Indianapolis, the Governor was quick to reply. Governor M. Clifford
Townsend said, “all resources of the State will be used to assist the people in
this terrible mine disaster.”[12]
Families were notified almost immediately by
officials of the Glendora Coal Company. Wives and children rushed to the mine
entrance and wept at the entrance after receiving news that the remaining
seventeen men in the mine were expected to be dead. A wave of sadness had
struck the Sullivan community. Hundreds of people gathered at the entrance and
watched as rescue crews attempted to remove bodies that night. State police,
boy scouts, and WPA workers were all used to control the crowds that amounted
to upwards of five hundred people. [13] There had not been a tragedy of this kind in
years. However, the question that remained in the community’s minds regarded
the cause of the blast. It was obvious that disasters of this magnitude would
need to be investigated. Below illustrates a picture of all of the families,
friends, rescue crews that gathered along the entrance of the Baker Mine
shortly after the explosion occurred.[14]
On July
17th, a four way investigation began to determine the cause of the
explosion according to Wendell Templeton of the Glendora Coal Company. The
State Bureau of Mines and Mining, the Federal Bureau of Mines, The Glendora
Coal Company, and the Reciprocal Association will all be conducted
investigations. The Lynch Coal Operators Reciprocal Association is the
insurance carrier for the Glendora Coal Company. It was said by many of the surviving miners
that gas had collected and was sparked by a gas lamp. Mr. Templeton declined to
comment on the speculations that the miners had made.[15] After only three days,
the investigation on the causes of the explosions was complete.
After
the completion of the investigation, many of the survivors and families of the
victims were invited to the formal inquest ordered by Coroner Cecil B. Taylor. There
the causes of the explosions were explained. Approximately fifteen witnesses
and members from the State Bureau of Mines testified at the inquiry and the
inquest lasted for around five hours.[16] The United States Bureau
of Mines, Glendora Coal Company and Reciprocal Association shared their
findings later. The investigations found that the explosion was caused from a
flame from one of the open carbide lamps that miners wear on their hats,
ignited a small pocket of coal gas which had formed just below the ceiling of
the section. Consequently, this caused the initial blast which then ignited a
larger layer of gas, escaping through a leak in sealed and abandoned sections
nearby in the mine. Thus, these explosions happened almost simultaneously.[17]
After
the investigation was complete, the miners were compensated. According to
reports from the State Industrial Board, the seven survivors of the explosion
received a total of two hundred thousand dollars in compensation. The
dependents of those who lost loved ones received about thirty-two thousand
dollars as direct compensation. The remainder covered burial expenses and went
to those seven that survived. Settlements were supervised by the board of
administrator of the workman’s compensation law. Payments were made without
cost to any of the dependents. Therefore, the accident report was the first
step toward payment of compensation. Furthermore, dependents received fifteen
dollars a week for two hundred weeks. In addition, the Glendora Coal Company paid
one hundred and fifty dollars for funeral expenses.[18] The Reciprocal
Association was expected to cover some of the compensation since the Glendora
Coal Company was insured by them.
The
Baker Mine explosion left thirteen families without fathers and husbands.
Charles Templeton, President of the Glendora Coal Company, would be left to pay
for the fatalities that occurred. Eventually, Charles would improve his safety
requirements in the Baker Mine. In 1950, Baker Mine won the Safety Award given
by the Indiana Coal Operators Association. The Safety Award is known as the
John A. Templeton Memorial Award; in memory of Charles’ father. The Baker Mine
had won this award for the fifth time in fourteen years and recorded the second
highest percentage rating in history.[19] Almost a decade after,
Charles Templeton made the Baker Mine safe and continued to be successful and
followed in his father’s legacy. The Baker Mine explosion took the lives of
twenty men but, eventually led to safety being a primary focus for the Glendora
Coal Company.
[1] Stu Beitler, “Sullivan, IN Glendora Coal
Mine Explosion, July 1937,” http://www3.gendisasters.com/indiana/6033/sullivan-glendora-coal-mine-explosion-july-1937.
[2] The Washington Post, “20 Battered To Death in Mine Blast,” July 16,
1937.
[3] Crossroads of America:
Early Indiana History, “Sullivan County,” http://www.countyhistory.com/sullivan/start.html
.
[4] “History of Vigo County,” http://www.vigo.lib.in.us/archives/genhistories/esareyvol3/part_8/pt217.pdf.
[5] “Underground Coal Mine List for Sullivan
County, Indiana,” http://igs.indiana.edu/CMIS/Counties/Sullivan/SullivanUndergroundMineList.pdf.
[6]
The Washington Post, “20 Battered To Death in Mine Blast,” July 16,
1937.
[7] Chicago Daily Tribune, “20 killed in
Mine Blast at Sullivan, Ind,” July 16, 1937.
[8]
Los Angeles Times, “Score
Killed in Indiana Mine Blast,” July 16, 1937.
[9] Stu Beitler, “Sullivan,
IN Glendora Coal Mine Explosion, July 1937,” http://www3.gendisasters.com/indiana/6033/sullivan-glendora-coal-mine-explosion-july-1937.
[10]
The New York Times, “20 Miners
Killed By Blast In Indiana,” July 16, 1937.
[11]
Logansport Pharos Tribune, “Sullivan Prepares to
Bury Victims of Mine Disaster,” July 16, 1937.
[12]
The Washington Post, “20 Battered
To Death in Mine Blast,” July 16, 1937.
[13]
The Washington Post, “20 Battered
To Death in Mine Blast,” July 16, 1937.
[14]
Chicago Daily Tribune, “20
killed in Mine Blast at Sullivan, Ind,” July 16, 1937.
[15] Logansport Pharos Tribune, “Sullivan
Prepares to Bury Victims of Mine Disaster,” July 16, 1937.
[16]
Logansport Pharos Tribune, “Await
Mine Blast Ruling,” July 20, 1937.
[17] The New York Times, “20 Miners Killed By
Blast In Indiana, ” July 16, 1937.
[18]
Hammond Time, “Miners
Families Get $100,000,” August 6, 1937.
[19] The Terre Haute Star, “Baker Mine Wins
Safety Award For the Fifth time in 14 Years,” April 19, 1950, page, 5.
