Sullivan County, a county in the
southwestern corner of Indiana is approximately 450 square miles in size. In
1920, the population of Sullivan County was just decreasing to roughly 30,000
people. Caucasian was the population’s predominant racial make up at the time.[1]
Bordering the iconic Wabash River, Sullivan County was used for a multitude of
different purposes at the beginning of the twentieth century.[2]
A mixture of agriculture and industry stimulated its economy at the time.
Similar to many other Indiana counties, there was a good portion of farming in
the area through out the roaring twenties. There were also a lot of working
class families living within the community as well, though. Merchants and
miners lived in middle-class sized houses amongst the area. Several of these
men who were minders worked at the City Coal Company mine;[3]
A mine that provided stability to the community until its explosion.
The most devastating mining accident
in Indiana history took place in the city of Sullivan within Sullivan County on
February 20th 1925. The accident occurred in the morning time around
10:45 am. It is reported that 121 men were working in the mine when the
explosion took place and 51 of these men were fatally injured.[4]
Although it is hard to pinpoint the exact cause, many, including the workers,
suggest that a spark from machinery ignited a pocket of gas; this evoked the
massive explosion within the City Coal Company mine. The explosion caused a
collapse that smashed several workers and trapped many others without
breathable air. The particular mine was considered small because it was only
320 feet deep. The City Coal Company had been running for roughly two years when
the accident took place and the mine produced 1,000 tons of coal each day; most
of this coal was exported to Chicago.[5]
The
United States Bureau of Mines at Vincennes rescue team was the first to major
crew to respond. They began digging to retrieve the miners immediately after
arrival but were unable to reach the scene of the disaster until an hour after
it had occurred due to travel time. It then took the crew an additional 30
minutes to actually reach the trapped miners. Once the rescue team finally
reached the bottom of the mine, the lengthy and extremely dangerous process of
removing injured workers along with dead bodies began.[6]
Rescue workers acquired gas masks and other protective equipment to ensure
their own safety in the harsh conditions. Injured miners spoke about being trapped
within the ruble for several hours; many of them were knocked unconscious
during the disaster. When news of the devastating explosion began to spread
shortly after the accident, people from the surrounding areas immediately took
notice and began to crowd to the scene.[7]
Within the immediate community and the
extended community of the Sullivan explosion, people reacted in a numerous
amount of ways. Several areas raised money for the victim’s families while
others focused on catering to the needs of the recue crews. Some even opened up
their personal businesses to help the cause. Generally, Family members of the
lodged miners responded in a rather understandably frantic manner. Tears ran
down the faces of the frightened women and children as it was eventually revealed
that 51 workers had perished in the horrific accident. Other members of the
extended community reacted in a calmer and more resilient manner, though. Sullivan
County, along with neighboring communities, united in order to bring relief
after the devastation.
Most of the immediate relief was provided
on a local level because of the close proximity that the local people had in
relation to the mine. Several organizations of local women gathered early in
the day to set up stations to accommodate those taking part in the rescue
efforts. Their reaction time was nearly immediate after word of what had
happened spread into the community rather quickly. These women offered up food
for rescuers who were willing to put their lives on the line during this
particular time of need.[8]
Workers from neighboring mines helped out the professional rescue crew by volunteering
to descend into the mine in order to take on the lengthy process of pulling out
the dead bodies and trapped men who had been injured during the explosion. This
proved to be a selfless act due to the dangerous nature of the task because of
the gas and fumes that still inhibited the mine. The community rallied together
in order to minimize the affects of the disaster despite the loss of their
loved ones.
The local recovery efforts continued on
the day of the disaster when several of Sullivan’s merchants allowed their
stores to be used as make shift hospitals. Buildings that had previously been used
for retail purposes were now being utilized as a place where wounded minors
could receive medical treatment. It is reported that physicians from all over
the area were ushered to the outskirt of Sullivan where the devastation
occurred in order to provide first aid to the injured, as well. It seems as
though each member of the community was willing to contribute in some aspect to
lessen the effects of the unfortunate occurrence.[9]
After most massive disasters families of
victims seek some sort of compensation, especially in situations like this. Sullivan
was no different. Not only had the dependents lost a loved one, they also lost
a source of income. It was announced on February 21st, just a day
after the explosion, that a local insurance firm would protect dependents of the
51 miners who had been killed. A representative for the insurance company
announced that $3,960 would be granted to each set of dependents in order to
compensate for their losses. Because many families effected wouldn’t be able to
pay for their deceased family member’s funeral, the insurance firm also gave
the victims $100 towards a proper funeral.[10]
As the days passed after the explosion,
Sullivan received assistance from well-known organizations that were far less
localized and more prepared for such a catastrophe as compared to the Hoosiers
within the community who did their best to help out. The Red Cross was present
at the scene of the accident within a couple hours of the explosion. Not only
did the Red Cross provide urgent relief during the initial crisis by setting up
an immediate care tent, the organization also helped with the financial
struggles that those who were involved would later face. When the Red Cross
closed on February 26th, 18,000 dollars had already been raised in
efforts to relieve people who suffering due to the explosion.[11]
The local government is essentially bound
to respond and get involved after such a significantly devastating disaster. The
accident in Sullivan began the push for stricter mine safety in Indiana because
the previous standards had proven to not be efficient. After the legislature
called a conference, several committees such as the United Mine Workers of
America met in Indianapolis during the days following the accident. They
gathered to discuss the tragedy and to formulate a plan of regarding the
pressing issue that was mine safety. Senator George W. Sims of was a significant
driving force in the push for safety for miners and within mines. It just so
happens that Sims was born in Terre Haute, which is close in proximity to the
explosion site. He introduced the mine safety bill to the senate; this safety
bill set up stricter regulations and rules pertaining to mining. Sims was
essentially another member of the community who was doing his part. The mine
safety bill that was purposed included rules that intensify safety within mines
through out the country.[12]
Implications of hidden structures within
Sullivan are extremely present when you look at the relief efforts that took
place after the explosion at City Coal Company mine. While the families of the
victims took a step back to collect their emotions, other members of the
community stepped forward to help with the necessary reparation. The United
States Bureau of Mines at Vincennes rescue team pared with volunteer workers
from neighboring mines worked together in order to recover those who were
berried within the destruction. Local women played a crucial role on the day of
the disaster by bringing relief to the rescue workers. Physicians from the
community and neighboring communities came to provide medical assistance while
merchants offered up their stores as a temporary venue for treatment. A local
insurance firm gave cash compensation to dependents of the dead miners. This
compensation money pared with donations from organizations such as the Red
Cross and donations from people in neighboring areas helped achieve financial
recovery for those who were crucially impacted. A senator from the area even
acted as a voice for recovery and prevention. There was previously no blueprint
for this type of cooperation amongst the community; however, Sullivan was
capable of bouncing back from the tragedy due to the intertwined efforts of
several different major role players.
On the day of January 20th
1925 and the weeks following, the community of Sullivan County Indiana and its
surrounding counterparts joined together in a particular manner that perfectly
emulates the social structures of the area that had previously been hidden. The
wholesomeness and cooperation of the community during this short time period
allowed for the potentially long lasting effects of the man-made disaster to be
of less significant. This previously unseen social structure in the Sullivan
County area only became available to analyze during a time of absolute crisis. Each
member of the community appeared to have their own niche, which in tern brought
the community together as a unit in a way that is not typical. For a community
such as Sullivan County to be united in such strikingly successful manner is
rather uncommon. The recovery process was much more dynamic and efficient due
to the communities hidden social structure.
Changes regarding the
government and social situations happened almost immediately after the tragedy occurred
nearly one century ago. The previously mentioned mine safety, proposed by
George W. Sims, was sent to the house in direct correlation with the accident
that occurred in Sullivan County. The bill proposed several changes that can
intensify safety for miners and prevent more tragedies of this nature from
happening. These changes include an increased amount of inspections and ban
machinery that requires gas engines. Also, the mine safety bill requires that a
mine containing three of more persons have an additional exit in case of
emergency.[13]
Socially Sullivan County also undertook major social change after the man-made
disaster. A community that had previously been normal in terms of social
interaction became much more socially intertwined as a community once members
were subliminally forced to work as one in order to bring relief. The explosion
at City Coal Company mine temporarily changed the social structure of the area.
Because of the catastrophe on January 20th 1925, Sullivan C
[1] "Publications." Census of Population
and Housing. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2014.
[2] "Geography." Gazetteer Files.
N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2014.
[3] Conaway, John. "Sullivan County: A
Bicentennial History in Images." County History. The History Press,
n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2014.
[4] Associated
Press, “51 Killed in Mine Blast,” The Logansport
Morning Press, February 21, 1925. P.1.
[5] ”17
Bodies Recovered in Mine Disaster,” Logansport
Pharos-Tribune, February 21,1925.P.1-2.
[6] Associated
Press, “51 Killed in Mine Blast,” The
Logansport Morning Press, February 21, 1925. P.1.
[7] “Mine Blast at Sullivan,” Logansport Pharos-Tribune, February 20, 1925. P.1.
[8] Associated Press, “51 Killed in Mine Blast,” The Logansport Morning Press, February
21, 1925. P.1.
[9] “Mine
Blast at Sullivan,” Logansport
Pharos-Tribune, February 20, 1925. P.1.
[10] ”17
Bodies Recovered in Mine Disaster,” Logansport
Pharos-Tribune, February 21,1925.P.1.
[11] “Probe
of Mine Disaster Faults Until Inquest,” Logansport
Pharos-Tribune, February 27, 1927. P.1.
[12] “More
Mine Saefty,” Kokomo Daily Tribune,
February 23, 1925. P.14.
[13] “Probe of Mine Disaster Faults Until Inquest,” Logansport Pharos-Tribune, February 27,
1927. P.1.
