Linton, Indiana, 1931: The Little Betty Coal Mine Explosion

By Peter Kauffman

On January 28, 1931 a methane gas explosion in a coal mine that went by the name of Little Betty killed 28 of the 38 workers on site.[1] Other mine explosions of this caliber typically result in more deaths, but there were fewer workers at the scene due to workers coming to and leaving shifts. Mine explosions, at the time, were by no means uncommon, and were hard to prevent. News spread quickly about the tragedy and local townspeople, of Linton, Indiana, reacted in an effort to help. The disaster brought the people of Linton and nearby areas close together to find the best ways to rescue and care for the victims, and to find ways to prevent similar incidents in the future. This disaster showed how local, state, and national efforts can come together to provide relief and rehabilitation.

The Little Betty Coal Mine Explosion of 1931

By A. N.            

In the 1930’s Americans were experiencing the effects of the Great Depression. Millions of Americans were without work. At the time of the huge economic breakdown, Herbert Hoover was president of the United States. He lost the election of 1932 to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Americans had hopes that Roosevelt would help solve the economic crisis. Because so many Americans were out of work, families were traveling from place to place in search of work. Roosevelt established something that became known as the New Deal. These programs were put into place in order to create jobs and begin to cut down on the unemployment rate.

The Day That Shook Sullivan, Indiana, in 1925

By. P. H.

On February 20, 1925 a normal day began in the small town of Sullivan, Indiana until 10:30 a.m. when the small town shook with the explosion of City Coal Mine. Sullivan was a booming town due to the boom in the coalmining industry within southern Indiana, but on this Friday morning 51 fathers, sons, and brothers perished in one of the worst mine explosions in Indiana history.

The Little Betty Coal Mine Explosion 1931: Linton, Indiana

By Phillip Gamble

            “The discovery of coal during the 19^th century brought prosperity to the Wabash Valley, particularly Greene, Sullivan, Vermillion, Clay and Vigo counties.”[1] The city of Linton, like many surrounding towns, was built to strive on the success of coal mines. These mines provided many jobs and resources that the city used in order to become a profitable community. Both before and after the explosion, Linton continued to rely on the profits of the coal mines although they changed some of the ways to mine in order for it to become a safer profession. Coal mining has been a way of life in Linton, IN and it does not appear to be changing anytime soon. On the morning of January 28, 1931, the residents of the small town of Linton, IN awoke to what they thought would be just another normal day. Little did they know that the greatest disaster in the city’s history was about to occur. At 2:57, the Little Betty Mine was in the midst of a shift change when an explosion devastated the mine and the tiny town of Linton. The explosion that was later reported as caused by gas killed twenty-eight of the thirty-eight miners.

The Mine Explosion of 1937: Safety Regulations and Attempts to Lessen the Accident Rate of Mining

 By C. A. C.

Coal was the most important mineral resource of Sullivan County in the 1930’s.[1] Coal was used commonly throughout the area and was heavily depended upon for many things such as keeping houses warm as well as generating power to run the major industries of the community.[2] During the first world war the coal industry boomed and Sullivan county was always rated among the top counties with total production.  In it’s peak Sullivan county had 44 mines in operation in 1923, with a production total of 5,179,193 tons and employed 6,067 men.[3] The successes of Sullivan county’s’ mining decreased from this high in years soon after.  By 1938 coal mining in Sullivan had gone down to only seven major mines employing 1,155 men with a production of 1,421,322 tons.[4] Coal mining was definitely unique and prided in Sullivan County. Within these years there have been countless mine explosions as well as various other working incidents that contributed to the decline in success and popularity.   The Glendora Coal Company’s Baker Mine explosion signaled a decline in the Sullivan county mining industry and triggered greater concern of regulations for mine safety.

Digging for Answers: The 1937 Sullivan, Indiana, Mine Disaster

By Brandon Jordan

The mining industry was once one of the predominant industries in America. The mines provide much needed coal and other precious metals that would be required to operate the booming railroad industry of the early twentieth century. Because of the high demand for the minerals, mining towns became commonplace across the continental United States. Many of these towns shared similar makeups because they all relied on the mine as the source of the local economy. Another reality of living in these mining towns is the possibility of disaster. One such disaster befell the quiet community of Sullivan, Indiana on July 5, 1937. Before I explain the disaster, I must first explore the town of Sullivan to truly understand how the disaster has affected them. [1]

The 1925 Sullivan, Indiana, Mine Explosion

By Jordan Bickett

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 Bicknell Mine Blast of 1941

By Syd

            When disaster occurs it does not only bring havoc and chaos but disasters also tend to bring out special emotions in people. Emotions that are not usually brought out. Typically the damage that has been done from disasters brings a sort of devastated vibe over the people in that community. Disasters disrupt the usual way of life that everyone goes by, and sort of puts everything “on pause” for the time being. But when disaster strikes people are known to put their own personal duties aside and come together as one to build back a new and improved community. The Bicknell Indiana mine blast of 1941 for example, was a disaster that struck the community of Bicknell and left nothing but devastation and destruction behind. But the citizens of Bicknell were not going to just leave it at that, they were determined to help the families in dire need and prevent any sort of tragedy like this to ever happen again.   

The 1837 Sullivan County Mine Explosion

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 15^th, 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.