10 Jan 1909 Joseph Leiter's / Zeigler Coal Mine #1 26 Killed in Explosion Researched & Transcribed by: Nanette Riley Photo of Zeigler Mine 1939 The New York Times-New York, 11 Jan 1909 Zeigler, IL Mine Explosion Kills Several, Jan 1909 19 DEAD IN LEITER MINE EXPLOSION. NUMBER OF OTHERS HELD, EITHER DEAD OR ALIVE, IN SHAFT OF COAL PROPERTY AT ZEIGLER, ILL. HAD BATTENED UP FIRE. OLD BLAZE IN MODEL MINE SUPPOSED TO HAVE CAUSED DISASTER -- PLACE SCENE OF LONG LABOR STRUGGLE. Special to The New York Times Zeigler, Ill., Jan. 10. -- Nineteen men are known to have been killed in an explosion in JOSEPH LEITER'S coal mine here early this morning. Several others, who were in the mine at the time of the explosion, are missing. The mine has been called the model mine in the world. It is equipped with the most modern machinery of all kinds and with every known device to secure protection to the men working there. The cause of the explosion is not known. One theory is that the explosion followed the ignition of black damp which escaped from portions of the mine which had been sealed because of a fire that had been blazing in the shaft for several weeks. MR. LEITER, who has spent the day in rescue work, offers no theory. The night shift had been in the mine but a few hours when the blast came. Twenty-six are known to have gone into the shaft. Of this number two men have been taken out seriously injured and nineteen bodies have been recovered. The names of the known dead follow: ANDREJOFF, A. -- EVANS, J. O. -- GANGOFF, AROME HUBBARD, THOMAS -- IVANOFF, STEPHEN -- JONES, GALE KASSAY, JOHN -- KERR, OBERT -- MORGAN, FRED PUCKETT, SEEBER -- PHILLIPS, JOHN -- PHILLIPS, JAMES RICHARDSON, JOSEPH -- SMOTHERS, CHARLES -- TATE, JOSEPH WALLACE, OMAS Three Men, names not yet ascertained Despite the efforts to rescue the men not yet accounted for, it is not known whether they are alive or dead in the mine. The mine had been closed for several weeks on account of a serious fire in the working places, until early in this month, when MR. LEITER came down from Chicago and took charge of the work of extinguishing the flames. So effective was this work that the blaze was confined and sealed in a small portion of the workings. Then the debris was cleared away and everything made ready to resume operations. Active mining was resumed on a small scale yesterday, and it was the intention of the management to put on the full force of miners during the coming week. The explosion this morning was remarkable in that no noise or rumbling was heard or felt by the residents of Zeigler, and the only warning that anything wrong had happened was a small gust of black smoke emerging from the main shaft. When this was seen the engineer summoned assistance, and men were sent down. They found that the interior of the mine was not damaged, nor was any of the top works. There is scarcely any trace of the explosion. MRS. LEITER Nursed Wounded MR. LEITER was told of the disaster and he immediately took charge of the rescue work. MRS. LEITER spent the entire day in assisting the rescue work and nursing the injured. MR. LEITER declared to-night that he had no explanation to make of the disaster. He also denied the report circulated here that he contemplated closing the mine or retiring from the management. He says the property has just been placed in condition to operate, and that hehopes to be able to hoist the usual capacity within a few days. Coroner DYE of Christopher held an inquest over the bodies of the nineteen men killed. After hearing the evidence adjournment was taken until 9 o'clock tomorrow morning, when the Coroner's jury is expected to return its verdict. The disaster to-day was the latest incident in the spectacular career of the Zeigler mine, which has been the scene of the battle between MR. LEITER and organized labor. This fight has been of wide interest, because of the use of firearms. MR. LEITER, in 1903, opened the mine, and built a model town, with schools, paved streets, electric lights, and water works for the exclusive use of his men. The mine itself is said to be one of the best equipped in the world. It is lighted with electricity and equipped with the most improved machinery. It was the latter that brought about the trouble. The miners insisted that the combined weighing and loading machine was not accurate. MR. LEITER insisted that it was. The trouble grew, and the United Mine Workers officials ordered a strike. Return to the Main Index Page for Franklin County Nanette Riley 2008©Illinois Genealogy Trails History Group