Disaster
COAL MINE DISASTERS
This section examines two coal mine disasters that had very powerful effects on the history of Christian County, Illinois as well as the development of the United Mine Workers of America. The Cherry Mine Disaster not only brought about new mine safety legislation but also caused an influx of migration to the Christian County mines.
The Moweaqua Disaster on Christmas Eve of 1932 came at a pivotal moment for the fledgling Progressive Mine Workers and their failure to adequately respond proved to be a reason that many miners in the county chose to remain with the UMW despite being labeled strikebreakers by the Progressives.
THINK IN TIME
How would you deal with a disaster such as this? Would you blame anyone? The company? The government? The 15-year old boy who started the fire?
““It was supposed to be the safest mine in the world. It was one of the young boys who pushed the car full of hay under a torch on the wall. He was just a child and didn’t know no better. There had been fires in the mine before and some of the men walked right past it like it weren’t nothing’. They coulda put it out, but they figured they were leavin’ and they wanted to get home---so let the next guy do it. They had had to make those torches so they could see to work, ‘cause the electric lighting had failed, don’t ya see. They shoulda just come on home and worked another day, but they were used to carbide lights, so they didn’t think nothing’ of it. They shouldn’t let inexperienced young boys work down there. They shoulda just come on home and worked another day.
This section examines two coal mine disasters that had very powerful effects on the history of Christian County, Illinois as well as the development of the United Mine Workers of America. The Cherry Mine Disaster not only brought about new mine safety legislation but also caused an influx of migration to the Christian County mines.
The Moweaqua Disaster on Christmas Eve of 1932 came at a pivotal moment for the fledgling Progressive Mine Workers and their failure to adequately respond proved to be a reason that many miners in the county chose to remain with the UMW despite being labeled strikebreakers by the Progressives.
THINK IN TIME
How would you deal with a disaster such as this? Would you blame anyone? The company? The government? The 15-year old boy who started the fire?
““It was supposed to be the safest mine in the world. It was one of the young boys who pushed the car full of hay under a torch on the wall. He was just a child and didn’t know no better. There had been fires in the mine before and some of the men walked right past it like it weren’t nothing’. They coulda put it out, but they figured they were leavin’ and they wanted to get home---so let the next guy do it. They had had to make those torches so they could see to work, ‘cause the electric lighting had failed, don’t ya see. They shoulda just come on home and worked another day, but they were used to carbide lights, so they didn’t think nothing’ of it. They shouldn’t let inexperienced young boys work down there. They shoulda just come on home and worked another day.
The Cherry Mine Disaster - November 21, 1909
Photos Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Boch Collection)
Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
(Boch Collection)
““It was supposed to be the safest mine in the world. It was one of the young boys who pushed the car full of hay under a torch on the wall. He was just a child and didn’t know no better. There had been fires in the mine before and some of the men walked right past it like it weren’t nothing’. They coulda put it out, but they figured they were leavin’ and they wanted to get home---so let the next guy do it. They had had to make those torches so they could see to work, ‘cause the electric lighting had failed, don’t ya see. They shoulda just come on home and worked another day, but they were used to carbide lights, so they didn’t think nothing’ of it. They shouldn’t let inexperienced young boys work down there. They shoulda just come on home and worked another day.
THE MOWEAQUA COAL MINE DISASTER
December 24, 1932
December 24, 1932
Fifty-Four coal miners died in the Moweaqua Coal Mine Disaster of Christmas Eve, 1932. Understandably, the newly formed Progressive Mine Workers were not prepared to respond to this tragedy. The UMW however immediately sent assistance.
THINK IN TIME
What effect would this disaster have on your decision to either remain with the United Mine Workers or go with the fledgling Progressives?
How might an event like this add to a miner's anger and frustration? Would you be upset with the Progressives? The UMW? The company that might have allowed the work conditions that brought about this disaster?
FYI: Ten days later, the Battle of Tovey took place in which two people were shot to death and many more wounded.
THINK IN TIME
What effect would this disaster have on your decision to either remain with the United Mine Workers or go with the fledgling Progressives?
How might an event like this add to a miner's anger and frustration? Would you be upset with the Progressives? The UMW? The company that might have allowed the work conditions that brought about this disaster?
FYI: Ten days later, the Battle of Tovey took place in which two people were shot to death and many more wounded.
