Fraterville Mine disaster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fraterville Miners' Circle
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Fraterville Miners' Circle
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| Location | Leach Cemetery Lane Rocky Top, Tennessee |
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| NRHP reference No. | 04001459 |
| Added to NRHP | January 5, 2005 |
The Fraterville Mine disaster was a terrible coal mine explosion. It happened on May 19, 1902, near a community called Fraterville in Tennessee. This event caused the deaths of 216 miners. They died either from the blast itself or from the poisonous gases that followed.
This disaster was the worst mining accident in Tennessee's history. Experts believe the explosion was likely caused by methane gas. This gas probably built up after leaking from another mine nearby that didn't have fresh air.
Soon after the disaster, 89 of the 216 miners were buried. Their graves formed a special area known as the Fraterville Miners' Circle. This circle is in Leach Cemetery in the town of Coal Creek, which is now called Rocky Top. In 2005, this important circle was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Where the Mine Was Located
The Fraterville Mine was one of many mines in the Cumberland Mountains. This area in western Anderson County, Tennessee was rich in coal. The mine and the Fraterville community were in the Coal Creek Valley. This valley is narrow and runs north-south. It sits between Walden Ridge to the east and Vowell Mountain to the west.
Today, Tennessee State Route 116 connects Fraterville with Briceville to the south. It also connects to Rocky Top to the north. This part of Route 116 is now called "Fraterville Miners Memorial Highway." This name honors the miners who died in the explosion.
The Explosion and Rescue Attempts
The Coal Creek Coal Company started the Fraterville Mine in 1870. A businessman from Knoxville named E.C. Camp organized the company. This company was known for treating its workers fairly. The Fraterville Mine was even considered one of the safest in the area.
The company paid its workers in cash, not special company money. It also did not use the state's controversial system of renting out prisoners for labor. Because of this, the company avoided many worker problems. Other mines had these issues during the Coal Creek War in the early 1890s.
The Fraterville Mine explosion happened around 7:20 AM on May 19, 1902. This information comes from the Tennessee Commissioner of Labor. Black smoke and debris shot out of the mine's entrance and air shaft.
George Camp, the mine's superintendent, quickly organized rescue efforts. He was E.C. Camp's son. Philip Francis, a mine operator from Jellico, also helped. The first rescue team could only go about 200 feet (61 m) into the mine. They had to turn back because of the poisonous gases.
A second rescue team entered the mine at 4:00 PM that day. They used a simple system made of cloth and creosote to help clear the air. Slowly, they moved deeper into the main shaft. They saw a lot of destruction inside. The Commissioner later reported that the explosion had destroyed barriers and equipment. Mine cars, wheels, and doors were shattered.
Most miners died from the initial blast. However, 26 miners had managed to block themselves off in a side passage. At least 10 of them were still alive seven hours later. But they eventually died from the toxic air and lack of oxygen. Several miners wrote sad farewell messages to their families. They wrote about struggling to breathe. They also encouraged their loved ones to "live right" so they could meet again. The last body was removed from the mine four days after the explosion.
What Happened Afterward
The exact cause of the explosion was debated for a while. The Tennessee Commissioner of Labor's report said the explosion happened when dangerous gases built up. This was because the mine's air system had not been working well. These gases were then set off by an open flame.
The report mentioned that the mine's ventilation system had been shut down the weekend before. This allowed the gases to build up. However, the person who operated the ventilation furnace was later found not responsible. The report also suggested that gases might have leaked into the Fraterville Mine. These gases could have come from an old, unused mine next door.
The community of Fraterville was completely changed by the mine explosion. Almost all the adult men in the town were lost. Hundreds of women became widows, and about a thousand children lost their fathers. Some families lost as many as eight family members. A large memorial service was held at the Briceville Community Church on June 8, 1902.
Eighty-nine of the miners who died are buried in the Fraterville Miners' Circle. This circle is in Leach Cemetery, near the Clear Branch Baptist Church. It's just off U.S. 25W at Rocky Top. A monument in the middle of the circle lists the names of all 184 identified miners. On May 19, 2005, the circle was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Other miners who died in the disaster are buried in Longfield Cemetery. This cemetery is on U.S. Route 441 just east of Rocky Top.
