Pabst Mine disaster facts for kids

The Pabst Mine disaster was a terrible event that happened on September 24, 1926. It took place at the Pabst Iron Mine in Ironwood, Michigan, USA. A deep mine shaft suddenly collapsed. This trapped 46 iron ore miners. Sadly, three miners died right away. But 43 miners were stuck underground for 129 hours. Their amazing rescue made big news across the United States. The last miner was saved late on the fifth day.

About the Pabst Mine

The Pabst Mine got its name from Frederick Pabst. He was a brewer from Milwaukee who briefly owned the mining rights. Over time, different companies owned the mine. Eventually, the Oliver Iron Mining Company bought it. This company later became part of the United States Steel Corporation in 1901.

The "G" Shaft

In 1904, the company added a new part to the mine. It was called the "G" shaft. This shaft became very important for digging up iron ore. It was dug at an angle, going down into the earth. The shaft was about 10 feet (3 meters) wide and 18 feet 8 inches (5.7 meters) long. It went down almost 2,600 feet (792 meters) through hard rock.

To keep it safe, the walls of the "G" shaft were lined. They used concrete and wood planks. Strong steel held these linings in place. An elevator ran on rails inside the shaft. It could travel very fast, up to 1,000 feet (305 meters) per minute.

Heavy Rains Before the Collapse

In September 1926, the area around Ironwood, Michigan had a lot of rain. Some reports say about 11 inches (28 cm) of rain fell before the disaster. The rain was so heavy that local events were canceled. A nearby river even flooded. This heavy rain likely flowed into the mine shaft. It also seeped into cracks in the rock.

Past Problems with the Shaft

After the accident, some mine workers said there had been problems with the shaft before. Sometimes, the shaft walls would bend inward. This happened because the rock around them shifted. When the walls bent, the elevator rails would also bend. This caused the elevator to go off its tracks. Workers would quickly fix these issues. Then the shaft would be used again.

The Mine Collapse

On September 24, 1926, 43 miners were working deep inside the Pabst Mine. Three electricians were riding the elevator down the "G" shaft. It's not fully clear what happened first. Either the elevator failed, or rocks started falling. But the elevator plunged down the shaft. Sadly, the three electricians died.

Then, a large rockfall blocked the shaft. This trapped 40 miners on the eighth level. Two other miners were stuck on the 13th level. One more miner was trapped on the 18th level.

Struggling to Survive

The trapped miners were unsure if help would come. They tried to save their lunch food. But the food ran out before the second day. The only thing they had left was tea. They made this tea from birch bark. They scraped the bark from the wooden planks lining the mine walls. They heated the tea using their carbide lamps.

The Rescue Effort

Soon after the collapse, a miner named Alfred Maki went down the shaft. He heard sounds from the trapped men. For the next five days, rescuers worked hard. They started digging from a nearby shaft called "H" shaft. Their goal was to reach the trapped miners.

They first went almost to the bottom of the "H" shaft. A tunnel connected the "H" and "G" shafts there. Then, they began climbing up the ladderway of the "G" shaft. On the fifth day, they finally reached the trapped miners. News reports said the first rescuer asked what the miners wanted most. They replied that they wanted tobacco. So, he gave them cigars.

Miners Return to Safety

When people in Ironwood heard the miners were found, many rushed to the mine. Families of the trapped miners were among them. About 5,000 people waited at the top of the shaft. The miners came up in small groups using the elevator in the "H" shaft. They had been trapped for 129 hours. After being rescued, they went to a local hospital. Soon after, they were able to go home. The story of their rescue was big news all across the country.

Remembering the Disaster

People in the area have created a group. This group wants to build a Miners Memorial Heritage Park. They continue to honor the memory of the Pabst Mine disaster.