On March 30, 1930 at approximately 2:15 p.m., an explosion occurred at the Pioneer Mine of the Pioneer Coal Company, located at Kettle Island, Bell County, Kentucky. The mine was working in the Straight Creek coal seam, which is known to have a history of methane liberation and explosions.
The explosion in the No. 2 opening section of the mine claimed the lives of all sixteen (16) miners on the section. The investigation concluded that the point of origin for the explosion was located at the mouth of a worked-out area that was not sealed and poorly ventilated. The section was very dry and rock dust was not used. The ignition source of the methane and air mixture was the result of an open flame from a carbide light.
Kettle Island Mine Explosion
On 29 March 1930,
16 miners died as the result of a gas explosion in the Pioneer Coal mine, Kettle Island, Bell county, KY.. Below is a list of those miners killed with number of dependents. This information was obtained from the minutes of the reunion for family members of those miners killed, held 5 September 1987 at Kettle Island, KY.. The listing is as was given in the minutes, except as additional notes by me (NoteJW). If anyone has any knowledge of this mine accident or the families involved, please contact me.
"The men who were interred when the explosion occurred in the Pioneer
Coal Company mine with their dependents follows"....
LUTHER HODGE - A wife
MASON FULTZ - A wife and eight children. (Note JW - Full name
was John C. Mason Fultz, s/o William Harrison Fultz Margaret RICE.
Wife was Lucy WILSON, d/o John Harrison Wilson and Caroline BUSH. I have the names of three of the eight children, Everett A., Clyde Otis,Gracie.
JOHN ENGLE - A wife and four children
ADRIAN HELTON - A wife and three children
ELMER STEELE - A wife and three children
RAYMOND SIMPSON - A wife
HARVEY ALLEN - A wife and eight children (Edith Nelson married Charlie
M.C. VAN - Assistant Foreman - A wife and two children. (Note JW -
The diary of Robert Moore lists this miner as McADAMS or MacADAMS.)
DAVE SOWDERS - A wife and one child
J.E. HILL - A wife and six children (I think he was the General Mine foreman, and I could not find his
children. Nobody could ever tell me what happened to them (Clyde Azilee). I could never locate them.)
JESSE LASLEY - A wife and two children
J.L. JONES -
A wife and five children
JOHN L. COX - A wife and two children
LEE A. JOHNSON - A wife and one child
SAM PROFFITT - (who lived at Jenson) a
wife and six children
ED OSBORNE - 17 years old and single. (Ed was
Uncle Dave Osborne's son. Do you remember them? They used to live down there right in front of the tipple.)
Harve Allen
Susie Allen
Charley Allen
Violia Allen
James Allen
Pauline Allen
Paul Allen