April 3, 1905 Joseph Leiter's / Zeigler Coal Mine #1 Disaster Researched & Transcribed by: Nanette Riley Photo of Zeigler Mine 1939 51 Men Died Explosion of Gases and Blasting Powered. Explosion blew steel cages from the shaft 500 feet below to the surface and was felt 12 miles away. Many miners burned alive when the explosion occured. Some rescuers stayed in the mine to long and became overcome by the fumes and died a short time later. Many Bodies of the Victims Are Buried Beneath Tons of Debris. APRIL 3 30-45 miners descended to work today Gas Explosion due to gas accumulation from no work being done the day before Some 50 miners entombed 30-40 of buried men dead 4 bodies found steel cage blow 500' from bottom of shaft to the surface blew timbers out of the mouth of the mine 1 miner killed, 4 injured at the mouth of mine 3 bodies and 1 injured man(Rolly Campbell) brought to surface 10:00 p.m. *15 dead bodied recovered- 2 bodies had marks from the explosion 13 from asphyxiation *31 estimated dead, 8 wounded *31 coffins arrived with undertaker Among dead: James Reyburn, engineer J.P. Fink Willis Campbell remainder are Greeks and Lithuanians-designated by numbers 5 rescuers were over come by afterdamp APRIL 4, 1905 20 bodies recovered Powder caused explosion not gas APRIL 5, 1905 37 bodies recovered More bodies in the mine Accident attributed to carbonic gas due to poor ventilation State mine inspector:William Atkinson and Manager of the mine:John Graham died from inhaled gas while leading a resue party into LEITER mine Work of removing the victims bodies continue today Series of explosions 53 victims 15 bodies recoved and 1 injured man Explosion felt 12 miles away State mine inspector E.D. John stated after mine examination that the First explosion was from gas and the second explosion from powder APRIL 6, 1905 Coroner's Jury Declares Wholesale Slaughter by Explosion - Coroner: J.M. Adams 43 miners fouly murdered Cause: Afterdamp due to explosion of blasting powder, set off by persons yet unknown APRIL 18, 1905 Additional bodies are being found JULY 6, 1905 State's Attorney William P. Seeber has asked the assistance of Attorney General Stead in the prosecution of the Ziegler Coal Company and Joseph Leiter for the mine horror in which fifty-one lives were lost. This action has been taken as the result of an extraordinary condition existing. AMONG DECEASED ATKINSON, William BAXTER, William BRUMLICK, Gustav CAMPBELL, Rolla CAMPBELL, Willis DAVIS, Robert FINK, J.P. GEISLER, Joseph GRAHAM, John HARE, Robert JONES, Everett LINDSAY, John REYBURN, James ROBINSON, Charles WITHROW, Harry WOODS, Jerry and 35 others Return to the Main Index Page for Franklin County Nanette Riley 2008©Illinois Genealogy Trails History Group