Holden Diary

The No. 3 Main Entry afforded a vertical clearance of some 14 to 16 inches above the fallen roof material. In this confined space and with limited ventilation, workers, lying on their side, attacked the concrete blocks with sledge hammers. Others worked to enlarge the work space. Large rocks were broken with hammers that could be lifted but a few inches. By passing broken pieces of rock from hand to hand down the line of workers, space was slowly gained. Fresh workers replaced the tiring as the work continued without interruption. Breaking away the concrete blocks revealed a backing of solid concrete. Mine personnel now recalled this was made necessary when stress caused air leaks in the original stoppings. The delay in overcoming this new obstacle prevented stopping the advancing fire as anticipated. Water was being hosed onto the fire through the created opening when Inspector Mike Cordray and I were summoned to the surface.

Operation Officials requested that we, with a few others, enter the mine via the Elk Creek slope. A search was to be conducted for the entrapped men or clues as to their whereabouts and the air coming from the fire area tested. Driving as close as snow and road conditions would permit, we trudged through knee-deep snow to the slope entrance at 1:30 p.m. Hip-deep water was found at the coal level where entering air was measured to be 47,000 cubic feet by Joe Sarsfield, Company Safety Inspector. Every opening was explored until travel was blocked by impassable falls of roof. Mine inspection records of this area, dated a week earlier, revealed that these areas were passable. In the blocked No. 2 Entry, Elk Creek Mains, Cordray moved ahead of the group to test for the presence of carbon monoxide which required 30 seconds more or less. Before that time expired, Mike's knees were noticed to buckle. Holding my breath, I waded to him as quickly as possible and began assisting him toward fresh air. His reaction was sufficient to conclude that air from the fire area would not support life. The CO detector indicated the presence of near two-tenths percent, proving the original conclusion. There remained hope that the men had escaped this atmosphere by seeking refuge in barricaded areas.

A surprising event was unfolding upon our return to the surface and mine office. Two of the entrapped men, Kyle Blair and Willis Carter had arrived at the underground base of operations and were now en route to the surface. There was great elation over their safety and expectation that they carried vitally needed information. From them it was learned that upon being notified of the fire, Donaldson grouped the men together. Carter, a ventilation specialist, volunteered to travel toward the fire and open a pair of air-locking doors which would short circuit the ventilating current. This would prevent air from the fire area reaching the men. Oddly enough, the door nearest the fire was opened first. Dense smoke and the poisonous atmosphere engulfed and nearly overcame both men making it impossible to reach and open the second door some 600 feet away. They were then forced to take the only route that offered escape from the deadly atmosphere. For more than three hours they wriggled, snaked, and clawed through minute openings above the fallen roof material to reach safety some 6,000 feet away. The same route now facing those engaged in the rescue effort.

Clearly recalled is the question posed to Carter, "Why didn't you get the second door opened?"

Carter Tearfully replied, "I tried, honest I tried."

Yet, a published statement later quoted Paul Lingo, Assistant Director, WV Department of Mines as saying, "It was five days before officials realized that the door was closed. Until that time, they were baffled by the ventilation system's failure to flush the smoke." When Carter was asked the location and plans of the other men, he answered, "I don't know." Both Cater and Blair were later sent home to recuperate from their ordeal.

Officials requested that we, now equipped with the CHEMOX self contained breathing apparatus, repeat our former exploration. We were to determine the direction, quantity, and quality of the ventilating air current. Ventilation controls were to be adjusted to meet the adopted specifications. After returning to the surface and consulting with officials at 6:00 p.m., Mike and I reentered the mine by way of the elevator shaft.

During our absence a second access to the fire had been achieved. Through the opening, dense smoke and flame were observed and intense heat was present. Water lines were extended to the opening and fire fighting efforts were renewed. The efforts were hampered by inadequate volume and water pressure. Additional water was obtained from the Elk Creek after breaking through ice and the Holden public water system was tapped yet, the lack persisted. A prototype fire fighting device under development at the U.S. Bureau of Mines facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was trucked to the mine known as, "Foam Plug", the devide generated a thick, flame quenching foam. Its capabilities could not be fully utilized under the existing conditions. The wall of fallen roof material prevented the foam from effectively reaching the fire.

The number of workers now available allowed officials to divide the force into three work shifts and send the first arrivals home. We, Paul and I, returned to Logan at 3:00 a.m. after 20 hours of duty.