OCR Text |
Show 28 Energy Guide- - April 2001 I Explosions rock communities: (Continued from page 25) exploded with devastating stretcher, everyone rushes forward and raises the covering from the face. Shrieks awful to hear penetrate the dark gloomy atmosphere as someone faints at the foot of their husband's or father's corpse." violence when accumulated gas and coal dust ignited inside the number two mine, ing community. the steel doors off the entrance, tearing the hinges as Denver, Colo. ded in the mountainside. Heavy timbers from inside the underground coal production facility were also thrown more than a mile across the canyon. The disaster's three explosions and resulting afterdamp claimed 173 lives, including one would-b- e rescuer. The youngest fatality Mortuaries and funeral homes throughout Utah sent every available coffin in the state to the little min- touted as the company's "showcase." The first shattering blast occurred about 7,000 feet from the mine entrance, trapping more than 100 Castle Gate miners in the underground shafts. The force of the blast blew there were still not enough to handle the num- out of concrete. The magniber of dead, and more cof- tude of the explosion hurled fins had to be rushed to the the doors across the canyon, Scofield disaster site by spewhere the mine's portal clocial train from as far away sure devices were embedBut Castle Gate On the morning of March 8, 1924, three explosions jarred the small mining Rows of draped caskets line the Wasatch Store- - town meeting hall in Scofield shortly after the Winter Quarters mine disaster. On May 1, 1900, black blasting powder ig- nited inside the number four mine at Winter Quarters. The explosion, coupled with the deadly after damp gases that permeated the underground shafts following the blast, ultimately re sulted in 200 fatalities. The disaster impacted virtually every family in Scofield, leaving 105 widows and 270 fatherless children The company had to post guards to prevent anguished survivors from rushing into the dangerous mine shafts in desperate attempts to locate loved ones. The horror of the tragedy at Winter Quarters stunned the entire nation. community at Castle Gate. The blasts sent fright- ened women and children running toward the portal of Utah Fuel Company's number two mine, located one was brother the mile east of the town. of another victim killed in The underground facility the mining accident. Relatives and friends of the entombed Castle Gate miners crowded the roadway leading to the mine's entrance. By March 11, more than 100 bodies had been recovered from the underground tomb, squelching any hope that remained and ending the grim suspense blanketIncluding ing the town of Castle Gate. Retirement Plan Distributions It took almost two weeks to remove all of the victims from the underground shafts, which were filled with deadly gas and flooding water. Rescuers used by horses to carry the dead from the mine, while a grim mbsbsbbSBK Castle Valley community stood in silent vigil. SX3 On March 24, the haunting sound of "Taps" echoed from the hillside above Castle Gate in memory of the dead miners. Sealed caskets containGary D. Meeks ing the remains of the vicFinancial Consultant tims were carried from the 637-456- 6 town's amusement halls, which had served as temToll Free porary morgues, and 45 So. Carbon Ave. loaded onto trucks. Grieving survivors followed the tragic funeral processions to cemeteries in Price, Helper and Castle Bank Guarantee May Lose Value Gate, where loved ones Retirement Planning Services Rollover options for Company Variety of Investment Options Traditional & Roth IRAs ESffiMEfS Enjoy Professional & Local Service Call Gary Meeks for a Free Consultation Not FDIC Insured i i i r t I t t ? f t No 888-637-45- were laid to rest. |