1962 - MINE EXPLOSION KILLS ALL 11 BELOW GROUND. RESCUERS WORK THROUGH NIGHT TO FIND BODIES.
Carterville, Ill. - An explosion ripped through the Blue Blaze Coal Co.'s No. 2 mine northeast of Carterville at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, killing all 11 underground workers.
Rescue teams who toiled all night in sub-zero weather began the grim task of removing the bodies this morning.
A temporary morgue was set up at the Carterville American Legion club, where members of the miner's families were to be taken to identify the victims. The chore ended long hours of tearful waiting.
Those killed are:
IRA YEWELL, Carterville.
VIRGIL TANNER, Carterville.
IRA WILLIAMS, Carterville.
RALPH BRANDON, Herrin.
BILL GARTNER, Herrin.
MELVIN RAMSEY, Herrin.
ROY WOODIS, Herrin.
HOWARD KIMMEL, De Soto.
WILLIE GULLEY, West Frankfort.
JOHN BARKUS, Hurst.
ALPHA HORSLEY, Carbondale.
The second shift workers apparently died instantly when the blast rocked the mine about three hours after they went down the 165-foot shaft. One of the bodies was found at the bottom of the shaft, two...
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