Darr Mine Tragedy: Pennsylvania's Worst Mining Disaster

A seemingly unimpressive hillside along the Youghiogheny River holds a secret. It was within the hills of two small Southwestern Pennsylvania patch towns that one of the worst disasters in American History occurred. Over 200 people were killed in this hillside, shattering the lives of everyone in the valley. This is the story of the 1907 Darr Mine Disaster.
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[@RedoubtProductions1754]

Thanks For All The Support This Documentary Has Gotten, Even With The Glaring Inaccuracies. I Promise Someday To Return To The Story Of The Darr Mine And Rectify Those Errors. Just Did Not Have Time Throughout 2021. Hopefully In 2022? Anyways, For Those New To Finding This Video, Enjoy It And Let Younger Me Off Easy. And On Today, December 19, 2021, We Look Back And Remember The 239+ Lives Snuffed Out In One Of The Worst Mining Disasters In American History.

[@cjheasley5713]

You did a wonderful job with the delivery. Your speech is clear, and cadence is easy to understand. The volume is consistent even with sound effects and the music in the background (though just a touch to loud in my opinion) doesn't make it difficult for me to hear what you are saying. I would like to see an updated video with the inaccuracies fixed. I especially enjoyed the photographs you found from the event.

[@DJeepThoughts]

Glad to see a young guy educating us about our heritage and history. I'm guessing you are in Pa? I'm in Pittsburgh. Not too far from this disaster you've so graciously outlined. Coal mining is something that many people, sadly, know very little about. These mining companies were ruthless and politics was so corrupt back then there was little relief from the dangerous conditions and "company store" shenanigans for quite a long time. Elected officials seemed to always be on the side of those with the money. Sad. These miners are a big reason for our quality of life we enjoy today. Keep up the good work kid. Hope you get a million subs. This is good content. As my high school history teacher always said- "If you're ignorant of the past, don't think the present is any different." Thank you for pushing back the frontier of ignorance.

[@denisehogarth5433]

I was told that I had family killed in that disaster. I never questioned it since my mother was born in Jacobs Creek 1913. That grave marker in Olive Branch Cemetery was where my grandmother would always place a flower.

[@DIZZYUPTHEGIRL34]

My great great great grandfather died in this disaster Mike Migo. Thank you for telling their story.

[@bonniemoerdyk9809]

I think you did just fine for your first documentary, keep it up! If you're looking for new material, there was a mining disaster in a small town north of Terre Haute, Indiana back in 1907, the town of Fontanet. The entire town blew up, but was rebuilt. Not related to the explosion but my Grandfather died just a few feet away from the entrance of the mine in a freak railroad accident 25 yrs after the explosion. I grew up going to church just a couple blocks from the disaster, albeit almost 60 yrs later.

[@kvlteacher5911]

Awesome job. I grew up in Library- home of the Montour #10 mine. Had a summer internship in the 80s at the Bureau of Mines researching ways to stop mine explosions from propagating. They were setting off coal dust explosions at the research mine in Bruceton while I was there. I can recall looking at a lot of old documents they had there regarding this and other disasters. Very interesting history. Memory eternal to the lost miners …

[@wv171]

In WV old days if didn't have fan to draw bad air. We use build big fires outside drift mouth. This would pull bad air to outside. Specially in New river area coal fields. Shocking but true.

[@petersattler3454]

In early British mines before the advent of mechanical fans this was common practice. A furnace was built at the bottom of an upcaste shaft and the rising hot air created an airflow through the workings. Commonly known as furnace ventilation.

[@renegade1520]

Good job covering this event! Never heard of it before.

[@ssnation615]

until a few years ago you could still find and still go pretty deep in the darr mine. its deep in the woods and honestly it was the most terrifying experience of my life. the dead air was ridiculous. couldn’t go too deep. I wanted to try and make it back to the disaster but it must have been to deep.

[@jeffjones6951]

Well researched, GREAT documentary!! [Saturday 4/16/22] Driving into Smithton for a family mini-reunion 3 days ago, I saw the historical marker @ 21:30. Was only vaguely familiar with the disaster, so researched on KZbin... Found your video. Highly informative, well documented!! I am so grateful that my great-gandfather Stoney Jones was busy starting a brewery in Smithton in 1907 and not working in the local mines like his father, a Welsh immigrant.

[@leonkriner3744]

Thank you for very informative research. I never knew about this tragedy before.

[@josephgluz1339]

That’s my father Steve Gluz on the mule in front of the company store. My dad and my grandfather’s and uncles worked at Banning #1. Jacobs Creek was District #5 headquarters at one time. The cause of the explosion was brutal criminal negligence the Mellon family who owned Pittsburgh Coal

[@MizzzFizzz]

I rly like how professional and empathetic you are to the victims and their family, thank you.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

EDITS: 1) Tom Williams was widely publicized as the sole survivor, but many have found evidence to support another miner managing to escape the explosion. Joseph Mapleton was in the 21st Entry at the time of the explosion. Although temporarily blinded by the rush of dust & smoke, he managed to find his way out of the mine. 2) I say that there is evidence to support a second ventilation shaft being okayed. This mainly comes from Mrs. Campbell's testimony following the disaster. Digging deeper, I have found no official documentation from the Pittsburgh Coal Company that a second ventilation shaft was ordered to be dig the weekend of the disaster. 3) The bodies found in the 27 Entry, north of the explosion site, had evidence they died from suffocation and not the explosion itself. Nevertheless, many of those in the mine showed clear signs of being killed by the trauma of the explosion. Most death certificates simply label cause of death as 'relating of mine explosion'. 4) Most miners, historians and other public opinions of the disaster directly oppose the inquiry's findings based on the fact it absolves the Pittsburgh Coal Company of any blame. I must admit that the lack of ventilation leading to build up of gases, creating the mine into a ticking time bomb, is mainly opinion and that no official report has confirmed this. It nevertheless seems the most likely factor to the explosion. 5) I found conflicting sources on when the Pittsburgh Coal Company took over ownership. Most say 901 but there were others with 1903. As such I split the difference by mentioning both dates in the video.

[@rwg68z76]

My grandparents are buried at the Olive Branch Cemetary. Thanks for the video.

[@themossypottery]

A sad but fascinating story. Thank you. Great job!

[@whoever6458]

They ought to make a law that says that the people who make financial decisions about safety issues should have to work in the mine themselves and have one of their family members working in the mine on shifts in which they aren't working there. It's one thing to risk other people's lives because you don't want to spend money; it's another thing to risk your own life to take short cuts to save your company money.

[@577buttfan]

They didn't give a crap back then.The miners where all looked at like work creatures.Greed is what ultimately destroyed the underground industry In pa.Especially the anthracite fields.

[@talesfromanoldmanpatoneal6372]

Nice job young man. I really liked seeing the photos for the town as it is now. Gives you a really good perspective. A time lost.

[@ariw9405]

Great job on this documentary very informative did not know about this disaster sadly.

[@larryfugate3238]

I just came across your documentary. Well done. As a native of SE Ohio, mine disasters were common including the Willow Grove mine disaster near 22:35 Neffs, Ohio in the 1940s , a mine toured by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt just several years before the horrific explosion that killed about 140. The Willow Grove was touted as a modern, safe mine. Today a large new memorial marks the explosion site.

[@williamcotter2880]

Great job. I am impressed by the research done. Love the topic. Also I am impressed by your age and the work you put into this program.

[@edwardramsey6923]

My Grandfather and his brother worked the coal pines in Rhimersburg PA. in the 20's. There was a cave in. The brother lost a son there. Never went back in to find him.

[@vanbennington6849]

Very nicely done!

[@hoffdoesstuff]

Good work making this video mate! Keep their memories living on. 👍🏼

[@tubal4450]

Worth noting this was the 4th major mining disaster that month. Deadliest mining month in US history.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

December 1907 is indeed harrowing to read about with one disaster on top of another. This is no disrespect to the others that occurred that month, but I feel it was the high death tolls of similar explosions at Monongah and Darr in such close proximity (both in location and time) that finally got the ball rolling on some sort of modern regulations

[@destiniedrent2398]

I live in Van Meter. This is great! We'll done and Thank You for the history of this sweet little village.

[@brianbaxter2595]

Great job! All your efforts didn't go unappreciated. Sad but very interesting bit of American history. Cheers

[@prrcdmnl]

Very informative. You did a great job.

[@joelewis9482]

Man I wish I could hit the like button more times. Great job covering the mine disaster

[@davidpawson7393]

This is how it's done. Glad I clicked on your video. Subscribed.

[@erict3032]

Excellent documentary! I grew up around the site and heard the stories growing up about it. It still burns to this day. My friend and I used to take a back road near the yough river on a hill and the snow was always melted in the field with steam coming out. That’s been 30 years or so ago when I witnessed that so we figure it’s still on fire underneath.

[@RyanOShea00]

Thank you for making this! Great video.

[@arnenelson4495]

Nice work, thanx!

[@lawrencemielnicki5643]

In the 1960s we had relatives from Poland who settled in Belle Vernon, PA. My older “cousins” convinced my father to drive to a swimming hole at Jacob’s Creek. Living on the coast I was only used to swimming in the ocean. I can still remember how much fun it was. I can remember near the swimming hole were abandoned mine shafts. I wonder if these were part of the darr mine complex?

[@bubbasmith382]

Nice job, keep up the good work!

[@mountainmamma1643]

I live in Greene county PA. One county over from fayette and this is the first time I've heard of this disaster. Good video!

[@georgedavis6583]

Very well done young man!!

[@fields1336]

Excellent work 👍

[@LiveFutureTrades]

Very good video, Stumbled upon this video from researching Centralia PA mine fire.

[@H.O.P.E.1122]

Good job. Thank you for your study.

[@AnaFerreira-ry5bw]

Thank you for sharing, never heard of it

[@teddyduncan1046]

Nice script and interesting story. Keep up the good work!

[@Bingoheeler882]

Great documentary! Well presemtrd.

[@Amixa]

Good job on the video and story.

[@x69WINNING69x]

what a good video. I learned so much about the little signs ive seen along the gap.

[@nickpaulie]

I can't understand something-why they stopped using the lamp of Davy? Because with sureness it is more safe than lamp with open flame.

[@Typing.._]

Great research 👌🏼 ✅

[@snowbird7614]

Look at the difference in the way of living between workers and company people. This is horrible. I feel so sorry for all the dead but also their families. I would be beside myself waiting for my loved one

[@kl2894]

This was good. Nice job👍

[@Cam-ye5qg]

Great video man

[@melissabeeson7271]

Great job. May they all R.I.P.

[@BigJohn4516]

The conflagration likely started from a pocket of methane. The puff of burning gas mixed air and coal dust, which burned energetically. This then quickly built up to generate a shock wave along the floor and walls of the drift. Mine companies began using limestone dust to cover the coal dust and make the mixed dust and air less combustible.

[@bradishear9369]

Very interesting. Good thing I am too far from PA. I want to find my way inside the mine but would rather not travel so far.

[@RCButterfly]

The company knew paying for coffins was cheaper than addressing the dangers in the current mining operation. Those bastards...

[@lewiemcneely9143]

So many disasters caused by greed. Following the yellow brick road. Good job. GBWYou!

[@allenhonaker4107]

Great documentary!!!! Another Penn. mine accident happened in 1963 and would make a great documentary.

[@577buttfan]

Awesome man..bituminous mines are massive.Any footage of what's left inside the mine.Equipment and so forth?

[@andyl2221]

Very good video

[@mottthehoople693]

an interesting trait of CH4 is the fact it can move against the incoming ventilation stream.

[@lokiwiseyt8608]

Could you do some ipswich mine disaster (Ipswich australia) Below I have listed some info and I will see if I can provide the source for this info 1893: First Eclipse Disaster. In the destructive floods of 1893, water entered the Eclipse Colliery at Tivoli and seven miners were drowned including Thomas and George Wright, sons of the owner. After the floods subsided, volunteers had to search the mine to recover the bodies as there was no trained rescue service. 1910: A Mines Rescue Brigade was established at the Ambulance headquarters at North Ipswich. A small Rescue Station was built five years later. 1918: Second Eclipse disaster, when miners accidentally broke though into a flooded tunnel and were drowned. 1919: Seven deaths in local area, including 2 at Redbank Mine and 3 at Cardiff. 1923: Crown land at Booval was acquired and a new Rescue Station was built. The cost of running the station was shared by the Mines Department, the State Government Insurance Office and Queensland Coal Owners Association. 1928: Redbank Disaster, three men killed. This was a major operation for the Mines Rescue Brigade and it proved the value of using breathing apparatus. The mine site was located in the vicinity of what is now Redbank Plaza. 1945: Four men killed in explosion at New Ebbw Vale No 3 mine at Woodend. 1946: Five miners killed in separate accidents in Ipswich region. 1949: A new Rescue Station (the current brick building) opened at Bundamba, near the Ipswich Racecourse. 1972: Box Flat Disaster, 17 men killed in a massive underground explosion. These included eight Rescue Brigade members. Another man died later as a result of his injuries. 1980: The last canary retired from the Mines Rescue Station. Caged birds were used to indicate lack of oxygen in mines (the birds did not die), but were replaced by gas detection apparatus. 1997: The last underground mine in the Ipswich region closed. There was no longer any need for a Mines Rescue Station and it also closed. Box Flat Memorial, Swanbank: This memorial beside Swanbank Road honours the miners who lost their life as the result of an underground explosion in the early hours of the morning on 31 July 1972. Former Mines Rescue Station, Brisbane Road Booval: The current building was constructed in 1949. It is now integrated with the modern buildings of Ross Llewellyn Motors.

[@jamesmichael3607]

Well done, even the edits, which means you strive for accuracy.

[@debbiekerr3989]

There was a horrible mine fire in Tower City I don't remember the year,,but it was in the early 1900 hundreds or late 1890s.110 lives were lost 😢 😢😢

[@wandaleister2091]

I did not know that. I'll have to check that out.

[@debbiekerr3989]

​@wandaleister2091 There's a report on the tragedy in the Pennsylvania Department of Mines in Harrisburg. I hope that you will be able to obtain more information there.

[@patriciaschuster1371]

Saw it on Channel 13 of PBS in Pittsburgh first.

[@dustinscheller7795]

You should do the Harwick mine disaster, not quite as bad but still terrible

[@rapman5363]

You did a fine job young man!! R.I.P. to the miners. ✝

[@wildplumbeauty]

Lesson learned: If the foreman says fix something do it.

[@franknielsen3562]

I enjoy watching all these video’s, because I grew up close to this place. I worked in the coal mines in 1971 in Cokeburg, Pa. I had a buddy, that left our mine and went to work for banning mine. I didn’t know all the history of the coal mines. I understand why my parents didn’t want me to work in the coal mines. It wasn’t that bad as the old miner’s had to work bad conditions and bad companies. There still we’re bad companies.

[@shenandoahreynolds6921]

Good job

[@josephgluz1339]

Dec 19 1907 It’s now 115 years since the Dreadful month of 1907, yet another year goes by and nothing is done.

[@brt-jn7kg]

Well done job young man very well done

[@Whats-It-To-Ya]

We've had far worse mining disasters here in Northeast PA. It's not a fun thing to talk about...

[@user-yo7iy8uc7z]

Good video

[@marciebalme588]

very good

[@kellyhamilton8272]

Great video If you would be interested in making a video of a mine explosion in ky 1982 That killed 7 all family My dad was the only one that survived he was out side he lost his son and 3 brother

[@drkarats6147]

Good stuff! ^_^

[@AnaFerreira-ry5bw]

This is really sad tragedy!!!!!!

[@drpoundsign]

You know...Actually...The Davy Safety Lamp (invented by Sir Humphrey Davy, who lived in the early 19th century) had a safety cage to enclose the flame. I've heard it was considered safer than electric lamps??

[@gt-lz2ct]

I wish someone would do an accurate video about the Winter Quarters/Scofield, Utah mining disaster on May 1, 1900 killing 200 men and boys. Castle Gate, Utah on March 8, 1924 killing 172 men.

[@anastyb]

Anyone remember Centralia Pennsylvania?

[@user-cm4bg7zz6e]

Wow so sad..to cheap to have safe mines..killing all those miners..horrible how family's had to live the rest of there lives without there husbands..sons..etc..etc..may they RIP...

[@josephgluz1339]

I’m from Jacobs Creek I have a DNA match to Samuel Krall JR. There are people in my family that are missing. Maybe it’s time we uncovered that mass grave to do DNA testing and find out just how many bodies are in that grave. We could do this in a respectful manner. That mine sight has nothing there but a small lump of granite as a marker, the Mellon family owned Pittsburgh Coal. We need a museum on that sight paid for by the Mellon family and millions in damages for this horrific loss of life.

[@Kid_Kootenay]

Wasn't there an exception for youth workers in mines breakers and trappers opening the doors for the carts?

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

While these were common places of employment for the youth, the need for greater pay for struggling families would push children to take a position within the mine themselves. While there were some crude laws of underage employment, they were ineffective at this time. Most companies turned a blind eye.

[@justinholoviak5357]

I mean no disrespect with this silly question. I just watched Indiana jones 4th movie. If you put yourself in a refrigerator just before the blast would that save you? The fridge tank move works for nuke protection. Though with no oxygen even if you survived the blast in your fridge you would certainly suffocate.

[@toddknight8897]

I was in darra mine I live in Dawson I would like to meet you I have lot info on darra

[@debbiekerr3989]

Where is the yakaganey? That's a river I've never heard of.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

The Youghiogheny is situated in Western PA. Its a tributary to the Monongahela River which is one of the 3 rivers that make up Pittsburgh. Towns such as Connellsville & McKeesport.

[@debbiekerr3989]

@@RedoubtProductions1754 Thank you I appreciate your taking the time to explain where this river is a located, ,sorry about the spelling.

[@donolbers9446]

Thanks, for years I have called it like it looks, "you-hio-gainy". No wonder nobody knew what I was saying.

[@bonniemoerdyk9809]

@@RedoubtProductions1754 ... as someone who has worked on my family tree for almost 20 years, much of it in PA, a big Thanks for letting me hear how the American Indian place names are pronounced!

[@djcheamor]

Would love to see more bigger pics than you (not saying anything wrong with You, just interested in the small pics you show while your face is showing). There were some good info I think but couldn’t make it out in my phone screen. Great job tho!

[@erin19030]

Coal mining was the white race version of slavery, at the greedy hands of our founding fathers profits. Don’t believe that? Read you history and see who got the coal fields for their financial support of the so called American Revolution. On that document that declared ourselves as a nation were signers who were gifted the best coal lands . One particular signer was a surveyor , who picked the best hard coal locations in Luzern county.

[@roxannepearls901]

There is no country called Hungaria. Are you referring to Hungary?

[@cw4608]

Latin for Hungary. Hungary, the name in English for the European country, is an exonym derived from the Medieval Latin Hungaria.

[@macinfloydvolk]

its called methane

[@FrankOceanGlazing]

Darr Mann strikes again!

[@MajorT0m]

Pennsylvania.... home of the pencil.

[@bonniemoerdyk9809]

😄

[@mikemhoon]

There’s no such place at Hungaria.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

???

[@mikemhoon]

@@RedoubtProductions1754 that’s what the narrator said.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

@@mikemhoon My apologies, I swore I had edited that out.

[@ladyjane9980]

Nice presentation, but why do you keep yelling?

[@folday6169]

Carpatho-Rusyns were mostly Greek Catholic, not Greek-Orthodox. They shared a common liturgy but were Slavic, not Greek.

[@macinfloydvolk]

they were ALL Americans bruh

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

Indeed many moved to America and called it there new home, but were not native to the Jacobs Creek-Van Meter region. Of course there were miners born and raised in West PA that died that day, but most of the casualties had come to the area had recently immigrated to the US. Particularly , Many lost in the Darr were from Hungary, but I have also found several that has immigrated from Italy.

[@macinfloydvolk]

@@RedoubtProductions1754 just giving us a hard time … I’m a son of a coal miner. When my father began in the mines he worked with lots of immigrants in Nemicolin, PA

[@Scorch-xw1br]

Da da da dar.. mm..m..m mine ok timmy

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

I would say good impersonation but I can't hear you so good day, safe travels.

[@jamesroyal1739]

I can listen to you easyer than I can look at you

[@ammaredcar]

that's not nice

[@barbaralippincott-lonsky8761]

What’s that about? He has done a great job!

[@felixthecleaner8843]

chin/neck beards with no moustache make someone look really weird/odd..... just sayin'.

[@rtrThanos]

Great documentary, but you should rethink showing yourself talking. No offense, but watching your talking head isn’t very entertaining. Showing yourself full-screen while cramming tiny pics of the event into the corner is a bit too narcissistic for someone with an Amish beard.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

I can concur about that 'talking head'. This was my first documentary, if you check out the more recent videos you'll see I feature myself less and less.