The Cherry Mine Disaster

by Ken Ward Jr.

A postcard shows the ruins of the fan building at the Cherry Mine.

One hundred years ago tomorrow, 259 coal miners were killed in a fire at the Cherry Mine in Cherry, Ill.

This was one of four major mining disasters that claimed the lives of more than 1,000 workers in a two-year period, and helped lead to creation of the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1910.

Karen Tintori wrote a book, Trapped: The 1909 Cherry Mine Disaster, about the tragedy, and Jeff Biggers wrote a piece this week for The Huffington Post about the disaster. There’s also been coverage in the regional media, including the Peoria Star and the Chicago Tribune.

5 comments

1 rhmooney3 { 11.12.09 at 5:02 pm }: Nov. 13th 1909, disaster at Cherry IL. Coal mine.
In remembrance to the 259 miner’s who lost their lives I have assembled this video. (November 2006)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ7HSCuelBw
(6:27 minutes)

http://guitarjourney.tripod.com/cherrycoalminedisaster/
2 Casey { 11.12.09 at 6:40 pm }: Sad and interesting history. I have read and studied mining disasters but the Cherry tragedy had escaped me. Mooney, links were excellent. Other disasters here:
http://www.usmra.com/saxsewell/historical.htm
3 rhmooney3 { 11.12.09 at 11:15 pm }: A Coal Miner’s Story — Mike Babcanik’s Week Trapped Underground (1914)
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8698
4 Phil Smith { 11.13.09 at 8:33 am }: Great and moving video. Thanks for putting it together.
5 The Cherry Mine Disaster | The Church of Jesus Christ { 11.13.09 at 1:57 pm }: […] read the rest here The Cherry Mine Disaster. […]

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