26-04-2025
College women die in gas explosion in coal mine in 1887
Minnie M. Keiter invited a college friend, Verlista Shaul, home to Saint Clair on Easter break in 1887.
Both were students at Vassar College, a prestigious institution of higher education for women — only the second in the U.S. to grant degrees to women at the time.
They were seniors, scheduled to graduate in six weeks. Miss Shaul was the valedictorian of the Class of 1887.
Miss Shaul had heard stories about the anthracite coal mines in her classmate's hometown. The natural curiosity of an intelligent young woman demanded that she visit one.
It was not unusual in the day for women to tour a coal mine. Indeed, Minnie had been in mines, and was anxious to show one to her friend.
Arranging a tour was no problem. Mr. Hiatt, a principal in the mining firm of Thompson, Hiatt and Co., lived next door and was glad to oblige the request.
Harry Short, a popular young man, considered it his duty to accept when asked to escort the young women. Edwin Thompson, brother of the company's senior partner, agreed to act as guide during a visit to the mine.
A new mine on the Chamberlain tract, it had not been worked for four days. It was not in operation on April 16, the day chosen for the tour, and there was no danger from mining operations.
'Down the street they walked, gay and smiling,' Walter S. Farquhar, a Pottsville Republican columnist, wrote in his Musings column.
On the way, the party met a friend of Mr. Short who had wanted to be taken into a mine. The friend declined an invitation to join the party, however, saying he had no protective clothing.
It was about 3:30 p.m. when the party entered the mine.
'Miss Shaul smiled when she saw the dinky little cars, and laughed when she was bundled into one,' Farquhar wrote. 'She may have felt a tremor as the car was lowered down the incline and darkness closed in all about.'
At the bottom of the slope was the Little Tracy vein, and the party disembarked to walk a short distance into the tunnel. They were met by Edwin Thompson, who led them through the tunnel to the Big Tracy vein.
Thompson walked ahead, about 150 yards or so, to a door about 150 yards from the mine's face.
'It was then that Miss Shaul saw a strange sight,' Farquhar wrote. 'It seemed to be a ball of fire coming from in front, just as the rising sun comes up, but red and angry like the setting sun.'
Look, what's that light coming up, Miss Shaul asked.
'Quick,' shouted an experienced miner accompanying the party. 'Fall on your faces in the gutter.'
Daniel Thompson, a senior partner working in another part of the mine, felt a strong rush of air and immediately recognized what had happened — there had been a gas explosion.
With others, he rushed to the area where the party had been, well aware that rescue work had to be done before the setting in of deadly afterdamp, a mixture of gases that follows an explosion.
Miss Keiter was found, bleeding but conscious. Harry Short was unconscious. Miss Shaul was found next, alive but badly injured. Edwin Thompson was alive, but lapsed into unconsciousness.
Dr. A. P. Carr was called to the scene.
Miss Keiter died that night. Mr. Short died three days later. A disfigured Miss Shaul hovered between life and death for two months. Only Mr. Thompson survived.
'Strong men wept whenever they recalled the accident,' Farquhar wrote. 'There have been mine disasters in which many more persons lost their lives, but none was more unique or more fearfully recalled.'
The Saint Clair Splinter, a weekly newspaper, called the accident the most distressing and intensely sad item of local news the paper had ever published.
Walter Farquhar simply called it the 'Chamberlain horror.'
