The Twin Shaft Disaster happened within the workings of the Twin Shaft Colliery, of the Newton Coal Co on June 28, 1886. 58 Men and boys perished when a “giant squeeze” happened in the Red Ash coal vein a little over 400 feet below. Pillar Robbing was taking place and for the weeks preceding the event, popping and cracking sounds could be heard throughout the section. The colliery superintendent ordered more timber and props be installed, but this was not enough to support the weight of the earth above and all at once a 200 acre section of the mine collapsed forever entombing the miners. Rescue attempts would be made, but hope faded as some days progress was as little as 20 feet through the broken and crumbled earth. No survivors or bodies were ever recovered from one of the deadliest mining accidents in the state. Today, at this site, a historical marker at the site is the only reminder of the disaster that took place here is Pittston. In 2010, the shaft was filled in, and all concrete foundations demolished and the land graded. The shaft was located near the intersection of Main Street and Union Street within the railroad yard.
Photos from Steve Hay showing the remains of the site before reclamation in 2010.
MEN BURIED ALIVE ON JUNE 28, 1896
Michael J Langan, Survived by a wife and ten children
Michael T Lynott, Survived by a wife and seven children
Robert Haston, Single
Daniel Ward, Survived by a wife and three children
Alexander T McCormick, Survived by a wife and nine children
Thomas Tenpenny, Survived by a wife and four children
James Wall, Survived by a wife and eight children
James Costello,Survived by a wife and seven children
Thomas Wall, son of above James
M.J. Burke
Patrick Kelly
Michael Gaughan, Single
John Hart, single
Michael Connell, Single
James Burke, Single
Frank Kehoe, Single
John Kehoe, Widower
Thomas Barrett, Single
James Daly, Single
James McDonald, Survived by a wife and three children
Edward Delaney, Survived by a wife and four children
Cornelius McGuire, Survived by a wife and two children
Thomas O’Brien, Survived by a wife.
James Golden
Michael Hughes, Survived by a wife and one child
Edward Gildea, Survived by a wife and five children
Patrick Ruane, Survived by a wife and eight children
John Gaffney,
Thomas Gaffney, Survived by a wife and six children
Thomas Duhigg
Anthony Kane
Thomas Murphy, widower, no children
Owen Lee, Single
Anthony Gordon, Survived by a wife and two children
Dominick O’Malley, single
Peter Martin, Survived by a wife and one child
Michael Ford, Survived by a wife and no children
Timothy Derrig, single
Thomas Carden, Survived by a wife and one child
Martin Gilbride, single
John Gill, Survived by a wife and two children
John O’Boyle, Survived by a wife and two children
Peter Joyce, Survived by a wife
Sylvester Doover, Survived by a wife and no children
Patrick Bolin, single
Anthony Coveloski
Anothony Nohenskie
John Zerinda
Andrew Slovinski
John Highstruck
Adam Zmoidan?
Simon Mosock
Frank Shevskie
Peter Bukoskie
John Cardarnis
Anothy Teleskie
Mathias Teleskie
Peter Zavatskie