The Valley Independent Dec. 19, 1989 A tragedy rembered by Elizabeth HORNE JACOBS CREEK MINE EXPLOSION KILLED 220 Only six days before Christmas in 1907, a fiery explsion claimed the lives of some 220 people, stunning residents of the Mid-Mon Valley area who were busy preparing for the holiday. The explosion at DARR MINE in Jacobs Creek occurred on Dec. 19, 1907 at approximately 11:50 a.m. No one at the time had any idea of the cause of the explosion at the Darr mines of the Pittsburgh Coal Company. The body of one of the victims was blown ot of the shaft and landed one mile from the mine entrance, according to reports in the Daily Independent in 1907. The superintendent, William KELVINGTON was reported to be in the mine at the time of the explosion. Rescue procedures were begun on the 19th but were hampered by water that appeared in the mine. Two pumps were installed on Dec. 21st to assist rescuers. A temporary morgue was set up in the blacksmith shop to hold those bodies found. Many were unidentifiable, as the bodies had been dismembered in the explosion. In addition to being mutilated some of the bodies were also scaled by water in the mine that reached the boiling stage in some places. Mine officials made arrangements for the burying of unidentified victims in Smithton. Miners from other area mines flocked to DARR MINE without waiting for instructions from officials. The first miner to enter the mine after the explosion was said to be Will MC COLLIGAN, Mc Colligan lost a brother to the explosion. He worked arduously to pull bodies from the mine. His unconscious body had to be taken from the shaft several times. By Dec. 31, 1907 he was reportedly staying at the home of his aunt, Mrs. George BIPPUS of 12th Street and Highland Avenue in Monessen in the hope of regaining his health. Not over 50 Americans were known to be dead according to a Dec. 23, 1907 report in the Daily Independent. Following the disaster the Merchants Association of Connellsville and New Haven started a movement for the relief of Darr mine disaster. President John MITCHELL of the United Mine Workers of America telegraphed from Indianapolis authorizing district officials to draw upon the national treasury for $1,00 for families of the victims. Francis L. ROBBINS, president of the Monongahela River Consolidated Coal and Coke Company, also attending a conference in Indianapolis, telegraphed instructions to start a relief fund, offering $100 himself and reported subscriptions of a dozen other operators to him of $10 to $20 each. Many of the wives and children of the victims needed passage back to their home countries since they had lost their only source of livelyhood. John SEIBERT of McKeesport who lost two brothers in the disaster told reporters in a Dec. 21, 1907 article that there were at least 50 former McKeesport residents, principally HUNGARIAN in the mine. In reverence to the dead miners, a saloon in close proximity closed on Dec. 20. The final count of deceased in what was nicknamed the "DARR DEATH PIT" reached 220 by Monday Dec. 30, 1907 cheryl BALOG wenberg