Clinton Courier July 17, 1958 Three Miners Crushed To Death In Slate Fall Near Briceville Victims Trapped Under Avalanche By Curwood Garrett (News Editor) Page 1 Hillrey Olvey, 48, tapped the roof of the cold dark Braden Flat mine near Briceville deep in a hillside on Gray's Gap Mountain and exclaimed "Ain't that good". But the roof wasn't good. In almost that same split second an estimated 75 tons of slate broke loose, crushing three miners to death and injuring three others. It was one of the area's worst mine disasters. The dead: Hillrey Olvey, Briceville Rt.1 Columbus Parks, 57, Lake City Rt.2 Luther(Luke) Parks, 53, Lake City Rt.2, brother of Columbus. H.C. Bryant of Lake City, foreman of the mine, said "About three minutes before the tragedy nine of us were standing under the roof that caved in "When the roof gave way there was not the slighest noise.But when the slate fell there was a sickening roar. The men never had a chance. For hours 15 rescue workers toiled in the darkness and in the glemmer of mining lamps to find the battered torn bodies of the victims. The accident occurred about 2:15 p.m. Saturday. Mr. Olvey was the first victim to be brought out of the mine. The body pf Luke Parks was brought to the surface at 6:30 p.m. The body of Mr. Parks brother, Columbus, was recovered at 7:30 p.m. although rescue workers had predicted that it might be as late as mid-night before the body could be brought out. Bryant said the mine had been Federally inspected about six weeks ago. "The reported showed that we had bad air problem that needed corrected" Page 6 3 Miners Killed As Roof Collapses Lige Braden, one of the rescue workers said grimly: "There must be at least 75 tons of slate on the men." We have been unable so far to locate the body of Columbus Parks, but we know he is buried somewhere under the fall." An Oliver Springs miner, Elmo Jones, said he was working a few feet from the trapped men. "The first thing I remember I was standing outside of the mine. The slate fail made a big racket." Although the mine ordinarily is not in operation on Saturday, the mine foreman said the men were being used in clean-up operations in preparation for work Monday. The miners had gone into the mine about 10 a.m.. The cave-in occurred about 1,200 feet from the mine entrance. The mine extends another 800 feet."All our tools were buried in the cave-in." Bryant said "and we had to go after more tools before we could start rescue operations. Relatives of the trapped miner stood tragically near the mine entrance awaiting word from the workers below. Hundreds of sightseers poured into the area. Highway patrolmen and sheriff's officers from Clinton stopped traffic about three miles from the mine. Ambulances and rescue workers had to make their way over a dangerous, muddy road to the mine entrance. For Dow Williams, of Lake City, it marked his first day on the job.He was slightly hurt. Falling slate struck him on the shoulder. John Henley, mine superintendent, who was in the mine when the trafedy occurred but escaped injury, said the men were in engaged in "robbing operations" prenaratory to abandoning the mine. There was no warning of the slate fall. The rescue workers, grimy with swaet and coal dust, said it was the worst tragedy in the mine's 20 year history. Injured in the cave-in were Luke Wright, 43, Dowell Williams 38, and Oscar Harris 48, all of Lake City. Wright was treated at Community Hospital in Lafollette for arm lacerations and a sprained leg. He was released from the hospital. Rescuers said a slab of slate approximatley 40 feet long fell on the men. The victims were crushed almost beyond recognition. A doctor stood by at the mine entrance and quickly examined each victim. Incidentally. Mr. Olvey's two brother, Ed and Oscar, were killed in an explosion at Cross Mountain Mine Dec. 9, 1911. That tragedy the worst in the area's history, cost the lives of 82 other miners. Only five escaped death. The mine produced about 80 tons of coal daily and 10 miners were usually employed in its operations. A high-voltage electric power line which ran into the mine presented a new hazard for hundreds of person milling about the area. Officers cautioned the crowd to stay clear of the uncovered line.It ran alongside the track into the mine. It was the fifth time he had helped in mine rescue operations,. "Luke and Columbus Parks had only been working at the mine for two weeks. "The men didn't have a chance." said E.C. Vandergriff section foreman at the Windrock Mine about 16 miles from here. The mine had been closed for the past two weeks while the 10 workers in the gang had vacationed nine of them returned to the mine this week to do clean-up work. The tenth miner, Buck Austin, did not work Saturday. The mine, owned by Norris Police Chief, Virgil McKamey is located about nine miles from Briceville high top a mountain range. Among those assisting in the rescue work were J. E. Sisson of Oliver Springs, assistant state inspector, and John Bradshaw. A double funeral was held Monday for the Park's brothers at the Clear Branch Baptist Church. Burial was in Leach Cemetery. Survivors of Mr. Columbus Parks include his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Betty Foust of Oak Ridge, three sons, James Everett and Louis Lonnie Parks of Lake City and Airman Third Class Aiden Don Parks, brother, Floyd Parks, Lake City, three sisters, Mrs. Ella Martin, Mrs. Lee Dew and Mrs. Minnie Martin of Lake City. Luther Parks is survived by his wife, Edna Parks, son , Frank, stepdaughter, Mrs. Maxie Lambdin of Detroit, brother, brother, Floyd Parks of Lake City, and three grandchildren. Funeral services for Mr. Olvey were held Tueday at Walden's View Baptist Church. Burial was in Circle Cemetery. He is survived by his wife and three children, Lemen, Gillette and Lenton and four sisters, Mrs. Stella Page, Mt. Vernon, Mrs, Willie Hankins, Chicago, Mrs. Maggie Bennett, Knoxville, Mrs. Neil Butcher, Clinton and foster mother, Connie Jeffres, Chicago. Martin Funeral Home in Lake City was in charge of all three funerals.