Death Comes a Knocking – Willow Grove, Ohio 1940

DEATH COMES A KNOCKING

What is this mystery that men call death?
My friend before me lies; in all save breath
He seems the same as yesterday. His face
So like to life, so calm, bears not a trace
Of that great change which all of us so dread
But sleeps; and soon he will arise and take
Me by the hand. I know he will awake
And smile on me as he did yesterday;
And he will have some gentle word to say
Same kindly deed to do; for loving thought
Was warp and woof of which his life was wrought.
He is not dead. Such souls forever live
In boundless measure of the love they give.

By: Jerome B. Bell – 1940

WILLOW GROVE MINE – ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO
March 16, 1940

MINE LOCATION

The Willow Grove Mine which has long been closed was once nestled deep in a valley beside a tumbling little stream in Belmont County, Ohio. It was located twelve miles west of Wheeling, West Virginia, and four miles south of St. Clairsville. The mine was surrounded by tiny mining communities.

FRANK OPATRNY

When death came knocking at the door of Hanna Coal Company’s No. 10 Mine at Willow Grove, twenty-four year old Czech-born Frank Opatrny described it as a big whoosh. “The noise wasn’t loud, but the force of the blast tore doors off their hinges and smashed supporting girders like they were matches,” he said. Deaths icy fingers entombed more than seventy men in a matter of seconds at eleven o’clock on Saturday morning, March 16, 1940. Opatrny was the first man to walk from the mouth of the tipple after the explosion. “They’re all dead. . . . They couldn’t live through that blast,” he whispered sadly.

“I was working on a motor near the junction of 22 South and the Main haulage way, Frank Opatry said. “The blast crashed down the tunnel and knocked me off the motor flat on the ground filling my eyes and mouth full of dust. I was working with six men about three miles from the tipple. After the blast we huddled together and stayed where we were. In a few minutes Charley Naylor, the assistant mine superintendent came along and led us to the tipple mouth,” Opatrny said.

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT TOURS THE WILLOW GROVE MINE

On May 21, 1935, the miner’s at Willow Grove defied the superstition that if a woman went inside a coal mine it brought bad luck. They gave the First Lady of the Land, Eleanor Roosevelt who was eager to obtain first-hand knowledge on mining methods, a grand tour of their mine. “It’s to clean to be a coal mine,” she declared. Mrs. Roosevelt donned a miner’s hard hat and an old grey coat for her two-mile tour. She seated herself in the first car of a six-car train, and no doubt waved or spoke to some of the miners who would later lose their lives. Willow Grove was looked upon as a model mine, and one of the safest in the nation. Yet not even five years later a death-dealing blast snuffed out the lives of seventy-three men. Mrs. Roosevelt was visiting in Pittsburgh at the time of the disaster. She expressed her regrets as she recalled her visit to the mine.

PROPHETIC SIGN LED TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE MINE

Motorman Steve Olexa was leaving 19 north at the south junction with a loaded trip and was enveloped in a cloud of dust and smoke when the blast occurred. He gave the motor full power before he lost consciousness. At the outside loop the trolley pole flew off and the trip coasted back into the mine about nine-hundred feet. Mine Superintendent John Richards and Outside Tipple Foreman Howard Sanders were near the entry when the explosion occurred. They rushed into the mine with two other outside men. The outside men brought the motorman and the trip out and revived Olexa. Richards and Sanders continued on into the mine looking for other victims, but were overcome by deadly afterdamp. Their bodies were the first to be brought out.

When news of the blast reached the people of Belmont County more than three-thousand people rushed to the scene blocking highways and delaying ambulances and rescue workers. So, an army of Ohio highway patrolmen was deployed to guard all roads leading to the mine entrance. Only vehicles carrying supplies or rescuers were permitted to pass. Sheriff Howard Duff and his deputies were also at the scene to assist.

SALVATION ARMY LASSIES SERVE COFFEE

Weary rescue crews moved against the deadly black damp with their nostrils clamped in oxygen masks and their eyes covered with goggles using picks, shovels, and drills in an attempt to reach the trapped men. As workers passed in and out of the main entrance of the mine, they would whisper softly, “We haven’t reached them yet.” Fires blazed throughout the night to fight off the chill as tragic-faced women and children held vigil.

SAD FACED WOMEN WAIT FOR NEWS.

Eight canaries who were poor singers were caged at the Hanna Coal Company offices by the miners who had scoured the countryside to find them. The chirp of the yellow bird was a strange contrast to the gloom that hung in the air. The canary bird organs are much more sensitive than a human’s organs, and the birds were used to detect poisonous gases. Canaries reacted to explosive methane gas faster than the tiny gasoline safety light used at that time. The birds were also used to detect black damp which is carbon dioxide and after damp which is carbon monoxide. The yellow songsters commanded great respect because they were designated as martyrs to save the lives of men who explored shattered mine passages searching for survivors.

LOADING SAFETY LIGHTS

Safety experts of the US Bureau of Mines load rescue equipment as they prepare to leave Pittsburgh for the disaster scene at the Willow Grove Mine.

JOHN FREIBERG AND HIS FAMILY

Twenty-three men escaped death by collapsing from exhaustion. Soon after the blast the men started their three-mile trek plodding along the track toward the entrance of the mine. When they had walked about a mile drowsiness from the gas, began to take its toll, and every step became a little more difficult. The first man fell a mile from the entrance. Two miners grabbed him by his arms dragging him as they stumbled toward the entrance. John Grady Vechezone fell to the ground and cut his head. He managed to pull himself along with hands that soon became bloody. Frank Bakosh and Harold Stullenberger stopped often to wash the faces of the fallen with water from their dinner buckets to revive them. They were among the last to lose consciousness. The last victim they assisted was John Friedberg. Stullenberger fell over John’s body. He was conscious, but exhausted. He could hear Bakosh repeating “What’s a matter Stoney. What’s a matter.” Then he heard Bakosh fall. Nearly five hours passed before the rescue crew reached the men who were all prone. A first aid expert said none would have survived if they had been in a sitting position. Passing out saved their lives as the only good air was on the ground.

JOHN DEMOPOLIS
Picture courtesy of granddaughter: Kathi Wiley

Greek immigrant, John Demopolis was one of the victims of the Willow Grove disaster. He was born on the Isle of Crete on January 1, 1886, and came to America seeking a better lifestyle. His bride, Despina Spadidakis was an arranged marriage. She was also from Crete, and was born May 1, 1894. John left to morn him a wife and five children: Gus, Helen, Mary, and twins Irene and Angelo.

The Hanna Company from Cleveland, Ohio bought the Willow Grove Mine in 1931. In less than a decade they installed machinery which updated the mine to one of the best equipped mines in the state. At the time of the disaster about seven-hundred men were on the payroll, and for several years the mine worked three shifts.

The Ohio Compensation Department insured all the Hanna Coal Company men, and a spokesman said the disaster would be one of the biggest jobs the department had handled in years. According to the department widows would receive about sixty-five hundred dollars.

The Bureau of Mines declared the explosion to be caused by an excessive shot of black powder which stirred up “bug dust” and coal dust and ignited a flame. Gas at the face of the mine, and black powder in a storage box added to the impact of the explosion. Rock dust had been applied only to the main haulageway. Water was not used to settle coal dust. Willow Grove was classed as a non-gassy mine, and they didn’t employ a fire boss. The section foremen had flame safety lamps. The company had a creditable safety record with an active safety program, so this type of disaster was not imagined.

DOCTOR HARRY L. DRUMMOND

Things didn’t always run perfectly in the Hanna Mine. When something went wrong, they called Doctor Drummond who investigated, and phoned the machine shop for parts or assistance. A cutting machine on the C-2 Crew developed a “sore throat,” so in this picture Doctor Drummond is calling the shop to rush him a new part to put the machine back in working order.

Harry L. Drummond didn’t die in the mine disaster. He was born in Neffs on June 5, 1897, and he died in Bellaire June 9, 1977. The entry portal of the WIllow Grove mine has been sealed, and the shower house and office were torn down in the year 2000.

It was told a marker was erected to immortalizing the canaries who died in the rescue attempts of that disaster, but Harry granddaughter, Patty has never found any record proving that a monument was erected. If anyone has information about the canaries please contact me by e-mail at the bottom of the page. The information and picture was supplied by Harry Drummond’s granddaughter,Patty Drummond-Jenkins.

Joseph Chirik, also escaped dying in the explosion. He was scheduled to work the afternoon shift, and the mine blew up at eleven o’clock. When his son, Joe graduated from Bellaire High School his dad told him he’d rather he moved away than work in the mines. He took his advice. In 1983, Joe and his father attended a remembrance that was held for the miners who died.

CECIL & CLARA GRAHAM-GRIMES

CECIL GRIMES DEATH LEAVES EMPTY HEARTS BEHIND

Cecil Grimes rose early to prepare for work at the Willow Grove Mine. Just before leaving, he quietly slipped into the bedroom to kiss his wife, Clara (Graham) goodbye. He told her it had snowed that night, and to look out her window at the beauty left behind when she got up. He said “I love you,” and walked across the threshold of his home for the last time as he departed for work. He not only left Clara behind, but also their four children, William Cecil age eight, Constance age seven, Ronald age five, and Columbine age three. Clara and Cecil were both twenty-nine years old.

Clara’s twin sister, Sarah was married to Glen Dickerson who escaped death. He worked the midnight shift, and was leaving work as Cecil arrived. Clara’s youngest sister, Marjorie was not so lucky. Her husband, Johnny Sklenica worked day shift on that fateful day when death came knocking. He died along with Cecil and seventy other miner’s when the mine blew at eleven o’clock that morning.

Until her death in 2000, Clara often talked about what a loss Cecil was to the family. She said along with God’s help she picked up the pieces of their lives and did the best should could by their children. His death left an empty hole in their hearts that no one could ever fill.

Submitted by daughter, Constance Grimes McNeal and great-grandaughter, Dana Ann McNeal.

WILLOW GROVE CLAIMS SEVENTY-TWO LIVES

Name	Age	address
Mike August	40	Lafferty
Robert Bakosh	32	Neffs
Cap Benson	50	Willow Grove
Charles Bobak	47	Neffs
Martin Bobka	28	Neffs
George Bringmann	24	Bellaire
Charles L. Carroll	50	St. Clairsville
John Celuch	46	Fairpoint
David Chini	27	Bannock
Elmer Clark	46	Stewartsville
Emilio Dalpiaz	47	Lafferty
Joseph Dalpiaz	38	Lafferty
Constantino Daroma	53	Neffs
Ray Davis	50	Bridgeport
John Demkowics	37	Neffs
John DeMopolos	54	Neffs
Frank Dopkiss	36	Maynard
Albert Eastham	36	Neffs
Russell Fendon	37	Neffs
Walter France	50	St. Clairsville
George Fulton	29	Warnock
William Gardner	57	St. Clairsville
Andrew Garek	53	Midway
John Gargola	37	Stewartsville
Cecil W. Grimes	29	St. Clairsville
Joe Hess	43	Neffs
Andy Hobart	41	Midway
Lawrence Hrabak	46	Maynard
Wayne Hynes	29	St. Clairsville
Cornelius Jobes	25	St. Clairsville
Mitchell Jobes	44	Midway
Albert Kanopsic	33	St. Clairsville
Paul Kasarda	46	Midway
Garrett Kelley	38	Willow Grove
Harry Klee	38	Neffs
John Knapski	38	Bannock
Joseph W. Kresach	45	Fairpoint
Emmett Krotkay	38	Neffs
Paul Kulevich, Jr.	27	Willow Grove
Charles Lupi	42	Belliare
John Marks	33	Neffs
Ross McFadden	54	Neffs
John McFetridge	37	Stewartsville
John Miketo	45	Belmont
Earl Pack	30	Neffs
Frank Pasco	49	Neffs
Mark Passmore	52	Glencoe
Edwin Patterson	34	Bellaire
Phillip Paytash	30	Lafferty
Steve Petran	54	Neffs
Mike Pokerino	30	Bannock
Joe Prosek	30	Bellaire
John H. Richards	44	St. Clairsville
Joe Riddle	52	St. Clairsville
Pete Rinkes	36	St. Clairsville
Joseph Roque	45	St. Clairsville
Louis Roque	42	St. Clairsville
Andy Rudol	34	Neffs
Howard Sanders	52	St. Clairsville
Mike Serdula	62	Midway
William Schittek/Schiller	38	Neffs
Andy Sklenicka	26	Fairpoint
John Sklenicka	24	Fairpoint
Walter Slater	29	Bannock
Ralph Sutton	40	St. Clairsville
Paul L. Taylor	28	St. Clairsville
Andy Valocik	31	Neffs
Rudolph Vrba	47	Belliare
James Warfield	58	Neffs
Stanley Wasielewski	52	Lafferty
Clarence Wiggans	35	Bellaire
Ed Zaleski	26	Neffs

Three days after the mine disaster, two of the men listed as missing reported to the mine office. Charles Klusky, age 35 of Fairpoint and Clarence Gillespie, age 30 of St. Clairsville. Neither of the men reported for work that fateful day, but their lamps were missing so it was assumed they worked that day.

The Bureau of Mines declared seventy-two men died in the explosion. According to their records sixty-six men died by burns and violence, three by burns and after-damp, two attempting the rescue of the trapped miners, and one man died six days after the accident from the effects of after-damp. However, in my research I found only seventy-one names listed, so I am assuming the man who died later was not listed.

Finally, the last piece of the puzzle was supplied by James G. Boyle from St. Clairsville. He has a laminated program from a Memorial Tribute that was held on March 13, 1983 for those who lost their lives in the mine explosion. The UMWA dedicated a plaque which was to be hung at the District 6 headquarters in Dilles Bottom. It listed all 72 names. Paul L. Taylor was the name of the miner I didn’t have on my list.

Richard L. Trumka, who was International President of the UMWA in 1983 was a speaker at the memorial to remember the victims of Willow Grove. On February 22, 1983, he made this statement before Congress. The United Mine Workers of America insist that every death in coal mining is a tragedy, every injury a calamity, and every occupationally-induced disease a disgrace. Each death, injury, and disease is avoidable. The UMWA will not accept a continuation of the tragedies of the past. We demand a safe and healthful work place.

The heyday of underground mining has almost vanished just like most of the mining towns that once hummed with activity. However, “Black Lung” is still claiming victims. My dad, and my father-in-law both died of complications to that awful disease. There are still some underground mines operating such as the Quecreek Mine at Somerset, PA. In June of 2002 nine miners were trapped inside that mine. They were a mile and a half inside the flooded mine treading water for seventy-seven hours. The Nation rejoiced when all nine were rescued. It was about time for a sucess story.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

GEORGE THOMAS FULTON DEAD AT AGE 29

My brother, George Thomas Fulton was one of 72 miners killed at the Willow Grove mine. He was named for his uncle, George Thomas Fulton, who died at home in the fullness of his years at age 84, on Friday, the day before the coal mine explosion on Saturday, that killed my brother, age 29. He was survived by his wife, Verna, and daughter, Sue Lane, age two.

On the following Monday our family attended Uncle George’s funeral not knowing the fate of my brother. His body was brought out on Wednesday. Identification was difficult, but was done by my father, James M. Fulton, my oldest brother, James H. Fulton, and my mother, Martha Hensley Fulton who insisted on helping with the identification. Mother was a remarkably strong woman who raised ten children.

Sometime in the early 1930’s my father had bought one of the vacant miner’s houses owned by the operator of the Elinor mine in Warnock, Ohio, which closed in the 1920’s. The house was dismantled and moved by horse and wagon to a location on the family farm where it was rebuilt for George and his new bride, Verna Neff Fulton. George quit the mines to run the farm. However, he went back to work at Willow Grove to pay off some furniture that they had bought for their new home. George handed in his notice to quit just two weeks before the explosion. Life does take tragic turns at times.

The happy life of ten children growing up on the farm with their parents was altered forever by George’s death. Verna died two years ago and their daughter, Sue Fulton Johnson, retired recently as a Nurse from the Ohio Valley Medical Center. She has no recollection of this sad event.

George was a gifted person. He was a very good athlete especially as a baseball player. Often, while playing right field, he would charge the ball on what should have been a clean single to right and would throw out the runner at first base. Once, in a pick-up football game, he got his leg fractured, but went to work for a week before going to the doctor to have it cast. Sadly, the peculiarity of the broken leg aided in his identification after the explosion. George bought a mandolin through the Sears catalogue and taught himself to read music and to play. He became pretty good at it too. I can still visualize him practicing.

George had a sunny disposition, a beautiful smile, and a devilish sense of humor. He was very kind to children (a trait I have always used to judge people) and he taught the young men’s Sunday school class at our local church. When I was four years old, I severely sprained an ankle and could not walk. I really wanted to go to the Belmont County Fair so George carried me on his shoulders all afternoon at the fair.

A favorite memory of him is of him playing on his living room rug with his baby daughter, Sue. He will always be remembered as he was at 29, in the prime of his life. I have often wondered how he would have looked at age 84 (as I watch my own reflection age in the mirror) but that was denied us by his premature death.

Submitted by: brother, Bill Fulton

SOURCE AND NOTES

Source: Information sent to me by Archivist Jane DeMarchi who is employed by the Beckley, WV Mine Safety and Health Administration. Newspapers: The Columbus Citizen, Columbus Evening Dispatch, Columbus Evening Post, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Wheeling Intelligencer, Bellaire Daily Leader, The Wichita Eagle. The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Mines. Kathi Wiley, granddaughter of victim John Demoplis, James G. Boyle who lives in St. Clairsville.Informaiton on Cecil Grimes given by daughter, Constance Grimes McNeal and great-grandaughter, Dana Ann McNeal, Information on George Thomas Fulton by brother, Bill Fulton.

Notes: Methane gas – colorless, odorless, flammable, gaseous alkane present in natural gas and formed by decomposition of vegetable matter in mines. After-damp – An asphyxiating gas which is carbon monoxide that is left in a mine after an explosion of firedamp. Black-damp – Suffocating gas, a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen which occurs in mines.

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Related Articles:

Peter Joseph Rinkes, Jr. killed at Willow Grove (pdf) submitted by his granddaughter Margaret Ruth (Peggy) Gummere.