Introduced Version
Senate Resolution 23 History
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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 23
(By Senators Beach, D. Hall, Unger, Kessler (Mr. President),
Stollings, Cann, Williams, Fitzsimmons, Prezioso, Plymale,
McCabe, Wells and Miller)
Honoring the victims and survivors of the 1972 Blacksville Mine
Fire.
Whereas, On Saturday, July 22, 1972, at approximately 7:30
p.m., a mine fire broke out along the no. 3 North mains track of
the Blacksville no. 1 mine, located in Monongalia County; and
Whereas, The fire erupted when the continuous miner came into
contact with a trolley wire while the mine was idled for routine
maintenance and equipment moves; and
Whereas, The immediate attempts of Glen Cale, motor operator,
to extinguish the fire with a twenty-pound fire extinguisher were
unsuccessful. Cale and fellow motorman Frank Strakal attempted to
extinguish the fire with a one hundred fifty-pound fire
extinguisher, but were forced to abandon their efforts by thick
smoke; and
Whereas, There were a total of forty-three miners underground
at the time of the fire, but only thirty-four successfully escaped;
and
Whereas, The first rescue teams were not assembled and
prepared to enter the mine until 12:40 a.m. on July 23, 1972, but
roof falls restricted air flow causing the return airways to load
up with methane and the rescue teams were ordered to evacuate the
mine; and
Whereas, There was an explosion at 2:42 p.m. on July 23, 1972,
while rescue teams were evacuating the mine. All rescuers reached
the surface by 3:00 p.m., but two additional explosions occurred
leading to a determination to seal the mine; and
Whereas, The seals were breached on January 2, 1973, and the
bodies of the nine victims were recovered and taken to the surface,
but before the mine could be totally recovered the fire rekindled
and the immediate fire areas were resealed; and
Whereas, A withdrawal order issued by the U. S. Bureau of
Mines, prohibiting the removal of the seals without prior approval,
remains in effect; and
Whereas, Sadly, Terrance Stoneking of Mt. Morris, PA, perished
in the mine at age twenty-nine leaving behind a wife and daughter;
and
Whereas, Sadly, Frederick Phillips of Mt. Morris, PA, perished
in the mine at age forty-two leaving behind a wife, two daughters
and two sons; and
Whereas, Sadly, Conrad Belt of Morgantown, WV, perished in the
mine at age thirty-four leaving behind a wife, two daughters and two sons; and
Whereas, Sadly, Billy Murray of Morgantown, WV, perished in
the mine at age thirty-seven leaving behind a wife and two
daughters; and
Whereas, Sadly, Roy Sisler of Morgantown, WV, perished in the
mine at age twenty-four leaving behind a wife and son; and
Whereas, Sadly, Roy Dalton of Morgantown, WV, perished in the
mine at age forty-two leaving behind a wife, daughter and three
sons; and
Whereas, Sadly, Kenneth Haines of Westover, WV, perished in
the mine at age twenty-one leaving behind a wife and son; and
Whereas, Sadly, Robert Tressler of Westover, WV, perished in
the mine at age thirty-two leaving behind a wife, daughter and son;
and
Whereas, Sadly, Justin Beach of Morgantown, WV, perished in
the mine at age twenty-three leaving behind a wife and daughter;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby honors the victims and survivors of the
1972 Blacksville Mine Fire; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate hereby honors the memory of
the nine miners who perished in the Blacksville mine fire on July
22, 1972; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Blacksville Mine Memorial
Foundation.