Marianna Mine Disaster Victims
Bethlehem Mines Corporation Marianna No.58 Mine Explosion. For other non-fatal accidents see HERE.
1957 Disaster Victims
Robert Locket-
Thomas Williams-Scottish, Brakerman, Age 27, Married, 1 child
Alexander Behanna, age 30
John Beadling, age 52
Charles Austin, ?
John Beadling was Alex Behanna's step father-in-law. Charles Austin was his brother-in-law. Alex Behanna's son Charles Behanna later died in the "Kinloch Mine".
1908
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Stanley Collins, 56
George Demko, 56
George A. Harmuch, 44
Phillip R. Kornet, 43
Joseph Smith, 58
James Wright, 57
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1908
Pittsburgh Buffalo Company Marianna Mine Disaster Rachel and Agnes Mine.
Among the dead were 38 unidentified miners (mine companies did not record the name of foreigners in their employ. For instance, the 2nd body examined was simply check number 132. Other bodies could be identified by markings, such as tattoos).
Three men injured while working near the temporary tipples and scaffolding: Russell Michener, S.W. Vance, Joseph Santella. Source-Washington Observer.
1908 Disaster Victims
The only disaster survivor was Fred Ellwanger.
Owen Burns-Among the first to be recovered. Resident of McKeesport. Leaves a sister Kittie Burns.
George Aikens-
Allen Burlock-Age 24. Funeral Fairmont West Virginia (his father's home).
Peter Arnold-Italian, Bricklayer
Patrick Atkinson-American, Roadman, Age 40, Married, 2 children
Charles Austin-English, Driver, Age 21, Married
William Baleska-Loader, Single
Henry Beattie (Beatty)-American, Brakeman, Age 30, Married, 3 children
William Beetz-
John B. Beadling-4 children. Lived in Rostraver. Buried at Fells Cemetery. Wife Minerva Jane Brown (born Walters)
Alex Bosowich- Russian. Single. Buried in Ellsworth, Pa. 29.
Arthur Beevers-English, Brattice-man, Married, 3 children.
Alexander Behannan (Behanna?)-American, Motorman, 31, Married, 5 children, Buried Fells Church Cemetery in Fellsburg; Pa. His stone is in Fells, but his death certificate reads he's buried in Donora.
John Bennington-American, Laborer, Single,
J. B. Bennington-American, Coupler, Single (not sure if he is same as above)
George Bertilla-Italian, Loader, Single.
Frank P. Berry-
Richard Blat-
John Bormesky-
Angelo Brooks-Italian, Brake-helper, Married.
Philip Bruno-Italian, Brick helper.
Allen Burdock-American, Motorman, 26, Married, 1 child.
Owen Burns-American, Laborer, Age 21, Married, 1 child.
Philip Chescota-Loader, Single.
Michael Chromo-Russian, Loader Single.
Robert D. Crawford-American, Assistant mine foreman, Married, 2 children.
Michael Davis-Russian, Loader, Single, Instantly killed by explosion of gas. His parents names are not listed on his death certificate. Buried in Scenery Hill. 25 years old. Parents names are not listed on death certificate.
Patrick Donlin-
Frank Eagan-
Milton Eckenrod (Eckenwood)-American, Motorman. Married. 33. Buried Greensburg.
John Evans-Russian, Loader, Single. Buried at Scenery Hill. Wife Xenia Zlotnick (Buried at Erie, Eaoaun Bohoslov Cemetery). Two children, Jennie-d-1979 and John J. Evans-d-1980.
John Epnian-Polish, Cutter, Single.
John Friedhof-
John George-Italian, Loader, Single.
John Gerisma-Loader, Single.
Joseph Gresinger-
Mat Grisola-Loader-Instantly killed by gas explosion.
William Hale-American, Laborer, Age 35, Married, 8 children.
William Hall- ?
Cal Harden-
James Henderson-Scotch, Asst. Mine Foreman, Age 40, Married, 6 children.
Joseph Holmes-American, Motorman, Single.
John Jack Ivill-American, Wireman, Age 23, Married Edna Luella Willis on Nov 8th 1908, resided in Monongahela, employed as assistant machine boss. Death-suffocation. Cousin of John H. Jones. 2 child: Johnetta Virginia Ivill born soon after disaster on January 16th, 1909 (died June 8th, 1910). A son is listed as his but this would be impossible being he was born on September 26th, 1915 as Howard Elsworth Ivill and died January 12, 1916.
John A. Jacobsky-
Frank Jenkins-
Patrick King-American, Laborer
Frank Lapine-
Samuel Lipton-
Samuel Lifton-English, Road helper, Age 57, Married, 3 children
Robert Locket-
Alfred Maclain -?
Alfred MacKin- ? These two names may be same person listen in different newspapers with misspellings of last name.
Michael Maritson-Loader, Single
James Masinger-American, Roadman, Age 45, Married, 2 children
Thomas McDine-American, Brakeman, Married, 1 child
Charles McElroch-American, Road helper, Single
John McGorlie-American, Laborer, Single
Michael Meeson-Laborer, Killed. Struck by timbers that were thrown against him by force of the explosion. Outside.
J. H. Miller-American, Greaser, Single
Charles McElrath-
Henry Moyer-American, Wireman, Single
Bunnierman Osrey-
Peter Pewat-Russian, Loader/Cutter. Single.
John Pearce-
Valentine Phastanock-Loader, Single
William Platt-English, Laborer, Married, 1 child
Richard Piatt-English Laborer, Married, 1 child
Joseph Ponovach-Loader, Single
Joseph Powell-American, Motorman
Dominic Quagleiro-Italian, known as "Donegal". Identified by his tattoo markings.
Anton Ross-Italian, Brick helper, Single
Frank Rosells-Italian, Brick-helper
James Roule-American-Cager. Age 18.
William Roule-American, Laborer
Thomas Roule-American, Brakeman
Peter Rumbelty-Loader, Single
William Rumsky-Polish-Cutter,Single
Gustave Senkowish-Loader, Single
Frank Sertic-Slavonian, Loader, Married, 4 children
Mike Slovinshot-
Martin Sourtre-
Albert Sourtre-
Stephen Charles Bernarding- Electric Cranemen, Married to Emma Catherine Elizabeth. Buried Dec. 2 1908 at St. Joseph Cemetery, Pittsburgh. 2 children: Marie and Ellsworth. Marie went on to have 17 children, Ellsworth 2.
Phillip Traska-
Henry Thompson-The first body to be recovered.
Charles Taheney- The first body identified was made through a receipt for a magazine subscription. His name was Charles Taheney. (Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer (November 30th, 1908).
John Molazonet-
Richard Platt-Birthplace England. Bricklayer. Came to U.S. 4 months before disaster.
William Platt-Birthplace England. Bricklayer. Came to U.S. 4 months before disaster.
Alexander Smith-Russian, Cutter. Born 1873 in Russia. 25 years old. Parents unknown on Birth Certificate. Buried at Scenery Hill. Single.
Robert Spence-English, Laborer, Single
William Spence-English, Laborer, Single
Alex Stoorse?-Same person below?
Alex Skinski-34. Single. Born in Russia. Buried in Scenery Hill. Parents unknown on Birth certificate.
Charles F. Tahaney-Married. Age 40. Buried in Homestead. Parents unknown on death cert.
George Thomas-
William Thomas-American, Brakeman, Single
Frank Tony-Italian, Bricklayer, Single
Joseph Tonwkowish-Hungarian, Cutter, 20, Married, 1 child. Married in Ellsworth, Pa on January 8th, 1905 to Mary Garmik.
Michael Verbonitts-Italian, Laborer, Single
Thomas Williams-Scottish, Brakerman, Age 27, Married, 1 child
Clarence Williams-Age 31. Civil engineer. Single. Father David Williams, Mother-Larimer. Buried in Monongahela Cemetery. Born-1877.
Dominick Zuaglino (in old article last name is spelled as Quaylbers?): Italian. 33. Married. Birthplace Italy. Buried Phoenixville, Pa.
More names to come!
According to records there was a mass burial held at Scenery Hill Cemetery for the 1908 mine disaster. Many victims, like the 3 below, could not be identified due to injuries. Others were buried at Monongahela cemetery, Horne cemetery,other local cemeteries, and wherever families decided to take their bodies. For a full list of the dead see HERE.
Another source-HERE.
Horn Cemetery
(Marianna, Pa-West Beth Township)
Fred Ellwanger Born-1969 Died-1915
(only disaster survivor)
Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery
(Scenery Hill, Pa)
Unknown #14-Died-1908
Unknown #16-Died-1908
Unknown #17-Died-1908
Monongahela Cemetery
(Monongahela, Pa)
Fells Church Cemetery
(Fellsburg, Pa)
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| Credit Line: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-B2-1234] |
Dec 2, 1908 Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
The marker overlooks the beautiful Scenery Hill valley (below). In the distance is West Beth township. To the left -not seen in photo-is the top of the West Beth Hiking Trail from which one can see the spot I took this. Also to the left, 17.53 miles out, is Hatfield Ferry Power Station.
There were dozens of miners from the Marianna mine explosion who were unidentified. Many were buried in a mass grave here at the Scenery Hill cemetery behind the Mount Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The explosion that day, according to reports, was heard all the way to Scenery Hill and Beallsville.
On December 21st 1908-nearly one month after disaster-the buried victims in the Scenery Hill cemetery apparently were a cause for some trouble. It was feared that the burials would cause a disruption among stockholders which, at the time, would mean the organization of a new company and the laying out of a new cemetery.
In the Charleroi Mail newspaper (Vol. 9 111 page 1)it mentions the stockholders of the cemetery state they have no objection to the unfortunate miners having a decent but they allege some persons received a rakeoff in having the bodies buried here. They also allege that the Pittsburg-Buffalo company should have donated the ground on their own holdings for a cemetery. It was also stated that with exception of three persons every person connected with the cemetery is dissatisfied with having the burial made here.
Front row- far right-Alexander Lilly. This was taken at the Scenery Hill, men digging the mass grave.
Mount Calvary Cemetery in Scenery Hill to the left. This photo was taken Dec 21, 2019 from the top of the West Beth Hiking Trail.
Photographs from Bain News Service:
Marianna Mine Disaster-The Wrecked Tipple
IMAGE
Marianna Mine Disaster, Wrecked Tipple, LoC, ab Nov 28, 1908
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