DEC. 6, 1907
At 10:20 am., explosions occurred at the No. 6 and No. 8 mines at Monongah, West Virginia. The explosions ripped through the mines at 10:28 a.m., causing the earth to shake as far as eight miles away, shattering buildings and pavements, hurling people and horses violently to the ground, and knocking streetcars off the rails. Three-hundred and sixty-two men and boys died. It remains the worst mine disaster in U.S. history. Over 3,200 miners were killed on the job in U.S. mines in 1907 because mining companies persistently disregarded recognized safety practices.
~ Voices of Labor