Wilkes-Barre Record headline on May 28, 1926
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Wood timbers caught fire inside the mine vein known as the 11-foot vein of the Mount Lookout Colliery owned by the Temple Anthracite Coal Co in Wyoming on May 27, 1926.
Sixty three miners were deep in the vein when the fire broke out about 8 a.m., about three hours after their 12-hour shift began.
“Smoke from yellow pine timbers led to the discovery of the fire by men working at the head of the shaft. They immediately called the engine house and an investigation revealed the blazing timbers in the 11-foot vein,” reported the Wilkes-Barre Record on May 28, 1926.
Fortunately for the 63 miners, Assistant Mine Foreman Thomas Hislop was on scene.
Hislop knew every inch of the mine as he worked at the colliery for nearly 30 years.
“It was Hislop’s knowledge of the mines and his great experience that made the rescue of the mine workers possible,” the Record reported.
Hislop, who lived at 75 Ninth St., Wyoming, immediately went below and knew the miners had a short amount of time as the air current would push the thick black smoke in their direction.
“Without hesitating, with every minute precious, the plucky mine foreman plunged through the burning timber with only his thoughts on saving the 63 miners,” reported the Record.
Joining Hislop in the rescue effort was his son, Robert Hislop, 21, who ran into the burning mine with his father.
“The only method was to keep some section of the mine free of smoke in order that the workers might find refuge from the hot, blistering, suffocating atmosphere. Hislop followed by his boy dashed into the burning mine that caused their lungs to burn and eyes blinded,” the Record reported.
After running through the fire and thick blinding smoke, Hislop and his son reached a gang of miners and then another gang, keeping them together as not to create panic. On the surface, firefighters from Wyoming, West Pittston, Forty Fort and Kingston arrived and dropped 500 feet of a single hose pulled into the mine to extinguish the blaze.
The Record reported Hislop had previously dealt with a mine fire in the same mine 14 years earlier and was aware when water hit the flames, it would create more smoke. Hislop instructed each miner to wet their clothes and cover their mouths with a wet cloth.
Hislop also closed doors inside the mine and opened other doors that resulted in the air current taking the smoke away from the 63 miners as he led the men 1,000 feet further into the vein creating a greater distance from the fire and smoke, reported the Record.
Crews from Luzerne County Gas & Electric Company arrived with respirators, masks and other equipment.
“Every available bit of rescue equipment from surrounding collieries was rushed to the place,” reported the Record.
Nearly 5 hours later, by 1 p.m. on May 27, 1926, firefighters had extinguished the fire and placed exhaust fans to clear the smoke. Two hours after the fire was declared out, Hislop, his son and the 63 miners were located and led out of the mine.
“It was all in the day’s work. It’s over now. I’m glad I’m on the job,” Hislop is quoted as saying in a Times Leader story on May 28, 1926.
Hislop was described as a “modest hero” as tributes were thrown his way, including an application by the Temple Anthracite Coal Co. to the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, which opted not to award him a Carnegie Medal for bravery.
Not surprisingly, Hislop continued to show up at the mine for his work shifts.
An investigation into the fire found Hislop’s decision to close certain doors and open others changed the air current and smoke that saved the miners.
Hislop died from a heart attack at his home on Jan. 17, 1941, and was buried in Fern Knoll Cemetery in Dallas.