Bearcreek in Carbon County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
The Smith Mine Disaster
The families of the men trapped underground anxiously waited as rescue crews from as far away as Butte and Cascade County worked around the clock to clear debris and search for survivors. There were none. Some men died as a result of a violent explosion, but most fell victim to the deadly methane gasses released by the blast. The tragedy sparked investigations at the state and national level that resulted in improvements in mine safety.
Today's marker of the Smith Mine Disaster follows a simpler one left by two miners trapped underground after the explosion, waiting for the poisonous gas they knew would come.
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Wives and daughters We died
an easy death. Love from us both. Be good."
Erected by Montand Department of Transportation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters.
Location. 45° 9.507′ N, 109° 11.345′ W. Marker is in Bearcreek, Montana, in Carbon County. Marker is on State Highway 308, 0.1 miles west of Scotch Coulee Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bearcreek MT 59007, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Smith Mine Historic District (here, next to this marker); Black Gold (here, next to this marker); Bearcreek Bank (approx. 1˝ miles away); Bearcreek (approx. 1˝ miles away); Bear Creek Cemetery (approx. 2.4 miles away); Red Lodge (approx. 3.1 miles away); The Beartooth Plateau (approx. 3.1 miles away); The Red Lodge Country (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bearcreek.
Also see . . . Smith Mine Disaster -- This is Montana, University of Montana. A handful of miners made it far enough to last an hour and half after the explosion. Reports tell of miners who wrote messages to their families with chalk. One message read, “Good bye wifes and daughters. We died an easy death. Love from us both. Be good.” After the disaster, the mine never reopened. (Submitted on January 11, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 11, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 794 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 11, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.