The Milford Mine Disaster

The Milford Mine Disaster. . , On February 5th, 1924, forty-eight miners were working on the 165-foot and 175-foot levels of Milford Mine. About fifteen minutes before the end of the day shift, water and mud flooded into the mine at such a rapid rate that all the mining levels and the 200-foot deep shaft filled to within fifteen feet of the surface in less than 20 minutes. Only seven of the forty eight [sic] miners made it to the surface., How did this happen? To this day, people argue about the cause of the Milford Mine Disaster. While most agree that water and mud from the wetlands surrounding Foley Lake entered through the easternmost mining room, exactly how that resulted in such a massive and instantaneous flood is still a point of some debate. An investigative committee appointed by the Governor concluded that water had seeped into the eastern mining room, known as Contract 13, after it had been mined out and collapsed by blasting. Such blasting was regular practice to make areas below safe for mining. The committee thought that the blasting, done a few days before the disaster, allowed water to seep in from the wetland adjoining Foley Lake, and eventually the mine walls could not withstand the pressure., Still, all this is merely a technical answer. It does not erase the shock and extreme grief caused by the worst mining disaster in Minnesota's history., Recovery , Recovery operations began immediately. Pumps and dewatering equipment came from other Cuyuna mines, as well as those on the Mesabi and Vermilion ranges. Before the mine could be pumped, Foley Lake had to be emptied. Water was pumped into Island Lake, which drained into the Mississippi River. Special pumps called sand suckers were used to extract the mud and sand from the mine. The recover began in March. Three shifts of men worked around the clock. The fist [sic] bodies were recovered after seven weeks of arduous and dangerous hand work. The last body was recovered on November 4, nine months after the disaster., Aftermath , This tragic event triggered significant action toward change in mining safety. The Governor's committee recommended improvements in mining warning systems, and the draining of lakes and wetlands before the commencement of mining operations., , "I was working not near anybody. Then the wind hit me. I fell down and my lamp went out. I lit it, it went out again. It was dark and cold. The wind hit me again. I knew what it was. I was in a time like that once before, in Michigan. I knew if we lost a minute, it was too late. I yelled. Then I ran like hell." , …Matt Kangas, In Memoriam , Miners who lost their lives in the Milford Mine disaster on February 5, 1924:. Earl Bedard . Mike Bizal . Oliver Burns . George Butkovich . Emil Carlson . Valentine Cole . Evan Crellin . Roy Cunningham . Minor Graves . Clinton Harris . Fred Harte . Elmer Haug . John Hendrickson . John Hlacher . George Hocevar . Herman Holm . Frank Hrvatin, Sr. . William Johnson . Alex Jylha . Victor Ketola . Leo LaBrash . Arvid Lehti . Peter Magdich . John Maurich . Ronald McDonald . John Minerich . Arthur Myhres . Simmon Palomaki . Nick Radich . Clyde Revord . Gaspar Revord . Nels Ritari . Jerome Ryan . Tony Slack . Joseph Snyder . Marko Toljan . Mike Tomac . Martin Valencich . Arthur Wolford . John Yakelich . Frank Zeitz, Miners who climbed to safety: , Carl Frals, Harry Hosford, Emil Kainu, Matt Kangas, Jacob Ravnik, Mike Zakotnik, Frank Hrvatin, Jr.. , Mike Zauhar was 13 years old. He was with his father and uncle, who were preparing to go the mine and work the night shift, when a whistle started blowing., "And then all the whistles started blowing. Mrs. Butorac ran out and said 'Milford Mine caved in!' My Dad and Uncle George just stood there and shook…because we had three uncles there, my Uncle George Butkovich, Uncle John Minerich and Uncle Mike Tomac.", Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society, Elsie Mooers was a young child in 1924. , "Our neighbors in Crosby were Emilie and Fred Harte. Fred was a very open and honest person, and he loved children. He was an underground miner, and when he came home from work he would shout for me and often throw me up in the air and hug me. They had no children, but then, on January 31st, 1924, they had a little boy, Fred Harte, Jr. I don't suppose I knew what death was, but I do know I was standing on my high chair in the dining room, crying, because they said I would never see Fred again. I remember going to see Emilie. She was lying on the bed with her new baby in her arm and she was crying. Emilie was a lovely woman with beautiful snapping black eyes, but this day, they were so sad.", Image courtesy of the Crosby Courier,

"For God's sake run faster! The whole lake has come in" , …Frank Hrvatin Jr., Frank Hrvatin, Jr. and Harry Hosford were shoveling ore to be loaded onto the skip and taken to the surface. Frank was only fourteen years old, but was tall and strong, and no one questioned his age. His father, Frank Sr., was a blaster, working deeper in the mine., "All of a sudden a terrific wind and a loud noise engulfed the area where we were…My carbide light was flickering from the air that was being pushed out by the wall of water on the 200 foot level. I saw water and yelled at the top of my voice: Let's get out of here. For God's sake run faster! The whole lake has come in", Frank and Harry made their was to the ladder, where they were joined in their upward climb by pump man Emil Kainu and track repairman Matt Kangas. Mike Zakotnic, Jake Ravnik, and Carl Frals were ahead of them on the ladder. Emil started up. Matt Kangas was just ahead of Hrvatin Jr., and Harry Hosford was right behind him. Just before he grabbed the ladder, Frank noticed two timber trammers, Valentine Cole and Minor Graves. They were in sight, but didn't make it to the ladder. Matt Kangas remembered being "all in" by he time he got to the ladder. He slowed his climb and didn't think he'd make it, when young Hrvatin placed him on his shoulders and boosted him the rest of the way. In an interview in 1974, Frank recalled feeling as though he had "superhuman strength" as they climbed the ladder. Not only did he boost Kangas, he also helped pull Hosford up the 175-foot ladder to the surface., "…I took my partner out of the mud. He was in mud up to his hips! That's how fast the water was coming in and the mud, but we made it! When we got to the top we laid down on the surface. Everybody came running to see what the hell was the matter! Well, that took about 15 minutes and the whole thing was over! I knew then I would never see my Dad no more. They were all dead.", Photo courtesy of the Cuyuna Iron Range Heritage Network