On this day in 1914 the second worst mine disaster in West Virginia, after the Monongah explosion in 1907, occurred at the Eccles No. 5 mine in Eccles, West Virginia.
At about 2:30 in the afternoon a series of huge explosions occurred throughout the mine. Apparently the flame from a carbide lamp had touched off a pocket of methane, which then ignited other pockets in the mine. At least 180 men and boys were killed in the explosions, including an insurance agent from Charleston who had gone into the mine early that afternoon to try selling insurance to the miners.
The mine soon reopened and continued to operate until 1928, having been in operation since it was opened in 1905.
The disaster spurred UMW efforts to improve working conditions.