On this day in 1968 a worker operating a continuous mining machine in a mine owned by the Gauley Coal and Coke Company accidentally drilled into an abandoned mine shaft filled with acid water.
The resulting flood trapped 25 miners, prompting a massive recovery effort. After 5 days 15 miners were rescued, with the other 10 feared dead.
The company, though, continued to pump the water out of the mine, enough so they could get to the back of the mine itself. As rescuers walked back to the end of the mine they found fresh footprints in the mud and were able to rescue 6 of the remaining 10 men.
Four men died in the disaster.
