West Newton, Pennsylvania

Sweet Cake Mine Explosion

March 21, 1896

Explosion in a Mine.

West Newton, Pa. March 21.-A mine explosion occurred this morning at the Ohio & Pennsylvania mine, situated on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, four miles south of this place. The violence of the explosion was such that considerable debris was blown from the shaft into the engine room. A mule attached to a water cart and the cart itself were blown to pieces. Two injured men were taken from the shaft, and a man named O’Donnell and a boy, Willis Davis, are yet in the mine, and supposed to be dead. The after-damp prevents an exploration of the mine as yet.

Sunday World-Herald, Omaha, NE 22 Mar 1896

Two Killed By a Fire Damp Explosion at the Sweet Cake Mine, Near West Newton, Pa., on the B. & O. Railroad.

Pittsburg (sic), Pa., March 21.—Alex. McDonald, fire boss, and Willie Davis, a 15-year-old traper boy, were killed this morning in a fire damp explosion in the Ohio and Pennsylvania “Sweet Cake” coal mines, near West Newton, on the B. & O. railroad, a few miles above this city. McDonald had gone into the mine, the boy accompanying him. In about twenty minutes a terrible explosion occurred, followed by flames issuing from the pit’s mouth. As soon as possible a rescue party was organized, and the two bodies were brought to the surface, burned to a crisp. The explosion is hard to account for, as the company had taken extra precautions to prevent such an accident.

Wheeling Sunday Register, Wheeling, WV 22 Mar 1896

Two Burned To A Crisp -

Man and Boy Perish in a Fire-Damp Explosion –

Pittsburg (sic), March 21.- Alexander McDonald, fire boss, and Will E. Davis, a 15-year-old boy, were killed this morning in a fire damp explosion in the Ohio and Pennsylvania Sweet Cake coal mine, near West Newton, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, a few miles above this city. McDonald had gone into the shaft to inspect the mine, the boy accompanying him. In about twenty minutes a terrific explosion occurred, followed by flames issuing from the pit’s mouth. As soon as possible a rescue party was organized and the two bodies were brought to the surface burned to a crisp.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA 22 Mar 1896

Articles transcribed by Don Baum.  Thanks, Don!

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