SOURCE: "They died in the Darkness" written by Lacy A. Dillon, Copyright 1976.
Harry Franklin Stoots was the grandfather of my wife, Darlene Katherine Klucarich. Harry worked over 50 years in the Eccles, West Virginia coal mines. Harry's brother, Charlie Windon Stoots, was one of the survivors of the March 8, 1926 explosion of Eccles No. 5 mine that killed 19 coal miners. Charlie was one of 10 miners they found alive behind a barricade they had built.
On April 28, 1914, at 2:30 in the afternoon, Eccles No. 5 exploded and took the lives of 174 miners, the second biggest mine tragedy in West Virginia history at that time. 9 more miners died in Eccles No. 6 from the "Blackdamp" because No. 5 and No 6 were connected. The total dead came to 183. It took until the middle of May to recover all 183 bodies. Two morticians, Mr. Rose and Mr. Calfee, from Beckley set up a morgue in a warehouse. Several carloads of coffins were shipped to the mine. The bodies were washed if they were not too decayed and then embalmed. A suit consisting of a white shirt and tie were placed on each body costing ten dollars per miner. A coffin was provided at a cost of fifty dollars and if relatives did not request removal of their loved one, they were buried in a graveyard not far from the mine.
SOURCE: World War II Draft Card
NAME: Harry Stoots
PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Eccles, Raleigh County, West Virginia
PLACE OF BIRTH: Carroll County, Virginia
DATE OF BIRTH: February 5, 1890
EMPLOYER'S NAME: Crab Orchard Development Company
EMPLOYER'S ADDRESS: Eccles, Raleigh County, West Virginia
DATE REGISTERED FOR THE DRAFT: April 27, 1942.
Harry Franklin Stoots was the grandfather of my wife, Darlene Katherine Klucarich. Harry worked over 50 years in the Eccles, West Virginia coal mines. Harry's brother, Charlie Windon Stoots, was one of the survivors of the March 8, 1926 explosion of Eccles No. 5 mine that killed 19 coal miners. Charlie was one of 10 miners they found alive behind a barricade they had built.
On April 28, 1914, at 2:30 in the afternoon, Eccles No. 5 exploded and took the lives of 174 miners, the second biggest mine tragedy in West Virginia history at that time. 9 more miners died in Eccles No. 6 from the "Blackdamp" because No. 5 and No 6 were connected. The total dead came to 183. It took until the middle of May to recover all 183 bodies. Two morticians, Mr. Rose and Mr. Calfee, from Beckley set up a morgue in a warehouse. Several carloads of coffins were shipped to the mine. The bodies were washed if they were not too decayed and then embalmed. A suit consisting of a white shirt and tie were placed on each body costing ten dollars per miner. A coffin was provided at a cost of fifty dollars and if relatives did not request removal of their loved one, they were buried in a graveyard not far from the mine.
SOURCE: World War II Draft Card
NAME: Harry Stoots
PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Eccles, Raleigh County, West Virginia
PLACE OF BIRTH: Carroll County, Virginia
DATE OF BIRTH: February 5, 1890
EMPLOYER'S NAME: Crab Orchard Development Company
EMPLOYER'S ADDRESS: Eccles, Raleigh County, West Virginia
DATE REGISTERED FOR THE DRAFT: April 27, 1942.
SOURCE: "They died in the Darkness" written by Lacy A. Dillon, Copyright 1976.
Harry Franklin Stoots was the grandfather of my wife, Darlene Katherine Klucarich. Harry worked over 50 years in the Eccles, West Virginia coal mines. Harry's brother, Charlie Windon Stoots, was one of the survivors of the March 8, 1926 explosion of Eccles No. 5 mine that killed 19 coal miners. Charlie was one of 10 miners they found alive behind a barricade they had built.
On April 28, 1914, at 2:30 in the afternoon, Eccles No. 5 exploded and took the lives of 174 miners, the second biggest mine tragedy in West Virginia history at that time. 9 more miners died in Eccles No. 6 from the "Blackdamp" because No. 5 and No 6 were connected. The total dead came to 183. It took until the middle of May to recover all 183 bodies. Two morticians, Mr. Rose and Mr. Calfee, from Beckley set up a morgue in a warehouse. Several carloads of coffins were shipped to the mine. The bodies were washed if they were not too decayed and then embalmed. A suit consisting of a white shirt and tie were placed on each body costing ten dollars per miner. A coffin was provided at a cost of fifty dollars and if relatives did not request removal of their loved one, they were buried in a graveyard not far from the mine.
SOURCE: World War II Draft Card
NAME: Harry Stoots
PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Eccles, Raleigh County, West Virginia
PLACE OF BIRTH: Carroll County, Virginia
DATE OF BIRTH: February 5, 1890
EMPLOYER'S NAME: Crab Orchard Development Company
EMPLOYER'S ADDRESS: Eccles, Raleigh County, West Virginia
DATE REGISTERED FOR THE DRAFT: April 27, 1942.
Harry Franklin Stoots was the grandfather of my wife, Darlene Katherine Klucarich. Harry worked over 50 years in the Eccles, West Virginia coal mines. Harry's brother, Charlie Windon Stoots, was one of the survivors of the March 8, 1926 explosion of Eccles No. 5 mine that killed 19 coal miners. Charlie was one of 10 miners they found alive behind a barricade they had built.
On April 28, 1914, at 2:30 in the afternoon, Eccles No. 5 exploded and took the lives of 174 miners, the second biggest mine tragedy in West Virginia history at that time. 9 more miners died in Eccles No. 6 from the "Blackdamp" because No. 5 and No 6 were connected. The total dead came to 183. It took until the middle of May to recover all 183 bodies. Two morticians, Mr. Rose and Mr. Calfee, from Beckley set up a morgue in a warehouse. Several carloads of coffins were shipped to the mine. The bodies were washed if they were not too decayed and then embalmed. A suit consisting of a white shirt and tie were placed on each body costing ten dollars per miner. A coffin was provided at a cost of fifty dollars and if relatives did not request removal of their loved one, they were buried in a graveyard not far from the mine.
SOURCE: World War II Draft Card
NAME: Harry Stoots
PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Eccles, Raleigh County, West Virginia
PLACE OF BIRTH: Carroll County, Virginia
DATE OF BIRTH: February 5, 1890
EMPLOYER'S NAME: Crab Orchard Development Company
EMPLOYER'S ADDRESS: Eccles, Raleigh County, West Virginia
DATE REGISTERED FOR THE DRAFT: April 27, 1942.
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