A series of newspaper articles and other memorabilia describing the mining disaster at East Brookside Colliery near Tower City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, that occurred on August 2, 1913, in which 20 men died as the result of two explosions that occurred in the mine.
Today’s post features the announcement of the death of Harry W. Schoffstall from the West Schuylkill Herald, Tower City, August 15, 1913. His death occurred too late to be included in the initial story of the disaster as reported in this local, weekly newspaper.
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HARRY W. SCHOFFSTALL – THE 20th ON LIST
Harry W. Schoffstall, aged 29 years, 10 months and 26 days, died at 6 o’clock Saturday morning at his home at the west end of Orwin as the result of burns receive in the terrible explosion at East Brookside colliery on the morning of August 2nd [1913].
His death makes the 20th as the result of the explosion. At first it was thought he would recover. The best medical attention was given. Two trained nurses supplied by the P. & R. C. & I. Company were continuously at his bed side. His faithful wife, his parents and several other relatives did everything they could. He seemed to improve for a few days after the accident and hopes were entertained that he would pull through. The burns, however, were too serious. he suffered untold agony, his terrible burns on the arms and body exuding blood and matter, occasioning the changing of bandages frequently, at which time his cries were most painful. On Thursday night about 11 o’clock his condition took a sudden turn for the worse. He became unconscious and remained almost constantly in that condition until the final summons came.
This was the second explosion that Mr. Schoffstall was in within the past year, the first time being on November 27, 1912, when Daniel Tobias of Donaldson lost his life at East Brookside through an explosion of mine gas. Mr. Schoffstall was not far away from Tobias and received injuries which kept him confined to his home for some time.
Schoffstall was employed as a fire boss by night at the East Brookside workings. Owing to the colliery being idle the last two days of the week, he was put on the day shift Friday and Saturday. At the time of the first disturbance he was on the outside of the mine at the top of the tender slope with several other fire bosses. Six men went down the slope and out of the six he was the only one that was not killed outright. He said that Murphy and McGinley and himself were walking in the gangway when the explosion occurred. That is all he knew about the explosion.
Harry Winfield Schoffstall was one of the best known young men in the upper end of the valley. He was loved and respected by everyone that knew him and his friends were many. He was a Christian gentleman not only in church on Sunday, but every day in the week. He took an active interest in the Orwin Union Sunday School and was the teacher of the young Ladies’ Bible Class of the school. As a husband and father he was an ideal and his married life was one long honeymoon.
He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley A. Schoffstall of Tremont, but resided at Orwin for many years. He leaves to survive, his widow, who before her marriage was Miss Maggie Hand, a daughter of Andrew Hand and the late Mrs. Hand of Orwin, and one daughter Marion Hand, aged 4 years.
He was a member of Camp N. 76, P. O. S. of A., of Donaldson, and Council No. 317, Junior O. U. A. M., of Tower City. The Tower City Camp P. O. S. of A. and the Junior O. U. A. M., had charge of the funeral. Members of the orders from all parts of the valley were in line at the funeral.
The funeral was held Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock and was very largely attended. After a brief religious service at the house the remains were taken to Greenwood Cemetery for interment. After interment friends and relatives returned to the Orwin Union Church where the services were concluded by Reverends Klingler of Tremont and Solliard of Lykens. The floral offerings were many and handsome.
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News article from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.