This series of blog posts presents some original source material in the form of letters written by William H. Adams to the Pine Grove Press-Herald in 1977 related to the Mine Disaster at the Porter Tunnel in 1977. It was Adams’ contention that the accident needed to be investigated by the Federal government because of the information that was circulating in the Schuylkill County area regarding unsafe conditions at the Kocher Mine and the possibility of a cover-up if it were investigated only by local and State authorities.
William Henry Adams was born in Orwin, Porter Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania on January 14, 1906, the son of William Charles Adams (1879-1918) and Cora Ellen [Leininger] Adams (1886-1978). The father was killed in a mine accident in 1918, leaving the mother with three children to raise on a very small, per-month stipend.
According to census information, William H. Adams married Mary E. Ossman (1905-1972) around 1925. In 1930, he was living in Reilly Township, Schuylkill County, with his wife and two small children and working as a laborer in a coal mine. Also in the household was a boarder, Charles W. Johnson, a 71 year old widower, without occupation. When William registered for the draft in 1940, he was living in Zerbe, Schuylkill County, he indicated that he was unemployed. However, the census of that year states that he was working as a laborer for the Works Project Administration (W. P. A.). His record of work after 1940 was given throughout the letters he wrote to the Press-Herald, and included working with the Independent Miners and Associates (IMA) as an officer and collecting royalties related to the use of coal lands.
William H. Adams‘ wife died in 1972 and he died in April 1981 in the Pottsville Hospital. He was survived by a son and three daughters.
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From the Press-Herald, Pine Grove, June 2, 1977:
Zerbe–Tremont, Pennsylvania
May 28, 1977
To the General Public:
Dear People:
On June 7th [1977] a public hearing will be held on the Kocher Coal Company Disaster to determine if any wrongs or unlawful events were being carried on.
I think three subjects should be aired. Proof of ownership. Legal Rights or Leases to mine and, also, are the taxes or Royalties on the coal being paid – and was every advent of Legal Corporation being carried on and the stockholders or shareholders proper.
Were the mining rules and laws carried out as called for, and did the officials carry out the full information available to show other workings, and also, were the persons who did the former mining ever approached as for a map or other needed information, as to where the former workings were extended to. Officials of the Company knew who had the former workings and so did the Miners Leader as they had holes themselves near this territory at the time this former operation was working.
As an examiner myself with knowledge of mining, I know from experience that the status of the mining situation could have been the cause and feel it is almost impossible for the so-called gangway to be driven any further.
The other subject I feel was wrong and that was the big religious appeal for fuds to help the survivors, as appealed for. Was this done for some very bad happenings in the past due to Hurricanes, Fires and many other affairs? This so-called Company was responsible for what happened and still are, and just May 20 I saw in the papers of an employee receiving $4,000 pension check and the Mine Leader also present. I feel the fraternal and religious vows were wronged as shown by the Conference Courier – Compassion at Tower City – printed by United Church of Christ.
My father was killed in the mines in 1918 and my mother was granted $11.00 a week to take care of 3 children, and ever since then rates of compensation were higher, and there are other Public Benefits besides, but were not in those years. I served in my days as Deacon, Elder, Trustee, Secretary, Treasurer, Janitor and Dues Collector without ever receiving one penny. I hope the 50 or more thousand collected will be given to those it was given for and every penny will be accounted for.
I my time I wrote and appealed to 3 presidents of this country for help. The first was President Franklin Roosevelt to help bootlegging to supply a shortage of coal, and also to check the stealing of coal by the so-called night operators. I wrote President Harry Truman of the royalty situations and the stealing of coal, and the big steal by some of our county elected officials. The Kocher Coal Company disaster happened on March 2 [1977] and I wrote President James Carter, asking for a Federal investigation on March 14, 1977, and he turned the matter over to the proper authorities to investigate the legal status of the whole matter.
Due to my knowledge and records which I collected during my many years in mining – union – church – fraternal and political circles, I have turned them over to the investigators appointed to do the work.
I know there are many people around who have knowledge of these matters, and ask them to turn over or report any matters they know about which are wrong to the proper authorities.
I have given all my information and time without any financial help because of the just cause and I feel proof of ownership, corporate shareholders, leases, sales of any sort, fraternal matters, religious connections and why on this case alone. It is time the law and order are legal.
I hereby ask all persons having any knowledge or evidence to contact the Federal Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration, 20 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Thanking everyone. Sincerely Yours,
William H. Adams
Hearing, June 7, 1977
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Letters and photo from Newspapers.com. Photo is of rescuers going into the Porter Tunnel to rescue trapped miners.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.