The CHERRY MINE DISASTER of 1909 is the third most deadly tragedy in American coal mining history. Nearly 500 men and boys were working in the mine when a coal car caught fire killing 259 people. Twenty-one trapped miners were rescued after eight days. Following the tragedy, the Illinois legislature established stronger safety regulations and a workmen’s compensation program.
Read the recently published middle grades nonfiction book, then learn more at the websites:
UNDERGROUND FIRE: HOPE, SACRIFICE, AND COURAGE IN THE CHERRY MINE DISASTER by Sally M. Walker is an hour-by-hour account of the challenges faced by trapped miners and the rescue workers trying to save them. Through a dozen heart-pounding chapters, Walker uses riveting narrative and primary source documents and photos to keep even reluctant readers engaged in this historic, tragic mine disaster. ARC courtesy of Candlewick Press.
CHERRY MINE DISASTER from the Travel Channel is a short video describing the tragedy.
To watch the video, go to https://www.travelchannel.com/videos/cherry-mine-disaster-0223505.
THE CHERRY MINE DISASTER: FROM TRAGEDY TO REFORM is a student-produced video about the disaster.
To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/BzqEZ-yXPok.
CHERRY COAL MINE DISASTER shares historical news articles and a photo from the disaster.
To read the articles, go to http://genealogytrails.com/ill/bureau/History/CherryCoalMine/index.html.
