Industry
3
On December 24, 1932, the Moweaqua Coal Mine Disaster killed all 54 miners who entered the mine that day. The Moweaqua Coal Mine was Shelby County's largest. An unprecedented drop in barometric pressure allowed methane gas to escape into the mine, and at 8 a.m. the gas was ignited by open flame carbide lights, causing an explosion. Rescue teams searched in vain for survivors, although all bodies were recovered. The disaster marked the end of the era of open flame carbide lights.
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Moweaqua, Illinois · United States
