HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 21

(By Delegates Beach, Shook, Marshall, Fleischauer,

Ennis, Perry, Long, Pethtel, Longstreth,
Shaver, Caputo, Tucker and Manchin)
Commemorating the lives of the nine miners who were lost in the July 22, 1972 mine fire at the Blacksville No. 1 Mine in Monongalia County.

Whereas, At approximately 7:30 p.m. on Saturday July 22, 1972 a mine fire broke out along the No. 3 North mains track of the Blacksville No. 1 Mine in Monongalia County where forty-three miners were working underground when the continuous miner came into contact with the trolley wire; and
Whereas, Despite an immediate attempt to extinguish the fire by motor operators Glen Cale and Frank Strakal, they were forced to abandon their efforts due to thick smoke; and
Whereas, While the fire continued to burn , by 8:50 p.m. on that day, thirty-four of the miners were safely evacuated to the surface; and
Whereas, Two rescue teams were assembled and entered the mine four hours later at 12:40 a.m., roof falls and other hazardous conditions prevented the teams from reaching the fire area for thirty-six hours; and
Whereas, Due to the restricted airflow caused by the roof falls at 2:42 p.m. on July 24, a mine explosion occurred and prevented further rescue efforts; and
Whereas , All rescue team members safely reached the surface by 3:00 p.m . on July 24; and
Whereas, Following at least two additional explosions it was decided to seal the mine; and
Whereas, On January 2, 1973 the seals were breached and the bodies of the nine victims were recovered; and
Whereas, The names and ages of the nine miners who died in the July 22, 1972 fire at the Blacksville No. 1 mine are:
Terrance Stoneking29
Frederick Phillips42
Conrad Belt34
Billy Murray37
Roy Sisler24
Roy Dalton42
Kenneth Haines21
Robert Tressler32
Justin Beach23
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the House of Delegates hereby commemorates the lives of the nine miners who were lost in the July 22, 1972 mine fire at the Blacksville No. 1 Mine in Monongalia County; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward certified copies of this resolution to the families of those nine miners, members of the rescue teams and the two motormen, Glen Dale and Frank Strakal.