Fatal and Non Fatal Mine Incidents by Name
 Willisville, Illinois area
1890 to 1922
Day Month Year Name Description of incident Age Residence Marital Status Children Dependants Nativity Days Missed
19 9 1913 Balsano, Santo Foot injured, falling coal 62 Willisville married 1 67
20 12 1919 Balsano, Santo Ribs injured by pit car Not reported Willisville Married 32
4 1 1913 Bann, Wesley Driver, was coming out of the main west entry with a trip of cars, and when he came to the trap door and was stepping off the front end of the car, the mule kicked him over the heart, causing his death 19 Willisville single 1 Fatal
17 1 1899 Beck or Reek, George Miner, while working about 3 a.m. he had prepared three blasts, and when ready to fire placed the squib in the hole. He must have held his lamp near the powder part of the squib, as he never moved until he was knocked back by the force of the shot; he was killed instantly 40 Willisville married 2 3 Fatal
22 5 1917 Beisner, Robert foot injured by falling machine guide 24 Willisville married 2 30
4 5 1920 Bierman, Albert Bruised shoulder when he fell 21 Willisville single 48
8 11 1920 Bierman, Henry Loader, Body injury 49 51
11 12 1920 Blume, A. Driver, foot injured, broken sprag 27 not returned to work by Jul 1921
1 11 1892 Borneman, James Leg broken by coal descending down chute 28 Percy Single 90
29 12 1916 Brandon, Dan leg injured by pit car 27 Willisville married 2 30
28 10 1912 Braun, Martin Hand injured, falling coal 52 Willisville married 1 2 44
20 11 1915 Broomfield, Harry Collar bone broken by pit car. 29 Willisville married 2 3 60
7 1 1920 Buescher, Lee Finger crushed by car wheel 27 Percy married 2 3 60
4 6 1913 Bury, Roscoe Miner, was helping to sink an air shaft at Rury & Rury's local mine and was hoisted up the shaft in a tub, when, in making the landing at the top, he slipped and fell down the shaft. He was dead when brought to the top of the shaft. 20 Percy single Fatal
17 6 1909 Butler, John cager and helper, injured and died later of pneumonia and fever. 38 Percy married 2 3 Fatal
10 7 1919 Carbaugh, William Ankle bruised, pit cars 60 Percy married 1 30
1 11 1920 Carbaugh, William Loader, back injured by falling slate 66 83
2 1 1920 Carson, Henry Run over by a railroad car and killed 49 Steeleville married 1 2 Fatal
13 8 1919 Carter, Noah E. Toe mashed when a mule stepped on it. Not reported Willisville married 3 3 31
8 11 1920 Castellano, A. Loader, arm injury 48 60
16 8 1920 Castellano, P. Loader, body injury 42 31
8 1 1914 Coleman, Clyde Foot broken, pit car 19 Willisville single 40
19 5 1920 Congardi, Sam Finger mashed by dump car Not reported Willisville married 3 3 33
6 1 1920 Corgan, Elias Eye injured,chip flew in eye 68 Percy married 1 34
5 4 1920 Costa, Sam Back injured by falling slate Not reported Willisville married 5 5 43
22 9 1919 Costellano, Tony Legs bruised between pit cars Not reported Willisville married 4 4 32
14 7 1920 Crumby, Wm. Driver, eye injured by foreign matter 36 32
25 8 1898 Dalton, John Miner, at the time of the accident he was in a sitting position at the right hand side of his working place, when a mass of roof weighing about 1500 pounds suddenly fell, striking him and severely crushing him. He died from his injuries on 2 Sep 1898. 22 Willisville single Fatal
30 12 1920 Demme, E. Loader, eye injured, foreign body 34 30
2 10 1908 Deppe, Bourbon car trimmer and top man, had left a car standing on No. 2 track on the crossover and the following car he was taking down on No. 1 track and in some unknown manner was caught between the two cars and crushed to death. 29 Willisville married 2 3 Fatal
28 1 1897 Derush, Leon Instantly killed by falling slate. He was walking out of his room ahead of a mule and a loaded car. He stepped aside to let them pass and that instant the slate fell from the roof and crushed him lifeless. 26 Willisville single Fatal
17 4 1907 DeSarbo, Frank Body burned in explosion 53 married 4 He had not recovered by 1 Jul 1907
17 4 1907 DeSarbo, James Body burned in shot explosion 19 single 37
29 4 1920 DeSarbo, Sam Sprained ankle by lifting car Not reported Willisville married 5 6 62
11 9 1920 DuVardo, Joe Loader, lombago 50 Not stated
29 1 1920 Eggers, Fritz Foot injured, falling white top 66 Percy married 2 32
22 5 1920 Eggers, Fritz Eye injured, sulphur 66 Percy married 2 36
26 5 1921 Elms, Ben Loader, hernia from lifting 50 not returned to work by Jul 1921
22 4 1899 Estee, Frank Face and body injured 21 Percy married 1 2 14
19 2 1896 Foster, W. E. Miner, leg broken by falling rock 50 Willisville single 90
15 10 1920 Fraembles, E. Coupler, leg injury 35 32
6 9 1919 Frai, John Fell and injured back Not reported Willisville married 3 3 30
1 6 1910 Gailbreith, Charles Head and back injured, falling slate 32 Percy single Had not returned to work by 1 Jul 1910
2 9 1911 Garman, August Injured back by falling coal. 65 Willisville married 1 2 31
23 12 1920 Gerlach, Fred Miner, foot injured by falling rock 45 30
28 10 1919 Gillespie, James Thin injured, caught between cars 40 Steeleville married 2 3 46
15 9 1911 Gola, Abe Driver, was coupling cars, with his head between the cars, and while so doing, another driver came in from behind, bumping the cars together, catching his head between them. 24 Willisville married 1 2 Fatal
28 2 1901 Grezzell, Thomas L. Carpenters helper, he was told to call to the bottom of the cage to send up a shovel ; he went direct to the shaft, leaned over and was trying to talk to the men at the cage below, when the descending cage struck him on the head; he fell backwards on to the cage. He died two hours afterward. 21 single Fatal
21 9 1920 Griffith, T. Driver, hand injured 33 38
9 1 1909 Griffiths, Paul foot injured in machine 20 Percy single 53
19 6 1916 Griffiths, Sim hands injured by pit car 18 Willisville single 36
27 10 1920 Hamilton, William Loader, foot injured, coal falling from car 45 32
5 2 1921 Hammel, Fred Miner, Hernia incomplete 26 30
10 8 1912 Harris, Alas Hand injured, machine 48 Willisville married 8 9 32
20 10 1920 Harris, W. Loader, boy injury 26 39
13 11 1913 Harrison, Herbert Leg broken, pit cars 28 Percy married 1 2 37
17 2 1891 Hart, John Instantly killed by a falling clod in Goalby & Son's mine 46 Steeleville 1 2 3 Fatal
21 4 1897 Hatcher, Jas. Hurt by falling slate 24 Percy single 23
27 1 1921 Hatcher, W. A. Driver, legs injured when mule ran away 21 97
1 12 1920 Heape, John Tracklayer, hand injured fell with jack 65 46
17 12 1917 Heard, Elsworth Finger was cut off in a motor 33 Willisville married 35
13 1 1921 Heine, Joe Blacksmith, hand injured 40 94
5 5 1921 Heitman, A. C. Shifthand, leg injured trap door 21 45
4 10 1899 Higgins, James Miner, was fatally injured in the mine of the Rosborough Coal Company's mine in Percy. Deceased was aware of the dangerous conidgion of the slate an coal, and had said he would take down both slate and coal as soon as he could finish loadin his car, but before the card was loaded the slate and coal fell, injuing him so the he died about 8 hours later. 51 Percy married 4 2 Fatal
28 6 1907 Hiser, W. T. Mine Examiner, killed by falling slate 35 married 2 Fatal
9 7 1909 Hollingarth, Herb Body injured, pit cars 31 Percy single 54
9 7 1910 Hollingsworth, Herbert Body injured by pit car 31 Percy single 54
27 2 1896 Hutton, Alexander Found dead in his room at the Randolph Coal and Coke Co. Shaft 1, located at Percy. The deceased had not been in good health for some time and was working against the advice of his friends. The coroner returned a verdict of death by heart failure. 65 Percy widower Fatal
13 7 1920 Irwin, Cecil Miner, pelvis broken by pit car 39 52
24 7 1919 Jarrett, J. H. Foot smashed by falling slate Not reported Willisville married 1 not reported
27 2 1920 Jay, Amos Toes mashed, iron fell on foot 35 Steeleville married 1 41
27 3 1906 Jeremiah, William H. Shot firer, had lit a shot in one room and went into an adjoining room when the shot exploded blowing through a pillar. A piece of flying coal from the shot struck him on the forehead killing him instantly. 45 married 3 Fatal
22 12 1920 Jones, Edward Miner, hip injured by falling slate 34 49
31 12 1897 Jones, Greely Timberman, was killed by a fall of slate about 2pm. He had setup a prop under some loose shale, and, after setting it, it did not suite him and he took a sledge and started to straighten the prop by hitting it at the bottom. In doing this the prop swung and let down the loose shale. 25 single Fatal
10 3 1921 Jones, H. D. Machine runner, foot injured when machine kicked 59 96
16 1 1917 Joyce, Will body injury by pit car 44 Willisville married 30
12 8 1919 Karstens, F. Body injured by pit car 28 Percy 135
17 3 1914 Keller, Joe Finger cut off, pit car 20 Willisville single 30
9 11 1912 Keller, Wm. Collar bone broken, falling slate 28 Percy married 2 3 32
9 7 1920 Kilgrove, A. Jr. Driver, foot injured 19 31
18 9 1917 Killion, James Injured ankle when he fell 52 Willisville married 154
27 10 1920 King, Wm. Loader, knee injury 45 not returned to work by Jul 1921
29 10 1920 Knope, H. A. Cager, hand injury 38 66
13 1 1917 Laduca, Andrew foot injured by falling clod 53 Willisville married 4 30
9 5 1913 Lanela, Anton Body injured, cage 37 Willisville single 30
4 10 1917 Lee, Tony Wrist injured pit car 19 Willisville single 38
6 4 1921 Lintner, F. Shifthand, back injured by falling slate 30 39
15 10 1920 Lively, John T. Loader, back injury 48 65
11 4 1918 Luthey, Simon Back injured by falling slate 34 Willisville married 3 43
15 10 1920 Lyons, Robert Loader, body injury from lifting coal 30 163
10 6 1918 Marcum, Edward Machine man, While he and his partner were cutting a room neck, a large piece of rock fell from between two slips, caught him crushing him beneath it. 52 Willisville married 4 Fatal
7 7 1920 McBride, Ora Miner, ankle broken by falling coal 33 150
22 2 1906 McClelland, John M. Machine helper, was killed by falling coal at the face of a room while shoveling coal after a machine mining. 38 single Fatal
2 11 1913 McSmith, James Toes broken, falling coal 60 Percy married 1 90
4 10 1912 Melleville, Alex Body injured by pit car 23 Percy single had not returned to work by 1 Jul 1913
14 2 1905 Merino, L. L. Body injured, mining machine 31 Willisville married 1 2 30
27 10 1900 Messino, Joseph Instantly killed by a fall of slate at the face of his working room. The slate that fell on deceased was 20 feet long, ten feet wide, and from eight to ten inches thick. The room had been mined and coal blasted down. This was a case of waiting to load the coal and then timber the place, as the deceased had remarked that he would timber the room as soon as the coal could be loaded and taken out of the way. Messino was careless in not timbering his place in time. 28 married 1 Fatal
30 8 1920 Meyers, John W. Loader, hand injury 62 54
21 10 1893 Miskie, Adolph He had fired a standing shot in the entry, the coal failed to come down, he began mining it off when the mass of coal fell on him crushing his body severely. He was found by another man going into the mine, after he had been pinioned by the weight of coal for over five hours, being conscious when found he was able to ttell how the accident happened. After being released he only lived a few hours. 45 Steeleville married 7 8 Fatal
6 5 1904 Nardina, Carsidine Miner, was fatally injured in the mine of the Missouri-Illinois Coal Company in Willisville. White at work in his room a fall of slate caught him, injuring him so severely that he died six hours afterwards. 30 Willisville married 2 3 Fatal
12 8 1920 Needham, Frank Driver, injured foot by pit car 33 114
6 10 1904 Newton, Walter Body injured, bar of door 25 Willisville single 77
20 12 1920 Nixon, E. Driver, back injuries 27 184
5 1 1914 Pair, J. H. Leg burned, steam 41 Willisville married 2 3 181
29 8 1915 Pais, I. H. or Pair, J. H. Foot injured by falling pipe 42 Willisville married 3 4 120
22 10 1904 Palano, Jack Body burned, powder explosion 35 Willisville married 1 2 30
17 8 1920 Palemo, John Miner, killed by falling rock 53 married 4 Fatal
11 8 1919 Palermo, Paul Rib broken by falling coal Not reported Willisville married 2 3 39
15 12 1916 Parmlee, Will hand injured by prop 30 Willisville married 2 30
18 9 1915 Phieffer, Charles Driver killed by pit cars. He was coupling his cars when his trip was struck by another one catching and crushing his head. 49 Willisville single Fatal
19 12 1897 Price, Henry Bruised back 26 Willisville single 60
12 10 1920 Rapp, Emery Track layer, leg and back injury from falling prop 48 Not stated
7 5 1917 Repke, Will leg injured when struck by gas pipe 29 Willisville married 2 30
20 12 1912 Repke, Wm. Head injured, engine 24 Willisville married 1 2 60
22 4 1899 Roberts, John Face and body injured 50 Percy single Had not returned to work by 1 Jul 1899
16 9 1916 Robertson, Andy leg injured by falling coal 25 Willisville single
2 5 1913 Robertson, John body injured, falling coal 25 Willisville single 30
19 9 1920 Robinson, O. Track layer, foot injury 30 34
22 10 1920 Robinson, O. Track layer, eye injury 30 Not stated
29 12 1920 Rosenberger, Earl Loader, leg injured 43 53
27 2 1920 Rupke, W. Nose fractured by falling ruck 25 Willisville married 1 2 47
29 3 1920 Rushing, Walter Injured back when he was caught between car and timber. 27 Willisville married 1 2 45
19 6 1896 Russell, Elzie Killed by falling slate in the Little Muddy mine, at Percy. The deceased neglected to properly timber his room after passing through a clay slip in the roof of his room, consequently allowing the roof to fall on him, causing injuries which resulted in his death. 27 Percy married 2 3 Fatal
8 9 1919 Salvo, Cheto Finger mashed by pit cars Not reported Willisville married 3 3 31
21 2 1920 Sams, Wm. Injured foot when he fell Not reported Willisville married 1 2 88
22 7 1912 Scaglonia, Joe Body burned, shot explosion 22 Willisville single 45
18 8 1910 Shanahan, John machine helper, was injured by a fall of coal and slate from which he died in hour. 32 Percy married 3 4 Fatal
9 7 1909 Short, Fred Back bone dislocated, falling slate 26 Percy married 2 3 Had not returned to work by 1 Jul 1910
5 11 1921 Short, Harold Loader, killed by a fall of slate 23 Willisville married 2 3 Fatal
5 12 1920 Simonaro, Tony Loader, foot and let injured 49 60
1 2 1905 Smith, A. R. Body Injured, falling slate 31 Willisville single 75
12 10 1904 Smith, J. M. Body Injured, falling slate 56 Willisville married 1 2 130
31 7 1897 Smith, Julius Instantly killed by falling slate at about 10am while at work at the face of his room. 49 married 1 Fatal
8 12 1920 Smith, Preston Driver, leg broken, thrown from car 20 49
6 6 1917 Spoto, Pete back injured by pit car 25 Willisville married 2 30
31 10 1913 Sunmons, Beral Shoulder injured, fell down 35 Percy single 66
8 3 1920 Trucano, John Eye injured by falling coal Not reported Willisville married 3 3 35
24 1 1921 Uhe, Charles Loader, body injury, fell down 72 37
9 2 1917 Ward, Henry hand injured by sprag 21 Willisville single 42
18 12 1909 Waters, Otto Driver, was killed by coming in contact with an electric wire. He came out of the main east entry to the parting where the electric motor track ends, it being quitting time he and some miners were waiting there, until the signal was given that the power was off the wire. Deceased was sitting on the edge of an empty mine car and the same side the trolley wire is on. He leaned backwards and the back of his neck touched the live wire, killing him instantly. 19 Percy single Fatal
13 2 1893 Weiss, James hand and foot injured by falling rock 22 Percy Single 6
21 4 1916 Welshans, Lew Collar bone broken, falling rock 48 Percy married 1 94
20 3 1900 Wenter, Thos. Leg broken 52 Percy married 3 1 Had not returned to work by 1 Jul 1900
9 9 1908 Wilkerson, Otto E. Track Layer, was sitting in an empty care on parting, waiting for quitting time when a piece of slate fell upon him injuring his spine and he died two days later. 34 Willisville married 2 3 Fatal
5 3 1920 Wilson, Geo. Toe mashed when rail on his foot 25 Willisville married 1 31
10 1 1910 Wine, Walter Knee injury, pit car Not reported Percy single 57