Lost Creek Mine

Albia, January 24, 1902. A windy or delayed shot caused an explosion which cost the lives of 20 men working in one pit, bent and twisted the rails of the tracks, and hurled debris 200 feet into the air. Rescue attempts were hampered by the wrecked machinery and bad air caused by the explosion. The Burlington Railroad furnished a special train to carry hundreds of friends from Albia and Hocking to the mass funeral at Eddyville, January 26, 1902. The report of the State mine inspector, John Verner, stated that the disaster was caused by a "windy shot" or "three-screamer," for which blame was to be attached to no one.

A repetition of the fatal affair was narrowly averted at the Star mine, two and a half miles northwest of Albia, January 27, 1902, when a "tight shot" almost ignited the coal dust, just as the men were quitting work. It failed to explode and no casualities resulted. During the following hours a slow smoldering ensued which by morning had broken into flames. The miners discovered it on coming to work, and battled until noon, hauling water in cars and dashing buckets full on the flames, finally extinguishing them.