December 8, 1981, disaster struck this community when news broke that an explosion had taken place underground at the number 21 coal mine near Whitwell, Tennessee killing 13 of the coal miners working at that site. On the 40th anniversary of the tragic event, many of the coal miners who were working at the No. 21 mine gathered at the Whitwell Coal Miners Museum to remember their fallen friends and coworkers.
An investigation from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration determined that the explosion was caused by a miner that lit a cigarette and ignited methane gas that was pocketed in high levels inside of the mine.
“It was the worst day of my life, it was without a doubt the most tragic day we saw in mining for all of us,” said J.T. Shadrick who was working in mine No. 21 on the day of the explosion and now operates the Whitwell Coal Mine Museum. “Since I’ve opened this up, this is the first time I’ve seen some of my friends in here,” Shadrick said about the importance of gathering to remember this day.
J.T. Shardrick speaking to his fellow former miners before the moment of silence.
The explosion was in section 003 of mine 21, nearly 3 miles from the entrance of the mine. Jimmy Holtzclaw was the General Mine Foreman over section 008 of mine 21, but was also a part of the mine rescue crew that was tasked with looking for survivors after the explosion. “Everything went wrong that day,” Holtzclaw said. “It had been reported that there was methane on 003 the night before and they were making plans of bleeding the methane off, when they cut into it, the methane was in such a large amount it flushed out and filled that whole area up.”
“Myself and J.T. were on the mine rescue team. We had to go up and put out any fires and hopefully find the survivors, but the sad news was there were no survivors,” Holtzclaw said. “It was a hard day for all of us,” he continued. “It was not only a hard day, but it was a hard year for all of us to cope with it.”
“It’s like therapy for me,” Holtzclaw said about being able to meet with his fellow miners to remember his fallen friends. “At that time there was no therapy offered, especially to the mine rescue team that had to go up and deal with what we found. We lived with it for a long time, have dreams about it, it’s just a sight that you don’t lose. It’ll be with me for the rest of my life.”
The names of the 13 men lost on this day 40 years ago.
Cathy Lyle’s husband, James, worked in the mines for over 10 years and was working during the day of the explosion. James was luckily not in 003 during the time of the explosion, but “a lot of his friends died,” Cathy said. “We had just had our baby, Angel, six days before that, and it was just a terrible time. You couldn’t be happy for all the sadness around you, because all of these people we knew,” Cathy said. “It was awful for this community.”
“Everybody knows where they were at on 9/11. Everyone of you know where you were at on December 8, 1981,” Holtzclaw said, speaking to the group of former miners in attendance. “I still mine coal at night in my sleep. I still smell the smells, I still see the sights, I still hear the sounds and I know you do too. If I was a young man and we had coal to mine in these mountains, I’d be the first one to fill out the application because I would do it again,” Holtzclaw said.
the map of mine #21. the red tack is the exact spot where the explosion took place.
Marion County Mayor David Jackson came to show his respect to those who lost their lives in the tragic event. “Miners were the backbone of this country for years. You were brave to go into those mountains. It was a
dangerous job,” Mayor Jackson said. “It’s a sad day for Marion County back on December 8, 1981, those men will always be remembered. We’ll always keep you guys in our prayers, especially those families that lost loved ones.”
The group gathered for a moment of silence at 12 p.m., the exact time that explosion took place 40 years ago.
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