On August 2, 1913, a series of massive explosions rocked the workings of the East Brookside Colliery above Tower City, Pennsylvania. The colliery was operated by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.

In the deadliest mining disaster in the history of Schuylkill County, 20 men were killed or mortally injured. A lengthy investigation into the disaster found that an initial explosion killed several workers who were digging a new tunnel within the colliery complex.

When rescuers went toward the scene of the first explosion, they triggered more blasts when they accidentally plunged into a pocket of methane gas released by the first explosion.

The disaster received national headlines.

Another image shows the front page of the Pottsville Republican on August 4, 1913 and their reporting on the accident.

It took weeks until all the victims were recovered from the depths of East Brookside. The accident left Williams Valley and the entire southern anthracite field in a deep state of mourning.

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