No.9: The 1968 Farmington Mine Disaster
“Riveting. Chilling. Revealing. The story of Farmington Mine No. 9  belongs on everybody’s book shelf. Seventy-eight miners died during a  disaster that rocked West Virginia’s coal fields 43 years  ago--propelling front page headlines across the USA and a trail of  safety concerns across the globe. Bonnie E. Stewart, a brilliant  investigative reporter and university professor, refused to let the  headlines fade away. Hail her tenacity.”Bob Dubill, Former Executive Editor, USA TODAY“Bonnie Stewart has written a remarkable book which deserves wide  circulation. She has exhaustively researched all the documentary  evidence, bolstered with scores of personal interviews. Her evidence  proves without a shadow of doubt that the 78 coal miners who lost their  lives in the November 20, 1968 Farmington Mine Disaster were killed  because management ignored repeated personal testimony by the Farmington  miners that the mine would blow up unless dangerous methane and huge  collections of explosive coal dust were curbed. Those miners who  repeatedly pointed out these dangers were humiliated for their efforts,  and management in its greed for the almighty dollar put on intense  pressure for increased production, even disabling alarm and warning  systems. This book also provides fuel for those protesting mountain-top  removal, by proving that the pressure for more coal must not over-ride  the health and safety of human beings. “Ken Hechler, Former Secretary of State, West Virginia“With 78 dead and 19 never recovered, the sheer magnitude of the  Farmington mine disaster focused national attention on mine safety  deficiencies and led to the enactment of the first major corrective  legislation in several generations. In the wake of 2010’s Upper Big  Branch disaster, Bonnie Stewart’s comprehensive account is a timely  reminder that all mine explosions are preventable.”Cecil E. Roberts, International President, United Mine Workers of America