February 20, 1905: An explosion at the Virginia City Mine kills 112 coal miners at Virginia City, Alabama.
This mine should not be confused with the famous Comstock Lode, a silver mine that inspired the growth of Virginia City, Nevada, helped gain Nevada Statehood, and inspired the TV show Bonanza. Nor should it be confused with cities named Virginia City in Texas and Montana. Oddly, Virginia does not have a city named Virginia City.
The Jefferson County Coroner, operating out of nearby Birmingham, determined that the explosion was caused by the use of too much powder in a charge made at the 5th entry left. The presence of large amounts of coal dust in the mine's air carried the explosive reaction through the entire mine, and caused water pumps and pipes to break, flooding chambers below the water line. The mine itself suffered little damage except for a rock collapse at the entrance.
The mine was operated by a pair of brothers, George and Everett Schuler. They and their partners were charged with criminal negligence that April. Republic Steel purchased the mine in 1936, and operated it until 1963. The property was subsequently redeveloped as the Virginia Estates and Edenwood residential subdivisions.
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February 20, 1905 was a Monday. Baseball and football were out of season. Professional basketball barely existed. And the Ottawa Silver Seven were between Stanley Cup challenges from the Dawson City Nuggets and the Rat Portage (later Kenora) Thistles. So there were no scores on this historic day.
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