December 16, 1907: An explosion at the Number 1 Mine of the Yolande Coal and Coke Company kills at least 75 men in Yolande, outside Birmingham, Alabama. It was 1 of 4 major mining disasters in America in December 1907 alone.
Post-disaster inspectors couldn't even approach the mine for 2 days, as it was still too hot -- in December. From this, they concluded that the explosion was caused by a "windy shot" bringing about a dust explosion.
Among the dead taken out early was Robert Arnold, the bank boss and Assistant Superintendent of the Yolande Company. Such was the nature of the South at the time that even The New York Times' reporter listened the names of the dead white miners, but not those of the dead black miners.
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December 19, 1907 was a Monday. This was also the day the Great White Fleet set sail. I have a separate entry for that event.
Baseball was out of season. Football season had just ended. And professional basketball and hockey barely existed. So there were no scores on this historic day.
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