Son of Maximilliam Tidmore and Clarinda Camp Smith Tidmore.
As a young man Rufus Jeremiah "Coon" Tidmore left Blount County to work in the Virginia, Alabama (about 18 miles SW of Birmingham) mines with his brother, Joseph Hannibal "Han" Tidmore.
He was killed in a mine explosion Feb 20, 1905. The explosion was heard for some distance and big timbers were thrown violently from the mine. It was not long before it was seen that an awful catastrophe had taken place. The explosion was caused by dry shot and closed the mine from the outer world, shutting in its occupants with tons of debris between them and day light. Brave men worked day and night with hopes of rescuing these men. Many miners lost their lives on this day.
--From The Birmingham News, Feb. 21, 1905:
Horrible Sights.
One of the most gruesome sights witnessed today was a man's head being carried out of the mine in a dinner basket. It was found in this position and the flesh was almost entirely burned away from the skull, arms and mangled trunks were brought out in succession. After nightfall the entrance to the mine was converted into a veritable chamber of horrors. The awfulness of this was intensified by the flickering of lamps as the feeble rays fell upon the mangled and bleeding fragments of human flesh, strewn about the entrance.
Many stout hearted men who had been assisting in the work of rescue were forced to give up the task and numerous persons have fainted upon seeing the ghastly array of bodies.
Several women became hysterical, others fainted and still others had to be placed in the hands of attending surgeons, being completely prostrated by the terrible scenes. When bodies are identified a tag is placed on each and special ambulance wagons conveyed them to Bessemer.
Mine Boss Reed is confident that more than a hundred men in the mines were white and believes all perished.
As a young man Rufus Jeremiah "Coon" Tidmore left Blount County to work in the Virginia, Alabama (about 18 miles SW of Birmingham) mines with his brother, Joseph Hannibal "Han" Tidmore.
He was killed in a mine explosion Feb 20, 1905. The explosion was heard for some distance and big timbers were thrown violently from the mine. It was not long before it was seen that an awful catastrophe had taken place. The explosion was caused by dry shot and closed the mine from the outer world, shutting in its occupants with tons of debris between them and day light. Brave men worked day and night with hopes of rescuing these men. Many miners lost their lives on this day.
--From The Birmingham News, Feb. 21, 1905:
Horrible Sights.
One of the most gruesome sights witnessed today was a man's head being carried out of the mine in a dinner basket. It was found in this position and the flesh was almost entirely burned away from the skull, arms and mangled trunks were brought out in succession. After nightfall the entrance to the mine was converted into a veritable chamber of horrors. The awfulness of this was intensified by the flickering of lamps as the feeble rays fell upon the mangled and bleeding fragments of human flesh, strewn about the entrance.
Many stout hearted men who had been assisting in the work of rescue were forced to give up the task and numerous persons have fainted upon seeing the ghastly array of bodies.
Several women became hysterical, others fainted and still others had to be placed in the hands of attending surgeons, being completely prostrated by the terrible scenes. When bodies are identified a tag is placed on each and special ambulance wagons conveyed them to Bessemer.
Mine Boss Reed is confident that more than a hundred men in the mines were white and believes all perished.
Son of Maximilliam Tidmore and Clarinda Camp Smith Tidmore.
As a young man Rufus Jeremiah "Coon" Tidmore left Blount County to work in the Virginia, Alabama (about 18 miles SW of Birmingham) mines with his brother, Joseph Hannibal "Han" Tidmore.
He was killed in a mine explosion Feb 20, 1905. The explosion was heard for some distance and big timbers were thrown violently from the mine. It was not long before it was seen that an awful catastrophe had taken place. The explosion was caused by dry shot and closed the mine from the outer world, shutting in its occupants with tons of debris between them and day light. Brave men worked day and night with hopes of rescuing these men. Many miners lost their lives on this day.
--From The Birmingham News, Feb. 21, 1905:
Horrible Sights.
One of the most gruesome sights witnessed today was a man's head being carried out of the mine in a dinner basket. It was found in this position and the flesh was almost entirely burned away from the skull, arms and mangled trunks were brought out in succession. After nightfall the entrance to the mine was converted into a veritable chamber of horrors. The awfulness of this was intensified by the flickering of lamps as the feeble rays fell upon the mangled and bleeding fragments of human flesh, strewn about the entrance.
Many stout hearted men who had been assisting in the work of rescue were forced to give up the task and numerous persons have fainted upon seeing the ghastly array of bodies.
Several women became hysterical, others fainted and still others had to be placed in the hands of attending surgeons, being completely prostrated by the terrible scenes. When bodies are identified a tag is placed on each and special ambulance wagons conveyed them to Bessemer.
Mine Boss Reed is confident that more than a hundred men in the mines were white and believes all perished.
As a young man Rufus Jeremiah "Coon" Tidmore left Blount County to work in the Virginia, Alabama (about 18 miles SW of Birmingham) mines with his brother, Joseph Hannibal "Han" Tidmore.
He was killed in a mine explosion Feb 20, 1905. The explosion was heard for some distance and big timbers were thrown violently from the mine. It was not long before it was seen that an awful catastrophe had taken place. The explosion was caused by dry shot and closed the mine from the outer world, shutting in its occupants with tons of debris between them and day light. Brave men worked day and night with hopes of rescuing these men. Many miners lost their lives on this day.
--From The Birmingham News, Feb. 21, 1905:
Horrible Sights.
One of the most gruesome sights witnessed today was a man's head being carried out of the mine in a dinner basket. It was found in this position and the flesh was almost entirely burned away from the skull, arms and mangled trunks were brought out in succession. After nightfall the entrance to the mine was converted into a veritable chamber of horrors. The awfulness of this was intensified by the flickering of lamps as the feeble rays fell upon the mangled and bleeding fragments of human flesh, strewn about the entrance.
Many stout hearted men who had been assisting in the work of rescue were forced to give up the task and numerous persons have fainted upon seeing the ghastly array of bodies.
Several women became hysterical, others fainted and still others had to be placed in the hands of attending surgeons, being completely prostrated by the terrible scenes. When bodies are identified a tag is placed on each and special ambulance wagons conveyed them to Bessemer.
Mine Boss Reed is confident that more than a hundred men in the mines were white and believes all perished.
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