The following articles appeared in the Tuesday, 11 Jun 1889, Wednesday, 12 Jun 1889 and
Thursday, 13 Jun 1889 editions of the Wilkes-Barre (PA) Record newspaper. If you would
like copy of these articles, please send me your mailing address.
Tuesday, 11 Jun 1889
"At 10:30 yesterday morning Plymouth was in a state of excitement, when the rumor was
afloat that four miners had been killed in the Nottingham mine, No. 15, L.&W. Coal Co.
Pat Curley, age 45, of High Street, who has a family of five children; Rees Lloyd,
single, aged 25, a resident of Walnut Street; Richard Williams, Turkey Hill, single, aged
23, and Matthew Davis, aged 40, Turkey Hill, who has a wife and five children, were
engaged in robbing pillars. About 9:30 o'clock, when they took lunch, for
safety's sake they repaired to a gangway and sat down upon their tool boxes. After
this was over, they were filling their pipes, when suddenly a fall of several tons of
strata known as big slate, came down, crushing the men beneath...[More details of
accident.]...It was found that Matthew Davis was alive. He had his arm and leg fractured
and was otherwise severely cut. He was at once removed in an ambulance to the
Wilkes-Barre Hospital, where he was doing well in the evening.
[More details]
"Matthew Davis was a well known singer and member of the Plymouth Choral Society, and
was also an athlete of considerable ability...[Details of other victims]
Wednesday, 12 Jun 1889
"The funerals of the four victims of the Nottingham mine accident will occur to-day.
The funeral of Curley will be held at 3 p.m., from his residence on High Street; that of
Lloyd from his home on Walnut Street, at 3 p.m.; that of Richard Williams at 2:30, and the
coffin will be carried to the grave; and that of Matthew Davis, who died yesterday at the
Wilkes-Barre Hospital, at 4 p.m..."
Thursday, 13 Jun 1889
"The funeral of Matthew Davis, another of the mine victims who died from his injuries
in the hospital on Tuesday, took place at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The body was
taken to the Welsh Congregational Church, Rev. J.W. Morris officiated. Interment in
Shawnee Cemetery. Deceased was a native of Merthyr, Wales. He leaves a wife and five
children. The Excelsior Glee Club, of which he was a member, sang several
selections."
Nancy Cook
Still Snowy Pasadena, MD, USA