The Cherry Mine Disaster A Tragic Tale of Fire and Survival

The Cherry Mine disaster of 1909 was a catastrophic coal mine fire in Cherry, Illinois. A kerosene lamp set a wooden cart ablaze, spreading the fire throughout the mine. The decision to close air shafts to extinguish the flames unintentionally trapped miners below, leading to a tragic loss of 259 lives. The event highlighted the dangers of early 20th-century mining and had a lasting impact on mining safety regulations.