The mine was owned by the New River Colliers Company, a Guggenheim family interest at the time.

[1] As with other West Virginia mines, the shafts pierced not only beds of coal but also pockets of natural gas.

At least 180 men lay dead, this being the death roll published as of 2011 by the National Coal Heritage Trail.

[1] The workmen's compensation law of West Virginia had taken effect in October 1913, thus no appeal to charity was made on behalf of the families.

When digging for coal in deep mines, chambers of gas lay just underneath, which could be highly explosive when coming in contact with carbide headlamps.