[1] However, locals claim that the true number of deaths is greater than this because many miners were unregistered and multiple bodies were not identified.

[2] The cause of the explosion (although never fully determined) was likely ignition of methane gas which had built up after leaking from an adjacent unventilated mine.

Tennessee State Route 116 connects Fraterville with Briceville to the south and Rocky Top to the north.

This stretch of Route 116 has been renamed "Fraterville Miners Memorial Highway" in honor of the victims of the mine explosion.

The company never took part in the state's controversial convict leasing system and paid in cash (rather than scrip), and thus avoided much of the labor unrest that plagued neighboring mines during the Coal Creek War in the early 1890s.

These men reportedly saw black smoke rising from the Fraterville Mine and initially thought that it was coming from a ventilation furnace.

George Camp led a small "scout" team into the entrance of the mine to see how far down they could get and ran into blockage about 2,000 feet in.

Following George Camp's scouting of the situation attempt, he and his small team found thousands of people, many of which were wives and family members of the miners, desperately trying to break into the mine from multiple locations.

George Camp requested for Philip Francis to obtain a team of experienced miners to help with the rescue missions.

[6] The initial rescue party penetrated to just 200 feet (61 m), however, before they were forced to turn back and await the dispersal of toxic gases.

[4] Once Philip Francis and his team arrives, they organized a second rescue party that entered the mine at 4:00 that afternoon, and using a makeshift venting system made of cloth and creosote, they inched their way into the main shaft,[3] where they observed the destruction, later reported by the Commissioner: Brattices had been destroyed, and along the main entry the force of the explosion was terrific, timbers and cogs placed to hold a squeeze were blown out, mine cars, wheels, and doors were shattered, and bodies were dismembered.

In fact, the rescue team discovered that 26 miners had barricaded themselves in a side passage of the mine and effectively kept most of the toxic gases away from themselves.

[5] Several miners wrote farewell messages to loved ones shortly before dying, stating they were struggling for air, and encouraging their families to "live right" so they would meet again in heaven.

[3] Some of the men within the group of 26 that barricaded themselves within a side passage of the mine wrote final letters to their families.

They requested to be buried together and Harvey asked for his brother Horace to take all of his shoes and clothing and wear them.

John Hendren" [5] Recovery missions lasted for many days as a line of families and miners waited outside the entrance of the Fraterville Mine in order to identify each body that was extracted.

So, recovery expeditions continued for a long time in an attempt to ensure all of the dead miners were found[2] The cause of the explosion was a matter of controversy.

The report issued by the Tennessee Commissioner of Labor stated that the explosion occurred when volatile gases that "had accumulated because of inadequate ventilation" were ignited by an open light.

Along with Hightower, superintendent George Camp was also charged with negligence, but was acquitted after several hours of tearful testimony.

Other miners who lost their lives in the Fraterville disaster are buried in Longfield Cemetery on U.S. Route 441 just east of Rocky Top.