The Eccles Mine Disaster was an explosion of coal-seam methane in Raleigh County, W. Va. The explosion was caused when a miner blasted a hole through a barrier of coal in order to shorten the distance between working areas. This however cut off ventilation into the mine, allowing methane to accumulate within. An open flame light was the cause of the ignition of methane which killed over 180 people between mines number 5 and 6. (From postcard collection legacy system.)
