March 17, 2023
DISASTER
The next morning, he woke early and drove through town, passing the Logan Banner Newspaper building, Logan County Courthouse, and Logan Bar and Grill. He saw a historical marker and stopped. The monument was titled The Battle for Blair Mountain. The miners wanted to unionize. The memorial described how, in 1921, seven thousand armed striking miners fortified positions for a battle. After five days, the miners succumbed to the power of the U.S. Army and Air Corps.
Liam dove further and saw a second historical marker. This marker memorialized the tragedy at the Holden 22 coal mining disaster. On March 8, 1960, the coal mine caught fire, creating carbon monoxide, which killed eighteen men by asphyxiation.
Liam stopped by a creek, Buffalo Creek, where a historical marker recorded another mining disaster. On February 26, 1972, a coal sludge impoundment dam broke, resulting in one hundred twenty-five deaths and fifty million dollars in property damage. On the list of names, he noticed Patrick O’Sullivan’s.
An older man sitting on a nearby bench asked, “Do you know your history, young man?”
Liam turned to see a grey-haired man approaching him.
“The company declared it was an act of God. Can you believe it, an act of God? They built the dam out of dirt and dared to say it was an act of God.”
“The marker says the company was fined, and a law was passed.”, Liam contended.
“Fined!” the man repeated. “Oh, yes, they were fined, just like all the other times. Nothing was done.” The man questioned, “What does it say the fine was?”
Liam read the marker, “Thirteen and a half million dollars.”
“Think about that.”, the man retorted. “They caused one hundred twenty-five deaths and fifty million in damages and yet only paid thirteen and a half million dollars. Young man, I’m glad you are interested in history, but always analyze what you read.” He continued, “What does it say the name of the law enacted?”
Liam read, “1973 Dam Control Act.”
With a wry smile, the man informed, “In 1973, the West Virginia Legislation passed the Dam Control Act.” He continued, “However, funding was never appropriated to enforce the law.” He turned back toward the creek and informed, “In 1978, an attempt to incorporate Buffalo Creek as a town failed by a vote of 816 to 546. Incorporation would have qualified the area for federal and state rehabilitation grants. Opposition to incorporation was backed heavily by the coal companies, which owned sixty percent of Logan County land and wanted to be excluded from incorporation property taxes.”
The man walked over to the marker, where deceased names were listed. He moved his hand down and stopped at Sally Jamison, announcing, “My mother, God rest her soul.” The man turned, walked back to the bench, and sat down.
Sympathetic, Liam continued to look at the list of deceased people. His eyes stopped at Patrick O’Sullivan. He turned and looked at the creek as it rushed by.