Turtle Mountain Disaster

The town of Frank. nestled beneath the brooding Turtle Mountain, in the Rockies foothills ,was a coal mining and CPR railroad town. That was before the early morning of April 29, 1903, when a huge slice of the Turtle Mountain broke free, crashing down on rhe sleeping hamlet below, crushing flimsy homes in a tide of rock and rubble that killed an estimated 83 persons, with about 70 bodies never recovered, owing to the extent and ferocity of the rock mass. What caused the disaster? A series of circumstances, natural and man-made. The geological structure of the mountain was unusal for the Rockies, mining the coal seam left large vaults, which weakened the stratas above, creating surface fissures that filled with water, which expanded as it turned to ice, further destroying the mountain's stability. What did happen, then became inevitable. As with many disaster this mountain tragedy did have its astonishing survival story. The night crew in the mine, mainly on maintenance work, were busy when disaster struck and 17 were trapped, the entrance blocked by the slide. Only one was seriously injured. One of the survivors recalled a small upward angled coal seam that could offer an escape route. No better plan emerged so, in two-man teams they began mining their way out, about four hours after the entrance was sealed off. By late afternoon few were able to continue, so single man digging was introduced, with active miners reduced to two. Then came the break-through, fresh and sunlight beamed into their shaft, spirits and strength revived they emerged to see the magnitude of the disaster that had over taken Frank, and some of their family members. Frank Anderson has compiled an amazing and far-searching reconstruction of events leading up to the slide, its impact on the settlement, rescue efforts, survivor stories, tragedies, the fate of the mine and railway and subequent events, including inquiry findings and lessons learned. This is a great little book, recalling a little-known Canadian tragedy. Published for the author by Gopher Books, first edition of 1986, 92 pages, 17 b/w photos plus eight maps, plans or diagrams. Pictorial card covers with original tape protected spine area are VG+. internally excellent, no inscriptions. Small/light book, postage at cost.…