Exploding a Tunnel

One of the first major tragedies occurred on March 20th of 1865. Engineers thought it would be a good idea to have a ventilation shaft that would extend to the surface above and allow fumes and groundwater to be pumped out. A leaky lantern filled the hoisthouse with Naptha, an explosive natural gas, and the place blew sky high. The wall for starters, 300 freshly sharpened drill bits, then the hoist mechanism itself, and finally, the burning wreckage of the building. All of it fell five stories down the tunnel and onto the 13 men working at the bottom.