http://www.timesleader.com/ [Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]
Knox Mine program kicks off week devoted to industry
SCRANTON — A tribute to the victims of the Knox Mine Disaster near Pittston kicked off the 16th annual Mining History Week on Saturday at the Anthracite Heritage Museum. Events sponsored by local colleges and historical groups will take place this week in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Pittston, Port Griffith and Ashley.
The Knox disaster happened on Jan. 22, 1959, when the Susquehanna River broke through the roof of the River Slope Mine, allowing 10 million gallons of water and ice to rush into the mine. According to Explorepahistory.com, 74 miners were trapped by the rushing waters. Only 62 of them would escape, the bodies of the other 12 were never recovered.
On Saturday, experts on the disaster and folks who were there gathered to discuss its historical significance, to honor those who died and to pay tribute to the professional journalists who documented what happened.
“They were true educators,” said Kings’ College Professor Robert Wolensky, who has authored books on the disaster. “We know what happened that day thanks to their work.”
Attending Saturday’s event were Jack Scanella, a local television reporter who filmed the event as it happened and followed the subsequent trials, and William Lukasik, who took the infamous photo of the giant whirlpool where the Susquehanna River poured into the mine.
Filmmaker David Brocca, who has local roots but now works in Los Angeles, showed the group a sample of a documentary film he is working on about the disaster. It included an interview with Scanella and actual video of railroad cars being sucked into the whirlpool, drawing an audible gasp from the audience.
“I didn’t choose to make this film. It chose me,” Brocca said. He expects the film to be completed by the end of the year.
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