GC3FF2N Gayton Mine- Carbon Hill Mine Series (Traditional Cache) in Virginia, United States created by altbiers

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altbiers: keeps going away

GC3FF2N ▼

A cache by altbiers Message this owner

Hidden : 3/26/2012

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Part of the Carbon Hill Mine Series
Where you stand is one of two mine shafts within a few feet.

Picture of John William Eagles standing in front of Gayton Shaft, Henrico Co., Virginia coal mine. He was a train engineer and worked at other mines such as Winterpock and Grove Shaft in Chesterfield Co, Virginia. He would haul the coal downhill to the James River for transport. He had hurt his leg in a mining accident years earlier and finally left to get a job closer to Richmond.

Gayton Shaft, Coke Shaft, Orchard Shaft, Twin Shaft, Double Shaft, Breaker Shaft
Location: 4
Historical notes: The Gayton property represents a long history of ownership and development as reflected in the number of names given to the workings. The first pits were shallow and were probably worked before 1819. The Breaker or Orchard shaft was sunk 180 feet to diabase by Messrs. Crouch and Snead about 1850 and were collectively known as the Gayton Shafts.
A slope was dug in the "Coke seam" near the base of the shaft. Here, the "Coke seam" was 8 to l0 feet thick with two shale partings.
A 325-foot shaft through the "Coke seam" was dug 40 feet south of the original shaft by the Richmond Coal Mining and Manufacturing Co. about 1887. A slope was put in that followed the "Coke seam" 1000 feet at a 30o west dip. From the slope, levels were turned every 60 feet, the longest level being 3000 feet from north to south. Most production was from levels 6 and 8. After abandonment, the upper workings caught fire by spontaneous combustion. Pumping ceased and the mine was allowed to fill with water.

Clip from 1911 Newspaper:
MINE EXPLOSION ENDS SIX LIVES.
FOUR MINERS FATALLY INJURED IN VIRGINIA SHAFT.
Gayton Mines, Va., Jan. 21. -- It is known positively that six are dead, four fatally injured and seven more as less seriously hurt as theesult of an explosion in mine No. 1, Carbon Hill, Gayton Mines. Others are still entombed. The work of clearing out the mine is under way and it is thought that more miners will be found. More than 200 men were employed in the mine and the number missing has not yet been accertained.
The dead:
LEWIS SALVINSKY.
JOHN GERATNIS.
FRANK BURGER.
STANISLAU SALVINI.
Two unidentified men, known only by their numbers.
Seven men were seriously injured, among them:
JOSEPH VERDINA.
JAMES ROBINSON.
THOMAS LEE.
JEFFERSON DETIER.
The cause of the explosion is unknown. It is thought it may have been due to disregard to signals by miners.
Piqua Daily Call Ohio 1911-01-21

This series is placed in celebration on my kids and I first anniversay of Geocaching. One year ago we did the Church Hill Tunnel Multicache and were hooked.

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