united states mine rescue association Mine Disasters in the United States
Orient Mine Hoisting Disaster
September 17, 1917
No. Killed – 5
Five men were killed in the Orient Mine.
An incompletely caged loaded car at the main shaft had caused a wreck, and men were being hoisted on the escapement shaft cage. This was a single cage with counterbalance in guides that operated like a separate cage.
This counterbalance came out of its guidelines and collided with the cage at the halfway location in the shaft, causing the cage to fall to the shaft bottom, a distance of about 250 feet.