Freeland, PA, 1891 – The coal mines of Freeland have long been a source of pride and prosperity for the town and its people. But beneath the surface, a ticking time bomb is waiting to unleash its fury. Markle Co’s New Workings at Pink Ash, a coal mine on the outskirts of town, is set to open in the coming months. The mine’s new slope, one of the deepest in the region, will stretch over 1,400 feet into the earth, a feat of engineering that has left many in the community on edge.
Thomas Kelliott, the contractor behind the project, has three shifts working on the slope every day, racing against the clock to complete it before the mine’s precarious water situation becomes a catastrophe. The old Pink Ash mine, abandoned for years, has been filled to the brim with water, threatening to burst through the makeshift wall of masonry that holds it back. And when it does, the consequences will be disastrous.
Markle Co’s plan to tap into the water and dry out the old slope may seem like a desperate gamble, but it’s a risk the company is willing to take in order to access a vast, untapped seam of coal. The quality and quantity of the coal is said to be among the best in the region, a prize worth any danger. But as the townspeople of Freeland know all too well, the earth beneath their feet is a harsh mistress, and the price of progress can be steep.
The employees of Markle Co’s New Workings are on high alert, bracing themselves for the worst as the company pushes ahead with its plans. The Jeddo tunnel, the key to unlocking the old slope’s secrets, is currently under construction, and once it’s finished, the countdown to disaster will begin.
As the people of Freeland wait with bated breath for the outcome of Markle Co’s gamble, one thing is clear: the stakes are higher than ever before. The fate of the town, its economy, and its people hangs in the balance, a precarious balancing act that could tip either way at any moment.
Freeland’s coal miners are no strangers to danger, but the risks they face today are unlike any they’ve ever encountered before. The question on everyone’s lips is: will Markle Co’s New Workings prove to be a blessing or a curse for the people of Freeland?
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Key Facts
- State: PA
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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