| AA very interesting song is "The Red Jacket Mine Explosion," a song written by A.L. Phipps which commemorates an actual explosion at the Red Jacket Mine on the night of Friday, April 22, 1938; the mine was located on Keen Mountain in Hanger, Virginia. The force of this dust explosion was sufficient to blast several miners and a great deal of mining equipment and machinery from the depth of the mine all the wayout its entrance, causing much of the machinery to roll down the side of the mountain. In all, forty�five miners vere killed in the blast, making it one of the worst mining disasters in this country's history. |
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| THE RED JACKET MINE EXPLOSION (Comp. & Arr. by A.L. Phipps) Why did the camp seem so lonely And why were they feeling so strange It seems every person was restless But why had there come such a change? That evening the men lingered longer But at last they did start for the mine For they felt that their duty had summond And their duty required them on time It seemed every nerve was at tension Such an unusual silence around Then the silence was suddenly broken By a shock from in under the ground What could have brought such disturbance Oh what could have caused such a fright In terror they cried "an explosion!" What a scene on that sad Friday night The machines had rolled down the mountain There were screams and cries filled the air In this terror all filled with excitement Everyone seemed to whisper a prayer All the camp people rushed to the mountain To inquire for their loved ones and friends Oh how sad, for the smoke was a-rollin' And the mines was a-burnin' within. Forty-five miners killed in a moment Many burned in their beauty and prime May we all be at peace with our maker We may answer our call anytime Red Jacket's camp's famous beauty Now looks not the same as before You can see now that something is missing That can never return anymore |
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