Layland mine disaster of 1915 was one of the deadliest in the New River Gorge

“A search and rescue effort began shortly after the explosion, with rescue crews working to restore ventilation, search for survivors and recover the dead. Four days later on the morning of March 6, five more miners escaped from the mine, surprising rescue crews when they walked out, according to the Department of Mines report. The report states the miners said they had made several attempts to escape over the previous days, but were unable to do so due to the afterdamp – a toxic, carbon monoxide-rich gas – filling some of the tunnels.”

Layland mine disaster of 1915 was one of the deadliest in the New River Gorge (wboy.com)