The day after Christmas, 1945, disaster struck in rural Kentucky. Outside of the small town of Fourmile, an explosion echoed through the hills. The source was from a coal mine that was being operated by the Kentucky Straight Creek Coal Company. At 7 O'clock, workers had started to arrive. By 8:30, smoke was pouring out of the mine.
The exact cause of the mine explosion was never determined. The Mine had gone through a rigorous inspection only a few months earlier in August, and had passed with no issues being reported. The prime suspect . . .
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