Inc. 1967
Two mine rescue men sacrificed their lives in a fruitless effort to save a fellow rescuer from deadly gas in the Connellsville By-Products mine on Friday,April 1,1927. The three victims were members of a crew from Parnassus,Pa.,and were summoned to take part in the re-opening of the mine which had been sealed for two months because of fire in the workings. Expert men were on hand to direct the operations for it was known that the sealed tunnels were choked with gases. Crews of helmet men were sent to explore the workings and to ascertain,if possible,whether the hooding of the mine had extinguished the fire. Roy Rushton,Frank Burus and William Heagy of Parnassus,formed one crew. For some unexplained reason,Mr. Rushton removed the mouth peice of his helmet. He soon collapsed,a victim of carbon monoxide. Burns and Heagy,realizing the danger,sought to carry Mr. Rushton to safety. In their haste to save Mr. Rushton,they forgot to keep their helmets closed and they were overcome. When other rescue workers reached them,all three were dead.
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