April 6 1967
Free Press Files
Department of Mines investigators are in their third day of trying to piece together the reasons for the explosion which Monday at about 4 p.m. ripped through the Michel Colliery’s Balmer North Mine, killing 15 men and injuring 10 others.
Within half an hour of the blast which sent a dense cloud of black smoke, dust and heat from the twin portals of the mine entrance, 12 men where known to have died instantly.
The cloud shot across the valley for a quarter mile.
The 13th miner, Walker Parker, 27 of Fernie died some hours later in Michel Hospital.
Missing until 6:30 a.m. Tuesday were Fuy Venzi 58, of Sparwood and Delfie Quarrin, 37, of Natal. Their scorched bodies, covered in mud and coal were brought from the mine just after dawn broke on the weary mine rescue teams and volunteers who had worked through the night in the futile rescue attempt.
Killed were
Ronald Freng, 31,
Walter Gibalski, 53,
Willie De Lorme 19
Guildo Venzi 58
August (Archie) Wotjula 42
William Cytko, 41
Sam Tolley, 53
Delfir Quarrin 37
Anthony Cepelianskes, 64
Eugene Lucky, 27
Eric Lutzke, 38
Mike Bryan, 64
John Brenner, 46
Walter Parker, 27
Hugh Hopley, 24
Injured were
Larry Savilo
Robert Brown
Gerry Clark
Earl Price
Art Parsons
Herb Parsons
Bill Corrigan
Robert Clegg
Pete Rotella
Irv Mitchell
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