Oct. 5 marks the anniversary of a deadly coal mine explosion in Extension, near Ladysmith that killed 32 people. (Ladysmith Archives)

By Kyle Ireland

DEADLY BLAST

Ladysmith remembers 110th anniversary of Extension coal mine disaster

Oct 5, 2019 | 5:57 AM

LADYSMITH — Saturday Oct. 5, 2019 marks 110 years since 32 people were killed in an explosion at the Extension Coal Mine near Ladysmith.

The disaster happened around 8:30 a.m. on the morning of Oct. 5th, 1909 at the number two mine in Extension. An investigation determined one miner died in the explosion itself, while 31 others died in the aftermath.

Quentin Goodbody, President of the Ladysmith and District Historical Society told NanaimoNewsNow what took place on that tragic day.

“The explosion was followed by poisoning of people in the mine by a gas called after-damp which consists of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin and basically meant their blood was unable to take in oxygen.”

The explosion devastated the small town of Ladysmith which served as the bedroom community for the mine, housing not only the miners but their families as well.

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“It left a huge hole in a community which was basically focused on one commodity, coal mines,” Goodbody said.

The victims from that deadly October day remain buried in the Ladysmith cemetery.

The tragedy leaves behind a lasting legacy on mining in B.C.

“It prompted a review of mine safety and setting up a series of mine rescue stations around the province and basically formulating mine rescue in B.C.”

Goodbody added that coal is no longer important to Ladysmith, aside from a heritage perspective but it is the sole reason the town is where it is and why it was founded.

kyle.ireland@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: kyle_ireland31