In the early evening of October 23, 1958, a mining town in Nova Scotia was torn apart by what became known as the Springhill Mine Disaster. 

At 7pm a small “bump” (underground seismic activity) was felt, quickly followed by what would be called the worst mining disaster in North America.  75 of the 175 men working mine No. 2 were killed.  

On Oct. 23, 1958, a seismic shockwave tore through the tunnels of the No. 2 colliery. The “bump” trapped 174 miners underground; 75 died.

Harold Brine was among two small groups trapped in the dark. 
“I realized, boy, I don’t know how bad this is,” said Brine, one of only three survivors left. “We didn’t know how many was dead, but we knew there was a serious problem.”

The earthquake struck in the evening, around 8 p.m. Most of the miners made it to the surface.

Those still trapped were caught more than three kilometres underground in a nine-metre-long chamber that was only 1.2 metres high. There was no food and only half a can of water.

On the sixth day, determined rescue crews managed to find 12 miners. Three days later, they found another seven.
Springhill, N.S., marks 1958 mining disaster | CBC News
See also Harold Brine, last of 19 miners rescued after 1958 Springhill mine disaster, dead at 91 | CBC News

 

Mining Industry
Issued in 1957 by Canada Post
Designed by Alfred Joseph Casson
Engraved by Yves Baril
Issued one year before the Springhill Mine Disaster

In the evening of October 23, 1958, a bump wracked No. 2 mine in Springhill. The underground earthquake sent floors, ceilings, and walls to meet each other, opened great chasms, poured coal and debris into open spaces to completely block levels, and cut off all communication below 7800 feet. In the immediate aftermath, 81 men made their way to the surface. Then from the deeps was only silence.

No. 2 was an old mine, and at 14,300 feet, believed to be the deepest in the world. This depth, combined with its average pitch of 25 degrees, made the mine prone to small “bumps”. A coal mine bump is an underground earthquake, causing substantial movement in the earth. The violent upheaval can bring pillars, roofs, and walls of a coal mine crashing down, raise floors into roofs, and toss men and machinery around, causing death and devastation.
…

Rescuers included draegermen [Mine Rescue Corp] to break into sealed spaces, but mostly barefaced workers to excavate every corner over the mine in case men were alive in a sealed pocket, kept alive by compressed air. After six days of arduous digging and finding only bodies, voices heard through a pipe led to the discovery and rescue of twelve men entombed at the 13,000-foot level.

Three days later, seven more living miners were uncovered. Throughout their lengthy ordeal the trapped men had kept their hopes alive singing, praying, and banging on pipes in efforts to be heard. 75 died in this bump. No. 2 mine was not reopened.
No. 2 Mine Bump, Springhill, 1958 | Museum of Industry

 

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