Trapped In A Mine For The Second Time - In Centralia

On September 26th 1913, Thomas Tomasheffski was trapped in a mine at Centralia for 8 days and nights. Not only did he survive,  but it was the second time he had been trapped in a mine.

I've had some difficulty tracking down more information about Tomasheffski, primarily because his name is given, and spelled, in so many different ways.  We know from the stories about his rescue that he was Lithuanian, had a wife and children, and that in 1911 [two years earlier] he was already a miner, having been trapped in a mine that year as well. 

 Interestingly, the story I find of three men being trapped in a mine in August 1911 includes a "Anthony Thomasser".  Could that possibly be the same man?  Or have I simply not located the story about Thomashefski being trapped in 1911?  It's a bit of a mystery - and I admit that his breakdown when he was about to become famous does add to the intrigue, although it could all mean nothing at all.

The Pittsburgh Press, October 1 1913

"Countrymen of Tomashefski, some of whom greeted him upon his release from the Mid Valley Mine two years ago when he was shut in for two days, are planning to give him the reception of his life when he is brought out."

Philadelphia Enquirer, October 1913.

Milk and food were sent through a tube, as more than 100 men worked for more than a week to rescue him.

EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE. When taken to the surface of the coalmine the strong light momentarily blinded Tomashefski, but in a few moments he opened his eyes, and for the first time in a week, stood upright and stretched his cramped limbs. He presented a remarkable spectacle as he stood in the sunlight, wit  black long, unkempt beard, and tattered clothes. while the shouting crowds hailed him hero. He refused to go to the hospital, and expressed the hope that he would be allowed to return to work the next day.

He was driven to his cottage, where there was a happy family reunion, and praise for the merciful saints. After he had eaten a huge steak, potatoes. cabbage, half an apple-pie. and drank a tankard of beer. Tomashefski saw the newspaper man.

Asked what he thought about most while he was entombed, the miner grinningly replied. "How to get out, and whether the roof would fall in before I did. It was very cold in my prison, and because of the flooded floor I couldn't lie down. When I did sleep I sat on a plank of wood, with my back against the wall. The worst part of the imprisonment was from Friday, when I was trapped, until Tuesday, that when time my I'd mates heard me rapping.

During had nothing to eat or drink, and most of the time it was dark. Once the tube was forced through and I had taken food I never felt any fear. This is the third time Tre been buried alive. and the last experience is the worst. I don't want another." Tomashefski has been offered a big salary by but he vaudeville managers to tour the country, says he will "stick to his sure tub of digging coal.".

Indiana Gazette

October 6th

The Lehigh Valley Coal Company Police guarded Tomashefski's home after his rescue, to keep the crowds away and allow him to get some rest.  

"Tomachefski Is Very Much Puzzled. John Tomachefski, the miner who was entombed for week in a Centralia mine, has woke up to find himself famous. The motion picture men are after him, the picture houses and the county fairs are all after him as a money making feature. Tomachefski, of course, is to get his bite out of the wad. Shreck, the Mount Carmel motion picture king, who a few years ago ran a moving picture house in Tamaqua, has made him an offer of $l5 a night and a booking for some half dozen towns. He was to have taken Schreck up at Mount Carmel on Wednesday night but failed to keep the appointment, saying that he did not feel up to the excitement. They are all trying to get him as a feature of the Bloomsburg fair. Tomachefski seems to be up in the air over all this notoriety and does not seem to be able to decide what he is going to do: If he was left to choose for himself he says that he would rather go back to the mines and get all that coal that he pulled down, it is said in it there is enough loose coal there to keep them busy for some months. "

Mount Carmel Item

07 Oct 1913

"BREAK DOWN OF RESCUED MINER Just four days after he had been rescued - from what seemed prefect death, John Tomashefski, of Centralia. who had been entombed in the Continental Colliery for eight days and nights, broke down yesterday afternoon and is now a nervous wreck. ap-Because of this fact he has been forced to cancel his vaudeville tour.

 After he was rescued he appeared to be very strong and on Saturday and Sunday called on many of friends and told them how glad he was that he was still alive. On Sunday he attended church here and last night was to have appeared at the Majestic theatre. Yesterday afternoon his feet became sore and he claimed that his knees were weak. He was nervous and cried like a child, being unable to control himself. He is a man of uncommonly strong constitution and it is believed that the nervous attack will soon pass away."

Pittsburg Press, October 1913

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His first name was given as Anthony, John, and Thomas.  His last name was spelled at least half a dozen different ways, including Toscheskie, Toshesky, Tomasheffski, Toshehefsky, and the most common, Tomashefski. 

1911

Is this the same man?