The Cherry Mine Disaster of 1909 | Episode 83

02/06/25 • 52 min

5 Listeners

Doomsday: History's Most Dangerous Podcast

We’re going to hell! Well, not hell exactly. We’re going to rural Illinois, but for the purposes of this introduction, we are going to be spending time today in hell.
On today’s episode: you’re going to learn why fourth graders make such poor employees; you’ll learn how to properly panic like a professional; and you will learn how to tell people to “get out” using nothing but a shotgun and morse code.
And if you were listening to this on Patreon... you would also learn the story of the Patron Saint who watches over people who explode; you'd learn why underground coal fires are the disaster you can tell your great, great, great, great, great grandchildren about; you would hear a quick anecdote about nicotine poisoning in the workplace and inappropriate banana usage; and you would find out who gets coal for Christmas.
This was another bad-day-at-work episodes, but it was a good one, because it happened in such a small, unassuming place, but had safety ramifications that spread around the world. This is dedicated to everyone who loves mining and mining disasters. And on that note, most people don't think about mining very often - so this is my love letter to the industry. You love mining, you ask? No, not overly, but in my opinion, our entire evolution as a society and as a species would have been impossible without men willing to climb into the earth to do the work too frightening or dangerous for the masses. On the upside, at least it pays well, and we do get the occasional story out of it.

Previous Episode

The Dusseldorf Airport Disaster of 1996 | Episode 82

2 Recommendations

Do you like fire but hate airports? Have we got the episode for you.
On today’s episode: we’ll be pulling off the front of our skulls and spending some time fingering our limbic systems; we’ll learn why not all fire rescue services are created equal; and we’ll find out how hot it needs to be for your skin to melt off.
And if you had beenlistening to this as a Patreon supporter, you get to enjoy an additional 8 minutes where we discuss: why calling Germans stoic clock-watching robots is considered so flattering; you’d find out if you’d be considered an idiot, moron or imbecile back in the day; and you’d learn how Dusseldorf compares to Hiroshima.
I will also point out that at the end of the episode, there is a very special Book Giveaway contest! That’s right. I’m giving away the very first book/piece of research I ever used in the creation of the show. William McKeown’s "Idaho Falls: The Untold Story of America's First Nuclear Accident" using a once-in-a-lifetime Name That Tune style contest. You’ll just have to see for yourselves.
I'll be doing a few listener shout-outs at the end of the episode, and also thanking you all for your kind encouragement during a time when I wanted to punch my own face off. I don't have a safety segment against that kind of thing, so your gentle intervention was appreciated. We ended last year with a bang and start the new year with a whoosh! I hope you all at least began 2025 in a better space, but even if you didn’t, we’re burning down an airport together, so forget about your worries for an hour or so.

Next Episode

The Hammond Circus Train Disaster of 1918 | Episode 84

2 Recommendations

Do you know the difference between your guts and balloon animals? Organs are ever-so slightly more flame resistant!
On today’s episode: you’ll learn how to squeeze every penny out of a beloved animal corpse; I’ll accidentally teach you why fire is the best way to get rid of leaves, or a body; and you’ll learn the surprisingly simple thing you should do if you found yourself full-bodied origamied into debris.
And if you were listening to this as a Patreon supporter, you get to enjoy an additional 8 minutes where we discuss: two warm up disasters that lead to this one; how close medicine cabinets used to be narcotic liquor cabinets; the incredible fallout of trying to kill people on Twinkies; and the story of high fallutin’ wild west rodeo “war hero” Buffalo Bill Cody
I’m quick to point out to listeners that I don’t like doing episodes where children or animals are hurt, and I’m happy to report the only things dying in this episode are 86 fully grown adults! (And a few animals, I’m sorry, it happens).
However, at the very end of this episode, I really let it go to hell. First I tell you about an elephant that unplugged itself and created a minor panic that my parents may or may not have named my sister after – immediately followed by a barrage dog, bird, car and plane noises all competing to make it unlistenable, but I did it for a very good reason as you will see. Without getting too deeply into it, I have said pretty much since the beginning of this show that we need to keep as many listeners alive and safe as we can. A lot of times, that just means talking.
If you or someone you know is in a bad place and struggling, please don't hesitate to reach out. There are people ready to help.
In Canada, Talk Suicide Canada at 1-833-456-4566 (Available 24/7) or text 45645, or visit www.crisisservicescanada.ca. For youth and young adults, there is also Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.
In the United States, you can call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: just dial 988 (Available 24/7) or you can text HOME to 741741In the UK, you can reach the Samaratins at 116 123.
Obviously, this kind of thing is not that much fun to contemplate, but have you listened to this show before? We do our damndest to put a smile on some pretty awful stuff, but a face can only stretch so much. Please take care of yourself.
All older episodes can be found on any of your favorite channels
Apple : https://tinyurl.com/5fnbumdw
Spotify : https://tinyurl.com/73tb3uuw
IHeartRadio : https://tinyurl.com/vwczpv5j
Podchaser : https://tinyurl.com/263kda6w
Stitcher : https://tinyurl.com/mcyxt6vw
Google : https://tinyurl.com/3fjfxatt
Spreaker : https://tinyurl.com/fm5y22su
Podchaser : https://tinyurl.com/263kda6w
RadioPublic : https://tinyurl.com/w67b4kec
PocketCasts. : https://pca.st/ef1165v3
CastBox : https://tinyurl.com/4xjpptdr
Breaker. : https://tinyurl.com/4cbpfayt
Deezer. : https://tinyurl.com/5nmexvwt
Follow us on the socials for more
Facebook : www.facebook.com/doomsdaypodcast
Instagram : www.instagram.com/doomsdaypodcast
Twitter : www.twitter.com/doomsdaypodcast
If you like the idea of your podcast hosts wearing more than duct tape and bits of old Halloween costumes for clothes and can spare a buck or two, you can now buy me a coffee at ...