Knox Mine Disaster

One cold morning on January 22, 1959 the belly of the Susquehanna River broke into the Knox mine, trapping 81 men underground. The cave-in causes a giant, 150ft whirlpool to form in the ice laden river above, flooding the mines below. With all known exits cut off miners scramble to find an alternative route out and escape a cold, dark, death. On the surface rescue teams unsuccessfully attempt to plug the breach by launching train cars into the massive swirling vortex, only to witness them swallowed into the mines below.