As draegermen scour the mines for signs of life, families keep vigil at the pithead. On the third day, 52 men are brought out alive. After exhaustive efforts to find more men, the death toll stands at 39. With fires raging deep underground and the possibility of another explosion, recovery of the dead is postponed and the mine is sealed. Two months later, a Royal Commission is appointed to investigate the cause of the explosion.

• Springhill got its name from the abundance of springs found on the hillside where it is located.
• Settled in 1790, the town of Springhill is situated on the highest land in Cumberland County.
• Coal was discovered there in 1834 and soon became the dominant industry.
• While in operation, the Cumberland Coal Fields produced some of the richest coal in the Maritimes.

Medium: Television
Program: CBC Newsmagazine
Broadcast Date: Nov. 4, 1956
Host: Gordon Burwash
Duration: 3:14