E-EDITION OBITUARIES NEWSLETTERS CONTACT US CLASSIFIEDS SUBSCRIBE LOGIN 32° FEATURED Knox Mine Disaster hero dies at age 101 By Denise Allabaugh Sta7 Writer Nov 9, 2020 Updated Nov 9, 2020 Comments 1 of 6 RECENT OBITUARIES Abend, Francis J. "Frank" Alapack, Nicholas Robert Barke, Paul H. Barrett, Mary Susan Barton, Michalene Bill Hastie looks at old photographs from the Knox Mine, where he was on the rescue team 60 years ago Birthday celebrant Bill Hastie, left, listens as Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown proclaims May 28, 2020 Buy Now Bloss, Betty when the Knox Mine Disaster happened, during an anniversary event in 2019. ‘Bill Hastie Day.’ TIMES-SHAMROCK FILE SEAN MCKEAGBonczek, / STAFF Lillian PHOTOGRAPHER Shemanski Brown, Elsie R. Bill Hastie, the last living employee of the Knox Coal Company and a hero who Bussacco, Romilda R. (Tomassoni) helped save 69 miners, died Saturday at the Community Living Center at the Carey , Lucille Vancosky Department of Veterans A7airs Medical Center in Plains Twp. He was 101 years old. Chesnaik, Gloria Hastie, a West Pittston native and World War II veteran, was o7 shift when the Knox Culver, Emily G. (Killian) Mine Disaster occurred Jan. 22, 1959 in Jenkins Twp. when workers were ordered to Dunbar, Bill "Hillbilly Willy" dig illegally under the Susquehanna River. He was one of the rst to respond to the Fiorani, Mary A. tragedy and assist with the rescue. Fixl, John Robert Wolensky, adjunct professor of history at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, said Hastie was the rst to nd miner Amadeo Pancotti, who had just climbed up and Local Obituaries escaped through the Eagle Air Shaft and was walking along the Lehigh Valley Each day's obituaries, delivered to your inbox. Railroad tracks. Enter email address Hastie immediately called for rope so that the other men at the bottom of the shaft could be pulled to the surface. He later nominated Pancotti for the prestigious Sign up Carnegie Hero Award. Twelve miners died when the Susquehanna River ooded the underground mine while 69 others escaped. Wolensky worked with Hastie to publish mining history articles and they co- authored “Anthracite Labor Wars,” which focuses on the area’s labor management and labor clashes during the rst half of the 20th Century. “In these e7orts, I was like so many other local history researchers who have beneted from his extensive knowledge and kind mentorship,” Wolensky said. Wolensky said Hastie was a dear friend and colleague and “perhaps the last of the old-time mineworker-scholars.” “Despite his fantastic memory and deep understanding, he was never one to brag or show superiority. His humility was as apparent as his steadfastness,” Wolensky said. “The local history community will mourn the loss of one of its giants but we can also celebrate a long life very well lived.” Uncensored History Iconic Vintage Photos Prove Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown proclaimed May 28, 2020 “Bill Hastie Day” when Not Suited For All Viewers he celebrated his 101st birthday. In honor of his birthday, the medical center organized a parade for him and emergency vehicles from Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre Twp. and Plains Twp. participated to show their support for him. Brown said Monday he was sad to learn of Hastie’s death but he was thankful to have had the honor of celebrating his 101st birthday. “He will be remembered as a hero for his service during World War II and then for aiding in the rescue of 69 miners during the Knox Mine Disaster,” Brown said. “He contributed his knowledge of the local mining industry throughout his life and preserved the memory of the Knox Mine Disaster for generations to come. I extend my condolences to his family and friends as they honor his life and legacy.” Wilkes-Barre Councilman Tony Brooks, who also is past president of St. David’s Society of Wyoming Valley, said Hastie was the “epitome of a great American.” “He personied the Wyoming Valley where one’s ethnic heritage blended together to create what America stands for,” Brooks said. “I will miss his true grit as a coal miner and be forever grateful for his handing down of Welsh culture to the present and future generations.” Bobby Hughes, executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, was good friends with Hastie for more than 25 years and he said he had been an anthracite history mentor for him. They worked together to create the 135th anniversary commemoration of the Avondale Mine Disaster in Plymouth Twp. and Hughes said Hastie’s Welsh singing and both of their connections to St. David’s Society helped bring “beautiful” Welsh hymns to the event and program. They also worked together on many other projects such as documentaries about the Knox Mine Disaster and the Huber Breaker in Ashley. “His role in the Knox Mine Disaster saving lives was signicant,” Hughes said. “He was an iconic gure of anthracite mining history throughout the Wyoming Valley and I truly enjoyed our time together to learn from him and absorb any knowledge he was willing to share.” Contact the writer: [email protected], 570-821-2115, @CVAllabaugh Tags Department Of Veterans Afairs Medical Center Knox Coal Company Knox Mine Disaster West Pittston World War Ii PREV NEXT Denise Allabaugh 570-821-2115 Denise Allabaugh covers the business beat for The Citizens’ Voice Read More... Follow Denise Allabaugh Sponsored Man Who Predicted 2020… The New Dodge Ram Will… One Thing All Liars Have I… The Legacy Report BrilliantCheck TruthFinder Head-Turning 2021 Cars… 2020's Most Unreliable Cars Affordable Senior… Luxury SUVs | Search Ads MoneyWise.com Senior Living | Search Ads ALSO ON CITIZENS' VOICE Sponsored More COVID-19 12 more dead, 141 new vaccines become … COVID-19 cases in … a day ago • 5 comments 11 hours ago • 3 comments Cook’s Pharmacy in Luzerne County has Kingston is one of a few recorded 141 new positive area pharmacies that … COVID-19 cases and 12 … Citizens' Voice Comment Policy Please read our Comment Policy before commenting. ! More COVID-19 12 more dead, 141 new vaccines become … COVID-19 cases in … Comments for this thread are now closed × 6 Comments Citizens' Voice " Disqus' Privacy Policy #1 Login * Recommend t Tweet f Share Sort by Best Heather_Roccogrande • 2 months ago Such a loss. Had the pleasure of many conversations with this great man. Heart goes out to Megan. 2 , + • Share › Sponsored Just4Fun1 • 2 months ago • edited Bill Hastie had a lot of knowledge of West Pittston history. 1 , + • Share › Al Brooks • 2 months ago God Speed sir. We could use more men like you. , + • Share › frenchcanadian • 2 months ago R.I.P. , + • Share › TheJoeValley • 2 months ago dump would have considered him a sucker and a loser for working in the mines and being a vet , + 2 • Share › Just4Fun1 & TheJoeValley • 2 months ago you need companionship. , + • Share › Powered by Disqus ' Subscribe d Add Disqus to your site ) Do Not Sell My Data Sponsored SITE LINKS OUR COMPANIES citizensvoice.com 75 N. Washington St. Logout The Times Tribune Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 Phone: (570) 821-2067 Subscribe Standard-Speaker Email: [email protected] Newsletters Republican Herald Alerts AccessNEPA.com Contact Us Varsity570.com Greater Pittston Progress © Copyright 2021 The Citizens' Voice, 75 N. 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