C. Hilton Neiswonger died attempting to save John S. Kramer from suffocation, Dora, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1966. In a coal mine 4,700 feet from the entrance, Kramer, 34, and six other men were working in a room that was only 30 inches high, requiring them to move on their hands and knees. Kramer, at the end of the room opposite the mine passageway, was operating a coal-cutting machine. The other miners were at scattered points, Neiswonger, 28, being in an air duct formed by a heavy curtain three feet from one side of the room. The cutting machine broke through into an abandoned section of the mine, and accumulated blackdamp entered the room. Kramer stopped the machine and, shouting repeatedly for everyone to get out, crawled to the passageway. Two of the other men followed. Kramer then turned and crawled back into the duct to look for one of the miners, en route meeting Neiswonger. They talked briefly, and Neiswonger made his way to a point nearer the passage. He then shouted to Kramer. Saying he was worried about Kramer, Neiswonger turned and crawled farther back into the duct. The two other miners left and summoned help. Kramer was later found 25 feet from the air duct, in which Neiswonger and two other men were found. All were dead.
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