MCCURTAIN, Okla. - Nov. 22, 2024 - Oklahoma historian and author David Roberts has released a groundbreaking exposé on the tragic Sans Bois Coal Company explosion of 1912, which claimed the lives of 73 miners. Published after three years of exhaustive research and thousands of record requests across the nation, Roberts' findings uncover the harrowing truth behind the mine's ownership and its catastrophic ending.

The full article, now available on The McCurtain Historical Foundation website (https://www.mccurtainhistory.org/), paints a vivid portrait of early 20th-century industrial practices, labor struggles, and corporate malfeasance. Roberts' research revealed that the Sans Bois Coal Company was not merely a local operation but was owned by three of America's wealthiest industrialists: Henry Clay Frick, Andrew Carnegie, and Andrew Mellon.

Among Roberts' most compelling discoveries were financial records and correspondence secured from the Henry Clay Frick museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These documents suggest that the devastating explosion may not have been an accident but a calculated move. Evidence points to payouts from Frick to A.C. Dustin, indicating a strategy to secure final profits from equipment and coal sales, reap significant insurance payouts, and abandon operations in Oklahoma amidst growing union pressures.

"This research highlights the darker side of industrial progress," Roberts said. "It shows the devastating human cost when greed takes precedence over workers' rights and safety."

Roberts' meticulous work not only sheds light on this local tragedy but also provides a lens through which to examine larger systemic issues of the era, including labor exploitation and union-busting tactics employed by powerful tycoons.

The McCurtain Historical Foundation has called Roberts' work a "monumental contribution to understanding Oklahoma's history." The findings have drawn praise for their meticulous documentation and bold revelations, setting a new benchmark for historical research in the region.

To explore this riveting piece of history, visit www.mccurtainhistory.org.

About David Roberts
David Roberts is a celebrated historian, author, and former political advisor whose expertise lies in uncovering untold stories of the past. A native of McCurtain, Oklahoma, Roberts has previously authored the Political Campaign Playbookand contributed extensively to journalism and academia.

For press inquiries, interviews, or further information, please contact:
info@davidroberts.me