Early in 1961, Texas Gulf Sulphur Company, the original owners of the Cane Creek Potash Mine, contracted Harrison International, Inc. to sink the shaft and develop the underground mine to access sylvite (potash) ore thousands of feet below the surface. This is the same land in Moab that Intrepid Potash now occupies.

On August 27, 1963, a devastating methane gas explosion occurred nearly 3,000 feet below the mine. At the time of the explosion, twenty-five miners were working underground. In the end, eighteen miners were killed and seven survived by building a barricade.

Once those that survived felt the explosion, they boarded a shuttle car and rode upward. They could see the carbon monoxide-laden smoke coming toward them, so they grabbed scraps of cloth and dipped them in water to wrap around their mouths. Because of experiences like these, miners are now required to have on a self-rescuer belt.

A group of miners moved ahead and hung a curtain from some wire at the top of a tunnel. They then continued to build barricades until the fumes were at bay. Later on, they discovered that an air line was busted, so the miners worked to repair that. A rescue crew showed up to fix the air vent, but had difficulty getting to the miners right away, so it took them roughly 50 hours before they were able to get them out of the mine.

The families of many of those that passed away and the living survivors came to the Intrepid Potash site on August 27, 2013 to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the mine accident. Many of the people in Moab were touched by the story or had a direct connection to the explosion and felt compassion for the families. Intrepid wanted to build a memorial to honor the lives of those we lost, as well as those who survived.

Moab General Manager, Rick York, was heavily involved throughout the monument process and was there in the fall of 2014 when it was erected.

“The Moab Monument is important for our entire community,” said York. “It’s one of those small town things and in the mining community, everyone helps each other. Many of our employees put a lot of heart and soul into this project, as some still have ties to those that worked at the mine years ago. It is a great way to remember both those that we lost and those that survived.”

Another Intrepid Potash employee that was involved throughout the entire monument process was Gary Olesen, a Maintenance Planner in Moab. He used to work with Charles Clark, one of the survivors, so hearing his story really sparked his interest in wanting to put the monument together.

“I have been with Intrepid for 36 ½ years and this is one of the most proud projects I have been a part of,” said Olesen. “It took us almost a year to complete and it was a labor of love by very skilled people.”

A Facebook page (http://x.co/7ur59) has been created by Kym Mele, the daughter of Donald Blake Hanna, one of the survivors to help in locating the other families.

“The Cane Creek monument is an amazing memorial and means so much to the families, especially those who lost a loved one in this disaster,” said Mele. “Rick York, Doug Garrett and all the others who labored to build this monument are to be commended for their wonderful display of compassion. Families now, and for future generations, have a beautiful place near the Colorado River and mine site where they can go to remember, learn the story and reflect on those men whose lives were cut short on that devastating day.”

“Words fail to convey the gratitude the family members feel toward Intrepid Potash in Moab,” continued Mele. “They have demonstrated graciousness by building this monument and for previously hosting a gathering at the mine site on the 50^th Anniversary of Cane Creek mine explosion, August 27, 2013. Intrepid was not the original owners at the time of this disaster, so it certainly speaks volumes of the caliber of people at Intrepid who have been so giving and caring. They have been thoroughly supportive of the families and this has meant so much. Thank you.”

Mele has also created a website where you can read more information – http://cane-creek-mine-disaster.blogspot.com/.