On December 6, 1907, an explosion at the Darr Mine in Pennsylvania resulted in the deaths of 239 miners, marking one of the deadliest mining disasters in U.S. history. The explosion was caused by a build-up of methane gas, a common hazard in coal mining. This tragedy highlighted the urgent need for improved safety measures and regulations in the mining industry, leading to changes in practices aimed at protecting miners.

The Darr Mine Explosion of 1907 became part of early 20th-century reform literature, with writers like Upton Sinclair addressing the dire conditions faced by miners, thus advocating for labor rights through their powerful narratives.