The Schuylkill County-based “Sheppton: The Myth, Miracle & Music” was recently featured on “Mysterious Universe,” an Australian paranormal podcast.

Written by coal region historian Maxim W. Furek, the book documents the bizarre 1963 Pennsylvania mining disaster. Mysterious Universe host Aaron Wright explained that for a two-week period, “a strange and paranormal supernatural spell” fell over Sheppton, after three miners were entombed more than 300 feet underground. Although two were eventually rescued, the other inexplicably disappeared.

Wright stated that, interviewed separately, the rescued miners, David Fellin and Henry Throne, both reported similar experiences. They saw a blue door materializing in the darkness and stairwells leading to a Golden City that stretched for miles and miles. They claimed that Pope John XXIII (who had died two months earlier) appeared in the mine for the entire two-week period and saved their lives.

Furek said, “It was almost surreal to hear those distinctive Australian voices reading over my book. The podcast was extremely respectful of the Sheppton incident and, I believe, validated my research into the supernatural aspects of this tragedy.”

For more information, visit shepptonmyth.com. The Australian Mysterious Universe June 7 podcast (21.22) can be heard at https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mysterious-universe/e/61761961.