A History of the Hanna Coal Miner from 1868 to 2017: Bob Leathers' Notebook

A History of the Hanna, Wyoming, Coal Miner from 1868 to 2017

THE HANNA MINER: At The Bottom of the Mine
by Bob Leathers

Last revised: April 14, 2019
All rights reserved by Bob Leathers. All images require written permission for any other use.
Contact: HannaBasinMuseum@gmail.com (Attention: Bob)

COAL MINERS AND THEIR MULES AT THE UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY’S NO. 1 MINE IN HANNA (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Author's Note

The notebook, The Hanna Miner: At The Bottom of the Mine, is a history about the Hanna Basin coal miner. The notes were compiled during the search for my own family of coal miners located in the Hanna Basin. The purpose for collecting, preserving and sharing my notes on this website is to help others connect to their past and to provide accurate and reliable information about the Hanna Basin to interested readers. I invite you to explore how the Hanna Basin came to be and how it touched the lives of many.

A huge thank you to my family and friends for their important contributions to this effort. Without them this publication would not have happened:

Suzanne Leathers, Michelle (Leathers) Tarver, Michael Leathers, Katie Sittner, Ron Leathers Sr., Karen Leathers, Joyce (While) McCartney, Gary Beaver, Bill Becker, John Baldwin, Anne Carlsen, Sandy Siefers, Gert, Gary and Ruth Milliken, Hanna Basin Museum: Nancy Anderson, Victor Anderson and Lynne Kuderko, University of Wyoming: Ayako and Noriaki Ohara, State Coal Mine Inspector: Terry Adcock, State of Wyoming Library: Abigail Beaver, and the State of Wyoming Archives.

This notebook is published in memory of my parents Dorothy and Leo, they lived the Hanna life and love it.

Introduction: My Forgotten Family

Numbers That Matter

Chapter 1:  The Beginning (1868 – 1877)

Chapter 2: The Murder of Lawmen Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent (1878)

Chapter 3: The Early Years (1878 – 1892)

Chapter 4:  The Outlaw Rattlesnake Pete (1893)

Chapter 5:  The Transition -- Carbon Ends and Hanna Begins (1893 – 1902)

Chapter 6: The June 30, 1903 Explosion (1903)

Chapter 7:  Unmarked Graves and the Rasmusson Lawsuit (1903 - 1904)

Chapter 8: The Making of Another Explosion (1904 – 1907)

Chapter 9: The March 28, 1908 Explosion (1908)

Chapter 10:  Sampo and Elmo - The Finnish Towns and Mines  (1909)

Chapter 11:  Recovering from Tragedy and Heartbreak (1909 – 1922)

Chapter 12: The Mining Modernization Years (1923 – 1953)

Chapter 13:  Closing the Mines (1954)

Chapter 14: The Doom and Gloom Years (1955 – 1969)

Chapter 15: The Boom Years (1970 – 1990)

Chapter 16: The Beginning of the End for Coal Production (1990 – 2017)

Chapter 17: The Hanna Basin Mining Companies (1868 – 2017)

Hanna Basin Mining Companies Listed and Explained

Union Pacific Coal Company’s Carbon Mines (1868 – 1902)
Carbon No. 1 mine
Carbon No. 2 mine
Carbon No. 3 mine
Carbon No. 4 mine
Carbon No. 5 mine
Carbon No. 6 mine
Carbon No. 7 mine

Union Pacific Coal Company’s Hanna Mines (1889 – 1954)
Hanna No. 1 mine
Hanna No. 2 mine
Hanna No. 3 mine
Hanna No. 3.5 mine
Hanna No. 4 mine
Hanna No. 4A mine
Hanna No. 5 mine
Hanna No. 6 mine

Sampo Coal Company (1909 – 1910)
Sampo mine

Hanna Coal Company / John W. Hay Coal Company (1920 – 1925)
No. 3.5 mine

Colorado Coal Corporation (1929 – 1936)
Red Mountain mine

Jay Johnson Coal Company (1929 – 1932)
Johnson mine

Carbon County Coal Company #1 (1929 – 1943)
Wilson mine
Carbon County mine
Elk Mountain mine
Abbott mine
Hanna mine

Merl Miller Coal Company (1932 – 1933)
Miller mine

Gus Siltimaki Coal Company 1932 – 1941
Elmo Peacock mine

H. B. Northrup Mining Company (1933 – 1936)
Gary mine

Earl Johnson Coal Company (1936 – 1941)
Elk Mountain Valley No. 1 mine
Elk Mountain Valley No. 2 mine
Carbon County mine

Nugget Coal Company (1936 – 1958)
Nugget No. 1 mine

Monolith Portland Midwest Coal Company (1937 – 1969)
Monolith No. 2 mine

C. R. Cuzik Mining Company (1940 – 1940)
Gary mine

Elk Mountain Valley Coal Company (1942 – 1945)
Gary mine
Carbon mine
Hanna mine

Elk Mountain Terteling Brothers Coal Company (1943 – 1944)
Terteling mine

J. C. Johnson Coal Company (1944 – 1946)
Elk Mountain mine

Public Coal Company (1947 – 1948)
Public mine

Pioneer Mining Company (1949 – 1949)
Pioneer mine

Hanna Basin Coal Company (1959 – 1965)
Hanna Basin mine

Rosebud Coal Sales Company (1960 – 2000)
Rosebud mine

Energy Development and Resource Exploration Mining Company (1969 – 1982)
Rimrock No. 1 mine
Rimrock No. 2 mine
Vanguard No. 1 mine
Vanguard No. 2 mine

Arch Mineral Corporation and Arch of Wyoming (1970 – 2017)
Seminoe No. 1 mine
Seminoe No. 2 mine
Medicine Bow mine
Elk Mountain mine

Medicine Bow Coal Company (1973 – 1975)
Medicine Bow mine

Carbon County Coal Company (1978 – 1986)
Carbon County No. 1 mine

Amar Incorporated (1985 – 1988)
Amar Auger mine

Cyprus Shoshone Coal Company (1987 – 1998)
Carbon County No. 1 mine
Shoshone No. 1 mine

Wyoming and West Virginia Incorporated Coal Company (1990 – 2000)
Sky No. 1 Punch mine

RAG Shoshone Coal Company (1999 – 2000)
Shoshone No. 1 mine

Coal Miner Jargon

Sources

Map of Hanna cemetery

Map of Unmarked Graves in the Hanna cemetery

Map of Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna.

Introduction
My Forgotten Family

"There is no avocation so constantly attended with peril as the working coal miner. No law can be enacted, however well framed and enforced, or any system of mine rules rigidly carried out,
that will secure the coal miner at work from danger or accident."
Wyoming Mine Inspector, 1898

EARLY COAL MINER'S HAT AND LAMP USED IN THE CARBON MINES (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

Twelve men in my family were killed in the Hanna Basin mines. They died dreadful and horrific deaths.

Even though I lived in Hanna the first eighteen years of my life, I was unaware my family had so many men killed in the coal mines. This is their story and also the story of many other Hanna miners just like them that over time have also been lost and forgotten.

I found my family miner deaths to be unbelievable and shocking. I also discovered their early exit from life resulted in unimaginable misery and severe mental and financial hardships for their surviving families. The families didn’t have much to begin with, but some were left without housing and with only limited financial means to support themselves. Many children were left without a father and the wives without a husband to provide for them. They were forced to live with the mental images of how their loved ones were killed and the condition of the bodies when they were buried. Most were forced to leave Hanna for parts unknown to survive. Consequently, my family members took much of the history with them. The dead were left behind at the bottom of the mine or in the surrounding cemeteries at Carbon and Hanna, tragically becoming lost in memory to those living today.

On June 30, 1903, the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna exploded, killing 169 men. It turned out, five of those men, James While Sr., James While Jr., Job While, David B. Jones and John Raite were part of my family.

1. James While Sr., my second great uncle, age 41, from England, with a wife Emma and 7 children, was killed in the June 30, 1903 explosion of the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine in Hanna. He was found at entry 17 at the outer edge of the dip, identified and removed from the mine on August 8, 1903, day 40 after the explosion.  He was a Fire Boss in the mine.  James was in the company of his younger brother Job when the explosion occurred. They were attempting to escape entry 17 with some other miners when the Black Damp must have overtaken them. They were reported to have sat down together and died. After 40 days of exposure in the mine, their bodies could only be identified by their features. James was buried with his son James Jr. and brother Job in Plot 109 in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery.

2. James While Jr., the son of James While Sr., my first cousin two times removed, age 18, a miner from England, not married, was also killed in the June 30, 1903 explosion of the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine in Hanna. He was found at entry 20, identified and removed from the mine on July 23, 1903, day 24 after the explosion. James was a Mule Driver in the mine. His job was to bring the coal to the slope by mule power. It was reported that the force of the explosion knocked James and his coal trip into splinters. It drove the pit cars and the mule attached to the cars, down the manway. James, his mule and the trip of pit cars were found at the edge of the manway. The force of the explosion completely disrobed him of every stitch of clothing and left him completely nude and mangled.  James Jr. was buried with his father James Sr. and his uncle Job in Plot 109 in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery.

3. Job While, my second great uncle,age 34, a miner from England, married with a wife Millie and two children, was killed in the June 30, 1903 explosion of the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine in Hanna. Like James Sr., he was found on the outer edge of the dip at entry 17, identified and removed from the mine on August 8, 1903, day 40 after the explosion. He was a Fire Boss in the mine.  Job and James Sr. were together when the explosion occurred. After the explosion, they were attempting to escape entry 17 with some other miners when the Black Damp must have overtaken them. They died together.Their bodies were in much better state of preservation than those caught directly in the path of the explosion and were identified by their features. Job was buried with his brother James Sr. and nephew James Jr. in Plot 109 in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery.

4. David B. Jones, my second great uncle, age 17, a miner from Wales, not married, was killed in the June 30, 1903 explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine in Hanna. Like James While Jr. he was a Mule Driver in the mine and happened to have been in the same area of the mine as James when the explosion occurred. His body was found at the 18th parting, identified and removed from the mine on July 21, 1903, day 22 after the explosion. The force of the explosion knocked David and his trip of coal into splinters as well. David, his mule and his trip of pit cars were found at the edge of the manway. The force of the explosion completely disrobed David, as it did James, of every stitch of clothing and left them both completely nude and mangled.  David was buried in Plot 72 in the Hanna cemetery.

5. John Raite, age 27, the husband of my first cousin 2 times removed, Mary Ann (While) Raite, who was the daughter of James While Sr. and a mother of 2 children, was an English miner, killed in the June 30, 1903 explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine in Hanna. He was found outside the 5th crosscut of entry 28 at room 28, identified and removed from the mine on August 18, 1903 day 51 after the explosion. John’s body was so mangled he could be identified only by his teeth and a piece of gunnysack wrapped around his ankle to keep the coal dust out of his shoes. He was buried in Plot 244 in the Hanna cemetery.

December 22, 1905, Michael and John Cummings, a father and son, were killed in the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna. They were both killed from falling rock and coal in the mine.

6. Michael Cummings, age 48, was the father-in-law of my great aunt Sarah (While) Cummings. He had a wife Margaret and 7 children. He was buried in Plot 206 in the Hanna cemetery.

7. John Cummings, age 19, unmarried, was the brother-in-law of my great aunt Sarah (While) Cummings. He was buried in Plot 206 in the Hanna cemetery.

March 28, 1908 the No. 1 mine exploded again, this time twice in the same day, killing an additional 59 men. Three of the 59 men killed, John B. Evans, William Pascoe and Alexander Tennant were family.

8. John B. Evans, age 49, the husband of my third great aunt Caroline (Jones) Evans,with 2 children, worked as a Gas Watchman in the No. 1 mine. On Saturday, March 28th, while the mine was idle, a fire crew consisting of 18 men, including John, entered the No. 1 mine to put out a fire burning in entry No. 10. The mine exploded about three in the afternoon killing John and all the other men in the fire crew. A rescue crew was organized and entered the mine to search for survivors. A second explosion occurred the same day about ten thirty in the evening killing another 41 miners. John's body was not recovered from the mine, consequently his body remains at the bottom of the mine. John B. Evans was the father of Talyseine Evans who would be killed in the No. 4 mine in 1912.

9. William Pascoe, age 36, the husband of my second great aunt Christine (Tennant) Pascoe, with 4 children, worked as a Gas Watchman in the No. 1 mine. On Saturday, March 28th, while the mine was idle, a fire crew consisting of 18 men, including William and John B. Evans, entered the No. 1 mine to put out a fire burning in entry number 10. The mine exploded about three in the afternoon killing William and John along with all the remaining men in the fire crew. A rescue crew was organized and entered the mine to search for survivors. A second explosion occurred the same day about ten thirty in the evening, killing an additional 41 miners. William’s body, like that of John B. Evans, was not recovered from the mine. The remains of both men are still at the bottom of the mine.

10. Alexander Tennant Jr., age 34, not married, my second great uncle, worked as a Miner in the No. 1 mine. Saturday, March 28th, while the mine was idle, a fire crew consisting of 18 men, which included John Evans and William Pascoe, entered the No. 1 mine to put out a fire burning in entry No. 10. The mine exploded about three in the afternoon killing all the men in the fire crew, including John and William. A rescue crew, which included Alexander Tennant, was organized and entered the mine to search for survivors. A second explosion occurred about ten thirty that evening. Alexander and 41 other members of the rescue crew were killed in the second explosion. The body of Alexander was found partly at the mine entrance and partly several hundred feet outside the mouth of the east slope. He was near the entrance of the mine at the time of the second explosion and was blown out of the slope and into the prairie. His body was almost unrecognizable, being mostly dismembered. Bits of flesh, pieces of limbs and his hands had been blown away. One of his legs was found nearly five hundred feet from the slope. His dismembered body was found at daylight on Sunday, March 29, 1908, on day 2 after the explosion. He was buried without some of his body parts including his head, which could not be found. He was buried in Plot 215 in the Hanna cemetery.

December 19, 1912 Tally Evans was killed in the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 4 mine in Hanna.

11. Talyseine “Tally” Evans, my first cousin three times removed, age 18, married, was killed December 18, 1912 in the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 4 mine in Hanna. He was switching mining machines from one working place to another and was riding the chain between the machine and a loaded car, when for some unknown reason he was caught between the rib and a loaded car and crushed to death.Tally was the son of John B. Evans, killed in the 1908 explosion. He was buried in Plot 72 in the Hanna cemetery.

January 19, 1921 the twelfth family member, James While, was killed in the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 4 mine in Hanna.

12. James While, my first cousin two times removed, age 40, married, left a widow Eliza Ann and eight children, six of them under the age of sixteen, was killed in the No. 4 mine on January 19, 1921.  He was a coal loader, employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company at their No. 4 mine in Hanna. James and his son Sam were working as partners loading coal in the No. 4 room north "E" plane. They had worked all day in the room and were in the act of connecting the wires for blasting some coal when a large slab of coal fell from the face and struck James inflicting injuries from which he died two hours afterwards. He was credited with being a very practical mining man. He was buried in Plot 234 in the Hanna cemetery.

Numbers That Matter

The Hanna Basin includes the Wyoming towns of Hanna and Elmo, which still exist, and the coal camps of Carbon, Sampo and Dana, which are now ghost towns. The coal camp of Carbon came first. When the coal ran out in Carbon, the citizens moved, over time, to the new coal fields developed at Hanna.

The Hanna Basin mines produced over 220 million tons of coal. The coal, however, came at a tremendous human cost. A staggering 372 coal miners were killed in the Hanna Basin mines while in the process of mining the coal.

The Hanna Basin mines produced coal for 144 years. Coal production started at Carbon in 1868 and ended in Carbon in 1902, which amounted to 35 years of continuous production. Hanna started coal production in 1890 and ended in 2012, for 122 continuous years of production. The two coal camps overlapped production for 13 years, from 1890 to 1902.

AN UNMARKED WOODEN MONUMENT IN THE CARBON CEMETERY. DOES IT MARK THE GRAVE OF A WOMAN, CHILD OR MAYBE A MAN KILLED IN ONE OF THE MANY LOCAL COAL MINES? NO ONE WILL PROBABLY EVER KNOW. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION BY BOB LEATHERS)

During those 144 years:

43 coal mining companies operated over 50 individual mines in the Hanna Basin between 1868 and 2017.

220,032,841 tons of coal was produced between 1868 and 2012 in the Hanna Basin.

372 men were killed in the Hanna Basin mines.

Carbon Mines

41 of the 372 men killed in the Hanna Basin mines took place in the Union Pacific Coal Company’s Carbon mines.

14 of the 41 men killed in Carbon were in unknown underground Carbon mines.

5 of the 41 men killed in Carbon were in the No. 1 underground mine.

14 of the 41 men killed in Carbon were in the No. 2 underground mine.

3 of the 41 men killed in Carbon were in the No. 5 underground mine.

4 of the 41 men killed in Carbon were in the No. 6 underground mine.

1 of the 41 men killed in Carbon was in the No. 7 underground mine.

Dana and Miller Mines

2 of the 372 men killed in the Hanna Basin mines took place in the Dana and Miller underground mines.

Hanna Mines

328 of the 372 men killed in the Hanna Basin mines took place in the Hanna mines.

249 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines were in the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 underground mine.

27 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines were in the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 2 underground mine.

6 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines were in the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 3 underground mine.

2 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines were in the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 3.5 underground mine.

24 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines were in the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 4 underground mine.

7 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines were in the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 4A underground mine.

1 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines was in the Carbon County Coal underground mine.

1 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines occurred in the Cyprus Shoshone underground mine.

1 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines took place in the Energy Vanguard No. 1 underground mine.

4 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines took place in the Energy Vanguard No. 2 underground mine.

4 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines occurred in the Rosebud surface mine.

1 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines took place in the Nugget surface mine.

1 of the 328 men killed in the Hanna mines took place in the Medicine Bow surface mine.

28 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines were not recovered from the bottom of the No. 1 mine.

86 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines were buried in marked graves in the Hanna cemetery.

134 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines were buried in unmarked graves in the Hanna cemetery.

45 of the 328 men killed in the Hanna mines were buried in other towns than Hanna.

35 of the 328 men killed in Hanna mines were buried in unknown places or towns.

322 of the 328 men killed in the Hanna mines occurred in underground mines.

6 of the 328 men killed in the Hanna mines occurred in surface mines.

Hanna Mines: June 30, 1903 Explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine.

169 of the 328 men killed in the Hanna mines took place in the June 30, 1903 Explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine.

25 of the 169 men killed in the explosion were African American.

1 of the 169 men killed in the explosion was from Belgium.

98 of the 169 men killed in the explosion were from Finland.

1 of the 169 men killed in the explosion was from Germany.

3 of the 169 men killed in the explosion were from Ireland.

11 of the 169 men killed in the explosion were from Italy.

8 of the 169 men killed in the explosion were from Sweden.

22 of the 169 men killed in the explosion were from the United Kingdom.

1 of the 169 men killed in the explosion was not recovered from the bottom of the mine.

38 of the 169 men killed in the explosion were buried in marked graves in the Hanna cemetery.

110 of the 169 men killed in the explosion were buried in unmarked graves in the Hanna cemetery.

20 of the 169 men killed in the explosion were buried in other places or towns.

Hanna Mines: March 28, 1908 Explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine.

59 of the 328 men killed in the Hanna mines took place in the March 28, 1908 Explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine.

27 of the 59 men killed in the explosion were not recovered from the bottom of the mine.

10 of the 59 men killed in the explosion were buried in marked graves in the Hanna cemetery.

17 of the 59 men killed in the explosion were buried in unmarked graves in the Hanna cemetery.

5 of the 59 men killed in the explosion were buried in other towns than Hanna.

18 of the 59 miners in the Fire Crew were killed in the first explosion.

14 of the 18 men killed in the Fire Crew were not recovered from the bottom of the mine.

2 of the 18 men killed in the Fire Crew were buried in marked graves in the Hanna cemetery.

2 of the 18 men killed in the Fire Crew were buried in other towns than Hanna.

41 of the 59 miners in the Rescue Crew were killed in the second explosion.

13 of the 41 men killed in the Rescue Crew were not recovered from the bottom of the mine.

8 of the 41 men killed in the Rescue Crew were buried in marked graves in the Hanna cemetery.

17 of the 41 men killed in the Rescue Crew were buried in unmarked graves in the Hanna cemetery.

3 of the 41 men killed in the Rescue Crew were buried in other towns than Hanna.

State Inspector of Mines

Regular inspection of the Hanna Basin mines fell upon the Wyoming Mine Inspector. The only reliable records that exist today of what happened in the Hanna mines, over time, comes primarily from the mine inspector reports.

The Wyoming Constitution established the office of the State Inspector of Mines. Wyoming Statutes required the office be maintained in the city of Rock Springs. It was the responsibility of the State Inspectors to inspect every mine several times each year and report their findings to the governor. The inspectors by law had to investigate all fatal or serious accidents in addition to investigating complaints by employees of unsafe working conditions.

Without the inspections and required reporting process set forth in the Wyoming Constitution little would be known today about the historical operations of the Hanna Basin coal mines.

In the early days, the reporting year for the State Mine Inspector Reports to the Governor of Wyoming was September 30th of each year. This left the last three months of each year to be reported in the following year's report. The early reporting date caused many problems with accurately reporting the annual coal production or reporting the numbers of miners injured and killed in the mines.

In addition to date and timing issues, the state was divided into two reporting district’s. District No. 1 was the southern part of the state and District No. 2 was the northern part of the state. The two districts submitted their reports together to the governor, but they were separate reports and the numbers were not combined together to give one picture of what was going on in the state.

In 1919, the Mine Inspector reporting calendar change from a year ending date of September 30th to December 31st of each year and were then printed as one report with combined numbers.

Chapter 1
The Beginning (1868 – 1877)

1868

In The News

June 30, 1868: The Union Pacific Railroad arrived in Carbon. Coal was now needed in great quantities to run the steam engines up and down the track. The great coal rush was on. The Union Pacific railroad entered Cheyenne November 13, 1867.

July 21, 1868: Construction of the Union Pacific Railroad was completed to Fort Steele.

July 25, 1868: The United States Congress created the Wyoming Territory.

December 16, 1868: Carbon County, Wyoming, got its name from the coal deposits. It became one of the original five counties in the Wyoming Territory.

1868: The Union Pacific Railway’s No. 1 and No. 2 mines in Carbon were opened for coal production.

1868: The Union Pacific Railway’s No. 3 and No. 4 mines in Carbon were under development, but they were test mines and the only coal produced was an amount sufficient to prove the quality of the coal seam.

Carbon Miner

In the first year of production, 1868, the Carbon mines produced a total of 6,560 tons of coal. (UPCM)

Carbon was the first coal mining town established in the Wyoming Territory.

With the advent of the Union Pacific Railroad, there came into being the one time busy and bustling town of Carbon, Wyoming. Nestling at the foot of the Saddle Back foothills, twenty miles west of the town of Medicine Bow, forty miles east of the city of Rawlins, and eleven miles southeast of the present town of Hanna, her population of a thousand souls enjoyed life by toiling in the mines, practicing that Christian teaching of self-sacrifice and devotion to their fellow man.

Carbon first came into history in the year 1868, when with the construction of the railroad, Thomas Wardell, Mike Quealy and William Hinton, of Bevier, Missouri, and their associates entered into an agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad Company, whereby they acquired permission to open and develop the coal mines on the land controlled by the railroad, which work progressed under the management of John Tompkins as Mine Superintendent, under the direction of Thomas Wardell. In the year 1869, Tompkins was replaced by James Williams, who was in charge as Mine Superintendent until the year 1873, at which time he was replaced by William Robinson, who filled the position until the year 1878.

In 186, Mike Quealy and William Hinton moved farther west to Rock Springs field, and the Carbon operations were left in the hands of Charles Wardell, brother of Thomas and John Wardell. (T. H. Butler's History of Carbon)

Carbon No. 1 Mine was operated by a shaft approximately eighty feet in depth. Coal chutes for coaling the railroad locomotives were built in connection with the tipple, so that pit cars were taken off the cage and the coal dumped directly into the pockets, thus making the one handling the pit cars suffice for all purposes. This mine operated from the year 1868 until the year 1881, at which time it was abandoned on account of all marketable coal having been recovered. (T. H. Butler's History of Carbon)

John A. Creighton of Omaha, Nebraska opened Carbon No. 2 mine in the year 1868; it later came into the hands of Thomas Wardell. This mine was originally opened by a drift running level for a distance of several hundred feet, on the strike of the seam, and connected with a slope driven on the pitch of the seam, coal being hauled by mules one car at a time from the workings to the drift, from which point it was then taken by mule power to the tipple. Later a steam hoist was installed at the point of intersection of drift and slope, and the one car trip haul was eliminated. Later again a new opening was made on the pitch of the seam and a new tipple built. Also a boiler house and boilers were installed, all of which eliminated the mule haulage to the surface. This mine was in operation from the year 1868 until the year 1900, when it was abandoned on account of all marketable coal available having been recovered. (T. H. Butler's History of Carbon)

CARBON NO. 1 MINE (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Carbon mines No. 3 and No. 4 are not labeled below because they were prospect mines and not intended to produce coal. Their exact location is unknown.

LOCATION OF CARBON TOWN, CARBON CEMETERY, CARBON HORSE RACE TRACK, CARBON MINE SITES AND THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD BED (GOOGLE MAP LABELED BY BOB LEATHERS)

1869

In The News

March 17, 1869: The post office opened in Carbon, Wyoming Territory.

May 10, 1869: The transcontinental railroad was completed. The presidents of the Central and Pacific railroads met in Promontory, Utah and drove a ceremonial last spike into the rail line that connected their railroads.

October 12, 1869: The first territorial legislature convened in Cheyenne.

December 10, 1869: Wyoming's territorial legislature granted Wyoming women the right to vote and hold office. Governor A. J. Campbell signed the act into law.

Carbon Miner

There was one fatality in the mines.

1. John Jones was killed April 1869 in a Carbon coal mine cave in. He was 30 years old. His burial place is unknown. It is not known in which Carbon mine he was killed. (Anderson)

John Jones was the first documented death in the Hanna Basin mines.

James Williams was Mine Superintendent of the Carbon mines from 1869 to 1873. (T. H. Butler's History of Carbon)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 30,483 tons of coal in 1869. (UPCM)

1870

In The News

February 17, 1870: Ester Hobart Morris of South Pass City was the first woman in Wyoming to be appointed Justice of the Peace.

March 7, 1870: The first all-woman jury was used in Laramie, Wyoming.

March 30, 1870: The 15th Amendment, granting African-American men the right to vote, was formally adopted into the U. S. Constitution.

1870: The population of Wyoming was 9,118 people; Carbon County had 1,368 of those and the town of Carbon about 200.

1870: Martha Atkinson of Albany County was appointed the first woman bailiff in the world.

Carbon Miner

One man was killed in the mines.

1. Jacob Harris [Jacob Morris], age 26, was killed in a Carbon mine in March 1870. He lost his life when he fell down a mine shaft. It is not known where he was buried. It is not known in which Carbon mine he was killed. (Anderson)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 54,915 tons of coal in 1870. (UPCM)

It was reported the Carbon No. 1 mine exploded and the mine was a loss.

December 20, 1870. News was received here Monday of the most unfortunate occurrences, at the Carbon coal mines, where are located large and valuable mines of this useful mineral. A poor man discovered these mines, who sold them for an inconsiderable sum, to the Wyoming Coal Company, which upon the completion of the railroad to that point, at once entered upon their active development. Under Superintendent Thomas Wardell, Esq., the mines have been put in fine working condition, and the chief supply of coal for the use of the Union Pacific company has been drawn from there. The coal has been found of very superior merits for locomotive use, and is quite generally thought to exceed in value any other bituminous coal in the world for steam generation. For some time past, an accidental fire has been smoldering in one of the abandoned chambers of the mine. On Saturday night, and Sunday morning, two explosions took place, but without loss of life. The excavation of coal continued afterwards in one of the chambers, when at noon on Sunday, a terrific explosion occurred, tearing down a large portion of the wall of the main shaft, which is directly alongside the Union Pacific track. All the mules in the mine were killed, and it is believed one man perished. Others may have been in the mine, but this is as yet uncertain.

Quite a little village, comprising of the railroad station, company houses, the coal depots and engine houses, and the abodes of miners’ families and others, constitute the town of Carbon, which is situated immediately over the mines. The last explosion yesterday thoroughly awakened the citizens to the fact that they were over a slumbering volcano, further explosions from which might be attended with dire consequences to life and limb. The mines at this point are not deep, being at an average of fifty feet from the surface. Accordingly, citizens are leaving town, and hopes of quenching the fire have been given up. The mines yesterday were burning furiously, and to those who are familiar with excess of volatile matter in the coal of that locality, some idea can be formed of the dangers of a residence immediately over the burning mass. All the available force in the employ of the railroad company on the Laramie division has been sent to Carbon to aid in filling up the shafts and entrances to the mines, in the hope of quenching the fire. This will be probably be fruitless work, and the entire abandonment of the most valuable mine in Wyoming will be necessary. The same vein, however, can be opened and worked at a more remote point, with fair prospect of securing good coal, but at a large expense for new works which are thus necessary. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, Dec. 20, 1870)

December 20, 1870 Special. The Carbon mines are yet burning. The railroad track has to be built around the mines. The report this morning is that houses there are beginning to sink into the burning mass. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, Dec. 20, 1870)

1871

In The News

October 8, 1871: A two-day fire burned a four mile-long and one-mile wide swath of downtown Chicago, Illinois. It was termed the Great Fire of Chicago.

1871: Coal miners in Carbon and Rock Springs organized the first labor union in Wyoming, the Knights of Labor.

1871: The first labor strike in Wyoming was conducted in Carbon. The miners went on strike when the coal mine operators cut their pay in order to cut production costs. The strike was unsuccessful for the miners. The company, with the help of federal troops from Fort Steele, fired the striking miners and replaced them mostly with immigrant Finnish labor, but did not hire the Chinese people.

Carbon Miner

One man was killed in the mines.

1. Frank Kelly, age unknown, was killed February 1871, in a Carbon mine. He was buried in the Carbon cemetery in a marked grave. It is not known in which Carbon mine he was killed. (Anderson)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 31,748 tons of coal in 1871. (UPCM)

Carbon miners and their families experienced difficult living conditions. Many lived in dirt dwellings that were dug into the hillsides or homes built with walls of rock and mud. Lumber to build homes was scarce and expensive when available.

Water was hauled from Medicine Bow in tank cars and emptied into a town cistern, which it could be fetched by bucket or barrel for household uses. For a payment of twenty-five-cents a barrel the water would be delivered to the dwelling. (Kinnaman, Carbon)

ILLUSTRATION OF HOUSING IN CARBON BY M. D. HOUGHTON (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

1872

In The News

May 1, 1872: Yellowstone National Park was created.

1872: The Territorial Prison in Laramie, Wyoming was built.

Carbon Miner

One miner was killed in the mines.

1. John Vollmert [John Vollmart], a German carpenter, was killed December 14, 1872, in one of the Carbon mines. The cage crushed him to death. He was buried in the Carbon cemetery in an unmarked grave. (Anderson) (Kinnaman)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 59,237 tons of coal in 1872. (UPCM)

1873

In The News

October 27, 1873: Joseph Glidden received a patent for barbed wire, a new wire with sharp barbs that would significantly change the cattle industry in the western United States.

1873: The Methodist church was built in Carbon on the south side of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

Carbon Miner

There were no fatalities in the mines.

The miners at Carbon went on strike the last of November 1873 because they were required to purchase at the high priced company store. The company discharged any miner who bought goods elsewhere than the company store. The company was accused of hiring double the men, giving each man half work so that all the pay would be spent at the company store. Miners were also discharged for having anything to do with a union. The miners were also demanding the discharge of the pit foreman and superintendent. (Kinnaman, Carbon)

William Robinson was the Carbon Mine Superintendent from 1873 to 1878. (T. H. Butler's History of Carbon)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 61,164 tons of coal in 1873. (UPCM)

UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY’S STORE IN CARBON. THE STORE WOULD EVENTUALLY BE MOVED FROM CARBON TO HANNA (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

1874

In The News

1874: The Union Pacific Railroad took back coal production from the Wyoming Coal and Mining Company and created the Union Pacific Coal Department as part of the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad formed the new company because the former coal supplier, the Wyoming Coal and Mining Company, was selling coal back to the railroad at highly inflated prices.

1874: A new school was being built in Carbon.

Carbon Miner

Four miners were killed in the mines.

1. Asmus Boisen was killed in the Carbon No. 1 mine in 1874. He was buried in the Carbon cemetery in an unmarked grave. (Anderson)

2. Morris Daley was killed in the Carbon No. 1 mine on April 16, 1874. He fell down a mine shaft. His burial place is unknown. (Anderson)

3. Johnnie Mack was killed in the Carbon No. 1 mine in Carbon in 1874. His burial place is unknown. (Anderson)

4. W. N. Nelson was killed on January 5, 1874 in a Carbon coal mine. He was buried in Laramie in a marked grave. The mine he was killed in is unknown. (Anderson)

Carbon led the state in coal production until 1874. The Carbon mines produced a total of 55,880 tons of coal in 1874, but Rock Springs, for the first time, produced more coal than Carbon with 58,476 tons. Carbon would never again gain the top spot in coal production.

In the year 1874, the railroad company feeling that the developing of the mines was not progressing fast enough and the country needed more and cheaper coal, organized the Union Pacific Railway Company. The entire operations were taken over by them, with the exception of the store, which remained in control of Thomas Wardell for several years after the transfer of the mines was made. Later the stores were taken over and conducted by Beckwith and Quinn, and later by Beckwith Commercial Company, and finally by the Union Pacific Coal Company, by whom it was operated until the town closed. (T. H. Butler's History of Carbon)

1875

In The News

December 2, 1875: A labor strike was settled at Rock Springs and Carbon.

Carbon Miner

Two miners were killed in the mines.

1. William Isaac (William Isaacs) was killed in the Union Pacific's No. 1 mine in Carbon in 1875 from a cave-in. He was buried in the Carbon cemetery in a marked grave. (Anderson) (Kinnaman)

2. Martin Kain (Martin Cain) was killed in the Union Pacific's No. 1 mine in Carbon in 1875 from a cave-in. He was buried in the Carbon cemetery in an unmarked grave. (Anderson) (Kinnaman)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 61,750 tons of coal in 1875. (UPCM)

Carbon miners called for a strike.

A miner strike was just settled in February, but a strike was called for again in November. The strikers lost the strike and were paid off in full and offered free rides to Omaha. The miners refused to accept a penny decrease. Ray Gould, the new chairman of the board of the Union Pacific supposable ordered a reduction of miners pay from five cents to four cents a bushel with the hopes the miners would increase their production by twenty-five percent in order to receive the same take home pay. Governor Thayer's message of December 10 stated that the U. P. Coal Company asked for a small force to protect property and preserve public order and ensure the operation of the railroad and the U. S. Mail. Troops were sent from Fort Sanders for the protection of U.S. property at Carbon. Work was resumed early in December with a reduced force mining fifteen cars a day. By the fifteenth the mines were at their usual output. Shipments of coal in Carbon were thirty cars a day by the end of 1875 with the help provided by Rock Springs miners who came to Carbon rather than work with the Chinese. (Kinnaman, Carbon)

CARBON, WYOMING ABOUT 1875 (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

1876

In The News

June 25, 1876: The Sioux and Cheyenne Indians lead by Sitting Bull defeated Custer at the Little Big Horn River in Montana.

November 25, 1876: Custer’s loss at the Little Big Horn had ramifications for Wyoming. Five months after Custer was killed, Cheyenne Chief Dull Knife and his tribe were camped along the headwaters of the Red Fork of the Powder River near present day Barnum, Wyoming. General Ranald Mackenzie discovered the village, and, seeking revenge for Custer, attacked the village and killed many of the people. The tribe was relocated by the military out of Wyoming and onto a reservation in present day Kansas and Oklahoma.

1876: An express train from New York City to San Francisco, passing through Wyoming, crossed the nation in 83 hours.

Carbon Miner

One miner was killed in the mines.

1. John Isaac Haddix Jr. [J. Hadix] experienced a finger wound on rusty iron in one of the Carbon coal mines, as a result of the wound, he died from blood poisoning on January 13, 1876. He was buried in the Carbon cemetery in an unmarked grave. (Anderson) (Kinnaman)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 69,062 tons of coal in 1876. (UPCM)

1877

In The News

1877: The phonograph, Edison’s first great invention, was announced.

1877: Dr. David Whitney was the first doctor to settle in Carbon.

Carbon Miner

One miner was killed in the mines.

1. John McDermott was killed in a Carbon coal mine November 23, 1877. It is not known where he was buried. (Anderson) (Kinnaman)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 74,343 tons of coal in 1877. (UPCM)

Chapter 2
The Murder of Lawmen Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent (1878)

1878

The murder of lawmen Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent

August 17, 1878, some outlaws attempted to rob a Union Pacific train near Carbon. The robbery failed, but the outlaws got away and later shot and killed two lawmen that were after them. The murders angered the Carbon miners and they sought revenge. The miners were also angry the outlaws were possibly after their mine payroll.

The murder of lawmen Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent in 1878 is a long and complex true story that stretches over sixty years.

Saturday August 17, 1878, two days before the murder

A gang of outlaws, which included “Dutch Charlie” Burris and “Big Nose George” Parrott, attempted to rob a Union Pacific train east of Carbon near Como Lake. Their attempt to rob the train was abandoned when a section crew working on the tracks discovered their plans. In fear of being caught, the gang headed west toward Elk Mountain, passing a few miles north of the town of Carbon.

Monday August 19, 1878, the day of the murder

Carbon County Sheriff Robert "Bob" Widdowfield and Union Pacific Railroad Special Agent H. H. “Tip” Vincent set out after the outlaws and tracked the gang to the Rattlesnake Canyon at the base of Elk Mountain. The lawmen were spotted coming, and when they arrived at their camp, the outlaws opened fire and murdered them.

Friday August 23, 1878, four days after the murders

Widdowfield and Vincent did not return from the search for the robbers when expected, so men were sent out to search for them.

The two men who went out last Friday in search of the two scouts returned on Sunday and reported having met some surveyors who told them about seeing a party of horsemen enter the canyon at Elk Mountain, and soon after, the two men following them in. They heard some twenty shots fired in rapid succession soon after. (Laramie Weekly Sentinel, Aug. 31, 1878)

Monday August 26, 1878, seven days after the murders

Responding to the reports that a surveying party spotted some riders and heard gunshots near Elk Mountain earlier in the week, a posse, headed by Sheriff Lawry of Rawlins, was formed over that weekend to check it out.

On the first day of the search, the posse came up empty.

Sheriff Lawry, of Rawlins, organized a party of twenty men, and went out early Monday morning. Nothing was found. (Laramie Weekly Sentinel, Aug. 30, 1878)

Tuesday August 27, 1878, eight days after the murders

On the second day of the search, John Foote, a rancher in the Elk Mountain area who knew the mountain terrain well, was added to the posse. With Foote's help, the bodies of Widdowfield and Vincent were found in the Rattlesnake Canyon at the base of Elk Mountain.

On the second day of the search, Widdowfield and Vincent were found. The bodies were much decomposed, and they were doubtlessly murdered a week ago last Monday, when the surveyors heard the firing. The bodies had been dragged into a dry creek bed and some brush and gravel thrown over them, partly burying them. They appeared to have been all shot to pieces, with as many as seven bullet holes being seen in the head of Widdowfield. These scouts, when they were sent out, were directed to play themselves for stockmen, and if they succeeded in coming across the outlaws not to attempt their capture or any interference, but to come back and report.

Every effort will be made now to hunt down and kill these outlaws, and no labor or expense will be spared to that end. It is unfortunate that this search for the missing scouts was not undertaken sooner, as the murderers have now some ten days head start in which to make their escape out of the country. (Cheyenne Weekly Leader, Aug. 29, 1878)

Thursday August 29, 1878, two days after being found at Elk Mountain and ten days after being murdered

The bodies were brought into Fort Steele today, and Widdowfield was taken to Carbon and Vincent to Rawlins for burial. (Laramie Weekly Sentinel, Aug. 31, 1878)

Saturday August 31, 1878, four days after being found and twelve days after being murdered

Bob Widdowfield was buried in the Carbon cemetery and Tip Vincent in the Rawlins cemetery.

September 26, 1878, thirty-eight days after the murders

The Union Pacific Railroad subscribed $200.00 to aid in the erection of a monument to Widdowfield and Vincent, who were both killed by the robbers. (Cheyenne Weekly Leader, Sept. 26, 1878)

ROBERT WIDDOWFIELD MONUMENT IN THE CARBON CEMETERY (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

TIP VINCENT HEADSTONE, RAWLINS, WYOMING CEMETERY (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION BY BOB LEATHERS)

"Dutch Charlie" Burris

Wednesday, December 31, 1878, four months after the murders

Dutch Charlie [Charley] Burris was arrested in Green River. He was transported from Green River to Laramie, the home of the Territorial Prison, by train. Several accounts of the arrest were printed in the local newspapers.

John Lefever captured one of the Vincent and Widdowfield murderers this week at Green River. He gives his name sometimes as Batesand sometimes as Davis. His is known as "Dutch Charley " and was one of the worst of the gang. Positive evidence is in possession of the authorities that he was one of the active participants in the murder of Vincent and Widdowfield last summer at Elk Mountain. (Laramie Sentinel, January 3, 1879)

Assisted by Sheriff Dykins, Bates [Dutch Charlie] was arrested last Tuesday at Green River, by two detectives from Laramie City. He was standing in a saloon when the officers entered and called to him to "throw up his hands" and surrender, which he did. He was taken to Laramie on the same day. (Cheyenne Daily Sun, Jan. 6, 1879)

"Dutch Charlie," who has been for a long time plying his vocation near Fort McKinney as a road agent, is in limbo at Green River. He is one of the hardest customers in the business. (Cheyenne Weekly Leader, Jan. 9, 1879)

Sunday January 5, 1879, five days after Burris was captured and four months after the murders

After a short stay in the Laramie jail after his arrest in Green River, Dutch Charlie was on on his way to Rawlins from Laramie on train Number 3 to stand trial for the murder of Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent. He was in the custody of Laramie Deputy Sheriff Ed Kerns. He was forcibly taken off the train in Carbon and lynched by the citizens of Carbon.

Last night at 9:25 o'clock, when passenger train No. 3 stopped at this station, a party of masked men, composed of miners and citizens, broke open the door of the baggage car and took Chas. Bates, alias "Dutch Charlie," out and hung him to a telegraph pole. The train was delayed only thirteen minutes by the operation. Dutch Charlie was one of the murderers of Bob Widdowfield and T. P. Vincent on Elk Mountain last fall. The prisoner was arrested at Green River some time since and was taken to Laramie City, when he was on his way from Laramie City to Rawlins for trial. He was under charge of an officer named Kern. Dutch Charlie, just before he was hung, confessed his guilt. He implored his captors to shoot instead of hang him. (Cheyenne Weekly Leader, Jan. 9, 1879)

"Dutch Charlie" was taken up to Carbon on No. 3 last Sunday for examination. The miners interviewed him, and he "now sleeps in the valley." (Laramie Sentinel, Jan. 10, 1889)

Every good citizen of Wyoming will endorse the summary punishment of “Dutch Charlie” at Carbon on Sunday night. Let the good work continue. (The Cheyenne Weekly Leader, Jan. 9, 1879)

Number 10 in the picture below, from the Gert Milliken Collection at the Hanna Basin Museum, shows the location of the telephone pole on which "Dutch Charlie" was supposedly hanged. It was near John Milliken's Boarding House at Number 11.

The Town of Carbon in 1875 (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)

Dutch Charlie didn't have a bad reputation only in Wyoming; he was well known in other parts of the country for his crooked ways as well.

Council Bluffs: "Dutch Charlie," who was taken from a Union Pacific train in Wyoming the other day and left dangling from a telegraph pole, was once a resident of Council Bluffs, and was the author, while here, of numerous crimes, ranging from forgery to murder. He was a "bad citizen" in the strongest sense of the term, and though we might not be able to approve the means of his taking off, it cannot be said that he merited any less awful fate." (Cheyenne Daily Sun, Jan. 11, 1879)

The two parties, Ed Beerup and James Nelson, recently arrested on suspicion of having stolen the horses of Maers, Orr and Markham, were discharged from jail last night, it having transpired that they are not the guilty parties. The Sheriff at Sidney telegraphed Carr yesterday that he had arrested "Dutch Charlie," who confessed that himself and another party were the ones that took the horses. (Cheyenne Daily Sun, July 2, 1878)

Wednesday January 8, 1879, four months after the murders and three days after Burris was lynched

Dutch Charlie was buried in an unmarked grave near, but outside the Carbon Cemetery.

The body of Dutch Charlie has been cut down, and an inquest held, the Verdict was death from hanging, by persons unknown. The body was buried Wednesday. (Cheyenne Weekly Leader, Jan. 16, 1879)

Dutch Charlie's burial at Carbon after he was lynched is a controversial subject. Some historians believe he was never buried, but was thrown from a train between Carbon and Rawlins and left for wild critters to devour. Others think he was cut down, thrown in a coal car and sent to Rawlins to be dealt with by the authorities there.

Richard Fisher, long time Medicine Bow resident and Carbon historian, adamantly believes Dutch Charlie was cut down after being lynched and buried near the Carbon Cemetery. He maintains the current fence didn't exist then, but when the fence was later placed around the cemetery it separated Dutch Charlie's grave from the rest of the cemetery, leaving him on the outside of the cemetery on the north side of the fence in the sagebrush.

During a Carbon Restoration Day in May 2003, Mr. Fisher discussed the murder of Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent with a group of restoration workers who, at the time, happened to be working in front of the Widdowfield burial monument. He talked about the murders, the hanging of Dutch Charlie and Big Nose George, the monument placed on Elk Mountain by his grandfather and of the gravesite of Dutch Charlie. To the group's surprise, he pointed out the location of Dutch Charlie's grave and shared why he knew it was there. Mr. Fisher pointed out the general location of Dutch Charlie's final resting place.

Dutch Charlie was hung in Carbon just over the hill (pointing south of the cemetery). When I was a kid my family would talk about the murders and wander over to where Dutch Charlie was buried. Dutch Charlie's grave is just outside the fence, over there (pointing north), right across from that pine tree. Years ago there was a pile of rocks there. (At Richard's invitation a part of the group walked around the fence and up the hill to the spot he had pointed out). "It was right in here someplace." (Richard Fisher, Carbon Cemetery, May 2003)

Richard Fisher's great uncle arrived in Carbon shortly after the town of Carbon was developed. His grandfather, James Fisher, arrived about 1874. Both of them were living in Carbon when Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent were murdered, as well as when Dutch Charlie was taken off the train in Carbon and lynched by the citizens for the murders. It was Richard's grandfather and several other Carbon folks who placed a monument at the site of the murders on Elk Mountain. It only makes sense that the Fisher family would know if the murderous outlaw Dutch Charlie was buried near the Carbon Cemetery or not.

In addition to Mr. Fisher, several other Wyoming historians, like the well-known and respected author Lori Van Pelt, claimed Dutch Charlie was buried near the Carbon Cemetery.

Dutch Charlie was buried near the Carbon Cemetery. He was not considered worthy of burial in the Carbon Cemetery, where Deputy Widdowfield was laid to rest. Dutch Charley’s unmarked grave is located somewhere in the sagebrush outside the cemetery boundaries. (Big Nose George: A Grisly Frontier Tale, Lori Van Pelt, WyoHistory.org)

April 4, 2018: a marker was placed at the site of where Richard Fisher said Dutch Charlie was buried. The marker was intended not to honor a murderer, but to remember the history.

THE ROCK READS: IN THIS AREA LIES THE OUTLAW DUTCH CHARLIE BURRIS LYNCHED JAN. 5, 1879 FOR THE MURDERS OF LAWMEN BOB WIDDOWFIELD & TIP VINCENT. ( BOB LEATHERS, April 4, 2018)

Late January 1879, five months after the murders or eight days after the lynching

Carbon County paid the reward of $2000 for the capture of Dutch Charlie. Half of the reward was to be paid by the Union Pacific Railroad and half by Carbon County.

Statement of Warrants: Issued since July 7, 1879, showing the purpose for which warrants were issued and the total amount of the same:
Election expenses $484.20
Coroner's expenses $104.00
Reward on Dutch Charlie $2000.00
Salary of superintendent $218.00
Sheriff fees $1,988.68
(Carbon County Journal, Jan. 24, 1880)

Late August 1879, eleven months after the murders or six months after the lynching

The Union Pacific Railroad reimbursed Carbon County for their share of the reward paid out for the capture of Dutch Charlie Burris.

The U.P.R.R. officials have faithfully fulfilled their agreement with our county, in paying half the reward offered for the apprehension of Dutch Charlie. Their agent here, Mr. J.R. Adams, received and paid into the County Treasury this morning the sum of $1000, that being half of the amount offered for Charlie's capture. (Carbon County Journal, 1880)

“Big Nose George” Parrott

BIG NOSE GEORGE PARROTT (CARBON COUNTY MUSEUM)

Thursday July 15, 1880, one year and ten months after the murders

Authorities in Miles City, Montana arrested Big Nose George. Sheriff Jim Rankin in Rawlins was notified. He traveled to Montana to return the prisoner to the Wyoming Territory. He picked up Big Nose George then traveled from Miles City to Omaha, Nebraska, then on to Cheyenne, Laramie, and then to Carbon. The final destination was Rawlins for trial, but the train could not avoid a stop at Carbon.

Saturday August 7, 1880, one year and eleven months after the murders

The citizens of Carbon received word that Big Nose George was headed to Rawlins on the train and would come through Carbon. He almost met the same fate as his fellow gang member, Dutch Charlie. Big Nose George, in the custody of Sheriff Jim Rankin, was forcibly taken off the train at Carbon by a group of citizens and threatened to be lynched if he didn't tell all he knew about the killing of Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent. He was badly scared, but eventually he made a full confession to the group who abducted him and was returned to the train and the custody of Sheriff Rankin.

On Saturday evening last the fun loving public of this place were congregating for a dance to be given by the mule-drivers of Carbon.

No. 3 pulled in on time and to a few citizens it was known that “Big Nose George,” one of the Widdowfield-Vincent murderers, in charge of Sheriff Rankin, was on the train. As soon as the train stopped a shrill voice was heard, calling out numbers from one to about fifteen, and in response to the call about as many armed and masked men boarded the car in which the sheriff and his prisoner were seated.

As soon as the sheriff saw the first of the mob enter the car he hastily drew his revolver and ordered them to stand back. They closed in and ordered him to put up his hands and deliver over the key that unlocked the chain that the prisoner was secured to the car seat with. The sheriff refused the key and called upon several in the car to help keep the mob away from the prisoner. The now impatient mob seized an axe and broke the fastening and at the same time a rope was dexterously thrown around the neck of Big Nose George, who, up to this time, appeared perfectly cool and collected. He was then quickly hustled out of the car and taken to a corral and placed under an ominous looking beam. Before leaving the car he said he was not in the crowd that killed Widdowfield and Vinson, but that if he had to die and it looked like it, he would like to be shot and not hung.

As soon as he knew he was under the beam he weakened and said: “I do not want to die with a lie in my mouth, and I will tell the truth, so help me God, but give me a little time. I am so badly scared I can hardly talk.”

He was told he could have all the time he wanted and as near as can be learned, he told the following:

“I was in the party who murdered Widdowfield and Vinson. The party consisted of Frank Toule, Mack, Dutch Charlie, Jack Campbell, Thomas Reed, Sim Wan and myself. My name is George Francis Warden. I don’t know who killed Widdowfield. When Widdowfield got off his horse to examine the place where our campfire was and said: “It’s hot as h_ll, we’ll catch them before night.” Somebody in our crowd said “fire” and our guns being in position, we fired almost simultaneously. I don’t know who gave the command to fire. It was almost impossible for us to miss them because we were so close. I think we all fired at Vincent. The horses that belonged to the dead men we took along, they were killed and otherwise disposed of.”

Q: “Why did you kill those men?”
A: “On the principle that dead men tell no tales.”
Q: “Do you know where the balance of the party is that were with you on the day of the murder?”
A: “I do not. We separated the same fall. I heard that Dutch Charlie was hung. Frank Toule was killed in the Hills and Mack died of fever in the Yellowstone country.”

The prisoner was then told that this was the place where Dutch Charlie was hung and he almost broke down.

The leader of the mob then ordered them back and turned the prisoner over to the sheriff, and Big Nose George breathed freer.

When he was seated in the car he slid down between the seats and burst into a hysterical fit of weeping.

No. 3 pulled out, the whole performance occupying about 30 minutes, and everybody took in the dance after a slight intermission.

Several parties here feel better satisfied since learning for a fact that Dutch Charlie was not hung innocently.

The only wonder is that Big Nose George did not climb the golden stair via that route. Ignoramus. (The Carbon Journal, Aug. 10, 1880)

Sunday August 8, 1880, the day after Parrott was almost lynched in Carbon

Big Nose George, after the scare of being lynched in Carbon the night before, arrived in Rawlins and was placed in jail by Sheriff Jim Rankin. (Carbon County Journal, 1880)

Monday September 13, 1880, one year and eleven months after the murders

Big Nose George was arraigned in Rawlins for the murder of Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent. He pleaded GUILTY. (Carbon County Journal, 1880)

On Monday George Parrott, alias Big Nose George was arraigned on an indictment charging him and others with the willful murder of Widdowfield and Vinson, near Elk Mountain in August, '78. In answer to the question "Are you guilty or not guilty of things herein charged?" He answered, "Guilty." The Judge said: "Before accepting your plea I deem it my duty to explain to you the consequences of your plea, although your attorney has no doubt told you these things, in so serious a matter we should leave no room for doubt or misunderstandings. According to the law of this territory the penalty for murder in the first degree, of which you are charged in this indictment, is death by hanging by the neck, and such will be the consequence of the plea you seek to make. In view of these facts I ask you again George Parrott, are you guilty or not guilty of the things therein charged?"

He answered, "I am guilty." Tears filled his eyes and ran down the checks of the prisoner as he pronounced these words and resumed his seat. The scene and the extremely unusual spectacle of a man pleading guilty to murder in the first degree visibly affected the court and all present.

The judge instructed the prosecuting attorney to produce some evidences in court that Vinson and Widdowfield were really murdered before he would pass sentence on the prisoner. (Carbon County Journal, September 18, 1880)

Probably the most accurate description of the murders at Elk Mountain comes from the confession of one the gang members, George Francis Warden, better known as Big Nose George. He didn't have much of a reason to lie because he confessed and pled guilty to participating in the murders.

A Journal reporter, in company with Sheriff Rankin, visited the jail Wednesday afternoon and interviewed Big Nose George, or George Francis Warden, as he gives his name. Warden, we should judge is a man about 35 years old, five feet ten inches tall, rather spare built and will weigh about 100 pounds, dark complexion, black hair and beard, sharp, rather piercing black eyes and a very prominent Roman nose, and really not as bad a looking fellow as one would expect. He was arrested at Miles City, Montana, July the 15th, and arrived here Sunday morning.

Warden's story is as follows as near as we can give it from memory:

Our party (consisting of Frank Toule, Mack, Dutch Charlie, Jack Campbell, Thomas Reed, Sim Wan and myself) we pulled the spikes that held the rail, but the crowbar being a short one we could not pry out the rail. We laid all day in a gully near by and watched the section men at work. They did not discover the rail had been tampered with until just as they were about to leave in the evening. Two of our party went into Medicine Bow station and purchased provisions. When we left we proceed directly to Elk Mountain. The first we saw of Widdowfield and Vinson, they were about a mile off, but we shortly made out that they were men and were making directly for our camp. After a hurried consultation it was decided to hide our stock in the brush and conceal ourselves and let the men pass should they not be officers, and to kill them should they be such, as we expected they would say something to give us an idea as to who they were.

They rode up the trail to our camp fire, when the large man (Widdowfield) got off of his horse and stuck his hand into the fire, remarking, "It is hot as h_ll, they have been here and we will catch them before long."

One of our party had a lame horse for which he had been fixing a pair of shoes, and Widdowfield picked up the corks, which had been cut off, saying they were heads of railroad spikes. Frank Toule, one of our party, then said, "Let's fire," and loud enough for all to hear, part of us shooting at the man on the ground and part at the man on the horse. I fired at the man on the horse. After our volley the horses and rider ran about fifty yards when the latter fell off his horse, and attempted to get up, holding his gun in his hands. Some twenty shots were fired at him and firing only ceased when we were certain he was dead. Jack Campbell took Widdowfield's boots and Dutch Charlie the best saddle. After taking what valuables they had, we got scared and did not know what to do with the bodies, but finally concluded to carry them down in the brush and cover them up which we did. We immediately broke camp, came down the canyon the same way we went up and started north. We crossed the railroad at Carbon and the Platte River about two miles above the mouth of the Muddy. Sim Wan was the leader of the party, he being acquainted with the country. One of the party, called Mack, who was with us, claimed to be one of the James brothers. I left the party on Goose Creek where it broke up. (The Carbon County Journal, Aug. 7, 1880)

Friday September 17, 1880, four days after pleading guilty to the murders

Big Nose George changed his plea to NOT GUILTY.

November 8, 1880, one month and 26 days after pleading guilty

Big Nose George filed a motion for change of venue, which was denied by the court.

Tuesday November 16, 1880, two months and three days after Parrott was arraigned and pled guilty

A special grand jury, called for by Judge Blair, was convened for Big Nose George. The court was scheduled to convene on Monday as announced, but the case of Territory vs. Martin Ainsley, a man charged for misbranding a horse, took all of the court time available on Monday. The case for Big Nose George was then moved to Tuesday.

Wednesday November 17, 1880, the day after the special grand jury was called

Court convened at the usual hour, and the forenoon was consumed in the discussion of some trivial law points, dilatory motions, etc.

At the afternoon session Judge Merrell came forward and took charge of the prosecution, the witnesses were called and sworn and, on motion of the defense, were separated. The afternoon was consumed in the examination of witnesses, all of which testimony was to show that a murder had been committed on the 20thday of August 1878, at Elk Mountain and that Widdowfield and Vinson came to their deaths at that place by reason of gunshot wounds, and the finding of the dead bodies.

Mr. Leach, U.P. detective, was called to prove Big Nose's confession, which was substantially the same as that published in the JOURNAL two months ago. (Carbon County Journal, November 20, 1880)

December 15, 1880, two years, three months and twenty-six days after the murders

Big Nose George was found guilty of murder of Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent. He was sentenced to be "hanged by the neck until dead" on April 2, 1881. He would hang between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

March 22, 1881, three months and seven days after being found guilty of the murders

Big Nose George tried to escape from jail. He sawed through the rivets on his shackles and when Sheriff Robert Rankin came to check on him, Big Nose George hit him in the head with the shackles and ran for it. Sherriff Rankin’s wife, Rosa, bringing a meal to the prisoner discovered the attempted jailbreak and managed to get the jail door shut and locked. When the general public was alerted to the attempted jailbreak, a mob came running to help.

The mob gained control of Big Nose George, took him from the jail to the streets of Rawlins and lynched him.

HANGING BIG NOSE GEORGE ON MAIN STREET IN RAWLINS (CARBON COUNTY MUSEUM)

It is not clear if Dr. Osborne or Dr. Maghee was at the hanging of Big Nose George, but it is clear that they claimed the body afterward.

Thomas Maghee, a doctor for the Union Pacific Railroad claimed the body for medical study. Maghee studied the outlaw’s brain. Big Nose George’s skull was cut into two halves. Maghee gave the top half or skull cap to his nurse, Lillian Heath, who later became Wyoming’s first female physician. The lower half of the skull was buried in a whiskey barrel with the rest of his bones.

Over time, Dr. Maghee established a professional relationship with the people of Carbon. He was a frequent visitor to treat the sick and treat serious mine injuries. Carbon was without a doctor until about 1882.

Dr. Osborne wanted the outlaw’s body for experimental studies. He made a death mask of Big Nose George from plaster of paris. He also had the outlaw skinned and a pair of shoes and a physician’s bag made from the skin. It was also rumored that he had the testicles made into a tobacco pouch.

DEATH MASK OF BIG NOSE GEORGE PARROTT (CARBON COUNTY MUSEUM)

January 7, 1881, two years and four months after the murders or five months after Big Nose George was arrested

William Schmalsie and William H. Irvine were each given $1000 as a reward for the apprehension of Big Nose George.

1890, twelve years after the murders

James Fisher, brother-in-law to Bob Widdowfield, erected a monument at the spot Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent were killed on Elk Mountain.

James and others erected a stone memorial at the site of the murder of Robert Widdowfield and was said to visit every August 19. (Dan Kinnaman, Carbon)

MEMORIAL MONUMENT AT THE BASE OF ELK MOUNTAIN FOR ROBERT "BOB" WIDDOWFIELD AND H."TIP" VINCENT, PICTURE TAKEN OCT. 1926 BY MURIEL KITCHING. (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

The lettering on the two stones is not clear in the picture, but reads:

Robert Widdowfield
of Carbon Wyo
and Tip Vincent
of Rawlins
Murdered here
August 19, 1878

ERECTED BY
JAMES FISHER
CARBON WYO
1890

1892, eleven years after Big Nose George was lynched

John Osborne, Rawlins physician, wore the shoes made from his skin to his inauguration as Wyoming’s governor.

DR. JOHN OSBORNE (CARBON COUNTY MUSEUM)

SHOES MADE FROM BIG NOSE GEORGE’S SKIN (CARBON COUNTY MUSEUM)

1928, fifty years after the murders

Dr. Osborne donated the leg shackles worn by Big Nose George at the time he was lynched to the Union Pacific Railroad museum in Omaha, Nebraska.

May 11, 1950, sixty nine years after Big Nose George was lynched

Construction workers building a foundation for a new building at the corner of East Cedar and Fourth Street in Rawlins uncovered a whiskey barrel containing the remains of Big Nose George. The location was near the building that belonged to Dr. Maghee.

BONES OF BIG NOSE GEORGE FOUND MAY 11, 1950 (CARBON COUNTY MUSEUM)

MRS. LOU NELSON, THE FORMER DR. LILLIAN HEALTH OF RAWLINS DISPLAYS HER MOST UNUSUAL DOORSTOP. IT'S THE SKULL-CAP OF BIG NOSE GEORGE PARROTT, WHO WASN'T VERY POPULAR AT ALL UP IN WYOMING NEARLY A CENTURY AGO. (UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING FILES, NEWSPAPER UNKNOW AND CARBON COUNTY MUSEUM)

Dr. Lillian Heath was the first woman doctor in Wyoming, at a time when making house calls at night was a dangerous business. She was a fearless character, dressing in men's clothes and carrying a gun when she went out alone to protect herself. She apparently kept a piece of the skull from the autopsy of outlaw "Big Nose George" as a souvenir.

Lillian Heath was born December 29, 1865, in Burnett Junction, Wisconsin, to William and Calista Hunter Heath. Her father's wanderlust moved the family from Fondulac, Wisconsin, to Aplington, Iowa, and finally, in 1873, to Laramie, Wyoming. Soon after the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, Mr. Heath became a baggage handler for the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1877 they moved once more, to Rawlins, Wyoming, where he became a locomotive painter.

Lillian Heath attended Rawlins's first school and graduated among five students in its class of 1886. At age 16, while attending Rawlins High School, Lillian Heath also taught at Number Five Mine near Carbon and at Rawlins's elementary school.

In Rawlins's early days, there were no medical practitioners. Dr. Thomas Maghee, however, a physician and friend of Heath's father, came to town regularly. Lillian Heath became interested in medicine after hearing her father's stories about helping patients when Dr. Maghee was away. She began assisting Dr. Maghee, at first with obstetrical patients, then bullet wounds, amputations, and eventually in all types of cases. Rawlins was a small, tough town and women avoided going out alone, especially at night. When she went calling on patients, both her father and Dr. Maghee insisted that she wear men's clothing and carry a .32 caliber revolver in her jacket.

One patient was a sheepherder who, attempting suicide, shot himself in the chin and destroyed most of his face. Dr. Maghee reconstructed the man's face over thirty surgeries, with Heath administering chloroform for anesthesia. Dr. Maghee and Lillian Heath fashioned a new nose for him, using a keystone of skin from his forehead.

Dr. Maghee and Rawlins's second physician, a Dr. Osborne, sawed off the top of Parrott's skull, in order to see whether some cranial attributes might account for his criminal behavior. The surgeons passed the skull to their young assistant, Lillian Heath, who kept it for many years and is said to have used it as a doorstop. Some seventy years later, when a skeleton was discovered in a barrel under Osborne's house in 1950, Heath helped identify it as Parrott's by matching the skull cap she had kept to the remaining lower portion of the skull. She later gave the skull cap to the Union Pacific Historical Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. The skull is on display at the Carbon County Museum in Rawlins.

After working with Dr. Maghee for seven years, Lillian Heath decided to get a medical degree. She enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder for a year, then graduated from the Keokuk Medical College of Physicians and Surgeons in Keokuk, Iowa, at age 27, in March 1893. After graduating she returned to Rawlins to practice.

In 1898, at age 33, Dr. Heath married Lou Nelson, a former member of President William McKinley's honor guard who became a painter and decorator. The couple ran a hotel for a few years in Colorado before returning to Rawlins in 1911. In the fifteen years Dr. Heath practiced medicine as a licensed physician, she earned a reputation as a skilled obstetrician and a remarkable character. Her story of life as a frontier physician is very proudly celebrated in the state of Wyoming. (https://cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov)

It is thought the skin experiments performed on Big Nose George at the time of his death helped give Dr. Maghee and Lillian Health the needed expertise to repair the sheepherder's nose as described above and help other patients over the years with skin related problems.

DR. BEN STURGIS, CARBON COUNTY CORONER AND LOU NELSON, HUSBAND OF DR. LILLIAN HEATH (CARBON COUNTY MUSEUM)

It was Lou Nelson, the husband of Dr. Lillian Heath, who brought the top part of the skull to the work site, helped Dr. Sturgis match the two parts.

Five years later, in 1995, George Gill, a well-known anthropologist, and Wyoming State Archeologist Mark Miller, once again compared the halves of Big Nose George’s skull when they worked on a study of frontier violence with University of Wyoming graduate student Kristi McMahan. The study confirmed once again that the two parts matched and also the skin on Osborne’s shoes was indeed human.

BIG NOSE GEORGE'S SKULL AND THE SHOES MADE FROM HIS SKIN ARE ON DISPLAY AT THE CARBON COUNTY MUSEUM (CARBON COUNTY MUSEUM)

The skullcap and shackles are on display at the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The lower half of the skull, the plaster death mask and the shoes are on displayed at the Carbon County Museum in Rawlins, Wyoming.

Chapter 3
The Early Years (1878 – 1892)

1878

Carbon Miner

One miner was killed in the mines.

1. Thomas Perry Culleton was killed in one of the Carbon mine in 1878. His age and burial place is unknown. (Anderson)

In the spring of 1878, floodwaters entered the mine [Carbon No. 1] by way of surface caves, flooding the workings, which caused the mine to be idle for several weeks until workings were dewatered. The writer distinctly remembers that the women of the town sewed sacks, which were filled with earth and used as an embankment or dyke to turn the flow of water into another channel so as to avoid the surface cave. (T. H. Butler's History of Carbon)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 62,418 tons of coal in 1878. (UPCM)

1879

In The News

1879: Edison demonstrated the incandescent light bulb to the public in New Jersey.

The Carbon Miner

L. G. Smith was Carbon mine superintendent from 1878 to June 1881. (T. H. Butler's History of Carbon)

The Carbon mines, which included the Carbon No. 2 mine, produced a total of 75,325 tons of coal in 1879. (UPCM)

CARBON MINE NO. 2 (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES)

CARBON MINE OFFICE (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES)

1880

In The News

1880: Wyoming’s population was 20,789 people and Carbon County had 3,439 of that total.

1880: The Union Pacific Carbon No. 6 mine, near the No. 1, was opened for production of coal. The miners opening the No. 6 mine were predominately men from Lancashire, England.

1880: The Union Pacific No. 5 mine, about 5 miles north of Carbon, was opened. A new community called Niles was built. It included a new school and company store.

LOCATION OF THE CARBON NO. 5 MINE LOCATED 5 MILES NORTH OF CARBON AT NILES. (GOOGLE MAP LABELED BY BOB LEATHERS)

Carbon Miner

One miner was killed in the mines.

1. Thomas Davis was killed January 21, 1880 in one of the Union Pacific Carbon coal mines. He was buried in a marked grave in Lucas, Iowa. The mine he was killed in is unknown. (Anderson)

For the first time, the Carbon mines experienced production of over one hundred thousand tons of coal in a single year.

The Carbon mines produced a total of 100,434 tons of coal in 1880. (UPCM)

The Carbon operation was under the charge of L. R. Meyer, Mine Superintendent and David Thomas and W. R. Gardner, Foremen. Mr. Meyer was also Mine Superintendent of the Carbon Mine at this time. The coal being of poor quality, the mine was abandoned. (T. H. Butler's History of Carbon)

The Carbon No. 6 Mine was opened in the year 1880 and abandoned in the 1890 on account of all marketable coal available having been recovered. Thomas Quealy, brother of the late P. J. Quealy, was in charge as Mine Foreman from 1880 to 1882 being replaced by Joseph Cox who was in charge from 1882 to 1889 at which time he was transferred to Hanna, and opened the Hanna mines, under the direction of L. R. Meyer then Mine Superintendent at Carbon. With the transfer of Joseph Cox to Hanna, Alex Briggs was placed in charge of No. 6 mine as Mine Foreman and served as such from the year 1889 until the mine was abandoned on account of all marketable coal available having been recovered. (T. H. Butler's History of Carbon)

Until the No. 6 mine was opened, the Lancashire men were the predominate workers in the Carbon mines. Following the opening of the sixth mine, more men of different nationalities drifted into Carbon. Stores began to multiply along the south side of the tracks and more and more houses were erected on the hills. The different nationalities tended to be clannish, making their own settlements in separate sections of the hills. The one melting pot where all nationalities mixed freely was the business district. The steady backbone of the business district was the saloons. The Milliken and Ross Saloon were the Town's most prominent of the liquor houses. Miners would convert their hard earned dollars on each payday into a mug of ale or glass of alcohol. Besides the three saloons located in the Carbon business area, the businesses included three merchandise stores, a shoe shop, the meat markets, the bank, the printing, a barber shop and the blacksmith shop. The hotels, which included The Scranton House, The Wyoming House, The American House and Bob Jack’s House, were more pleasing to the ear than the eye. Hotel life in the 1880's in Carbon was closer to camping life. (Highlights of Old Carbon by Velene Cormier)

1881

In The News

July 20, 1881: Five years after Custer was defeated at the Little Big Horn, the Sioux chief Sitting Bull surrendered to the U. S. Army. He was held as a prisoner of war in South Dakota for two years then permitted to live on the Standing Rock Reservation. He died in 1890 from gunshot wounds.

1881: The Union Pacific No. 1 mine in Carbon was abandoned. The mine opened in 1868 and closed production at the end of 1881 because all the mineable coal had been removed from the mine. The No. 1 was opened as a shaft mine, which may have been the only shaft mine in the area. Forty-one documented miners were killed in the Carbon mines, and at least 5 of the 41 were killed in the Carbon No. 1 mine.

Carbon Miner

Two men were killed in the mines.

1. John Johnson was killed November, 1881 in Union Pacific's No. 2 mine in Carbon while raising a derrick. It is not known where he was buried. (Anderson) (Kinnaman)

2. William West was killed November 26, 1881, in Union Pacific's No. 2 mine in Carbon. He died from lung inflammation from firedamp in the mine. He was buried in the Carbon cemetery in a marked grave. (Anderson) (Kinnaman)

L. R. Meyer was Carbon mine superintendent from July 1881 to Dec. 1891. (T. H. Butler's History of Carbon)

The Carbon mines experienced a huge increase in coal production in 1881, over 44,000 tons.

The Carbon mines produced a total of 156,820 tons of coal in 1881. (UPCM)

The miner had to supply his own tools and powder for blasting and there were no company houses in Carbon. The powder came in tin cans, which the miners flattened and used, on their home roofs. Wood of all types was valuable including crate wood. The best houses were made of flat stones with adobe in between, but the stone had to be hauled in from a distance and were expensive. Mine officials had these types of houses. (Kinnaman)

1882

In The News

November 14, 1882: Franklin Leslie killed “Billy the Kid” in the streets of Tombstone, Arizona.

Carbon Miner

One miner was killed in the mines.

1. Gus Leal, was killed April, 1882, in a Union Pacific Carbon mine. It is not know where he was buried. It is unknown in which Carbon mine he was killed. (Anderson) (Kinnaman)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 200,124 tons of coal in 1882. (UPCM)

1883

In The News

April 3, 1883: His fellow gang member, Bob Ford, murdered the outlaw Jesse James.

1883: Martha Jane Canary, “Calamity Jane,” visited the saloons of Carbon on her way to California. She had a reputation as a hard drinking woman, who wore men’s clothing, used bawdy language, chewed tobacco and was very good with a gun. The citizens of Deadwood, South Dakota remembered her as a saint where she helped nurse the sick during a smallpox epidemic. She was later in life buried near Wild Bill Hickok at Deadwood, South Dakota.

1883: CALAMITY JANE IN CARBON (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Famous early-western character Calamity Jane, hauled freight into Carbon, Wyoming, in 1883. She was having difficulty with her boyfriend and attempted to drown her sorrows in a local saloon. The woman of Carbon were appalled that she would drink liquor, let alone stand at the bar with the male patrons. (Rawlins Daily Times, Date Unknown)

Carbon Miner

One miner was killed in the mines.

1. Chris Boisen was killed January 9, 1883 in Union Pacific’s No. 5 mine in Carbon. A wife and 6 children survived him. He was buried in the Carbon cemetery in a marked grave. (Anderson)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 248,366 tons of coal in 1883. (UPCM)

1884

In The News

1884: A fence around the Carbon cemetery was completed.

1884: Workers from Finland were starting to arrive in Carbon. Like other immigrants, the Finnish people came to Carbon in search of a better life. The coal company in Carbon actively recruited Finn workers and many more Finns simply followed relatives. Finnish miners provided some of the labor that was in demand by the coal company at the time. The coal company wanted workers who wouldn’t socialize with English speaking miners and wouldn’t join the union. There were several reasons for the Finnish people, especially men, to leave their homeland. Finland lacked some of the necessary resources needed to become a highly industrialized country that would have created lots of jobs and Finland’s political ties with Russia created unrest among the Finnish people, especially the young men who might be drafted into the Russian military.

Carbon Miner

There was one fatality in the mines.

1. Eric Christianson [Eric Christensen] was killed December 30, 1884, in the Union Pacific Railway's No. 5 mine in Carbon. Runaway coal cars in the mine killed him. His burial place is unknown. (Anderson) (Kinnaman)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 321,637 tons of coal in 1884. (UPCM)

1885

In The News

June 17, 1885: The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, arrived in New York Harbor. The statue stood watch over more than 12 million immigrants who sailed into New York Harbor. Many of those immigrants would end up in Carbon and Hanna.

September 2, 1885: In Rock Springs, Wyoming Territory, 28 Chinese coal mine laborers were killed and 15 others wounded by white miners. Hundreds more were chased out of town by angry white coal miners. The Chinese coal miners were brought to Rock Springs by the Union Pacific as strikebreakers and to keep the union in check.

1885: Additional United States troops were sent to Wyoming due to the Rock Springs Massacre. They rounded up and escorted Chinese workers, against their will, back to Rock Springs.

1885: The Union Pacific abandoned the Carbon No. 5 mine at Niles. The mine was situated five miles north of Carbon; the mine was opened in 1880 and abandoned in 1885. It turned out to be poor quality coal. Production numbers for just the No. 5 mine were not found. Over time, the Carbon mines in total experienced 41 documented deaths. It is not known in which mine 14 of the 41 were killed, but at least 3 of the 41 occurred in the No. 5 mine.

Carbon Miner

Two men were killed in the mines.

1. John Donnelly was killed March 1885 in Union Pacific's Carbon No. 6 mine from a fall of rock. His burial place is unknown. (Anderson) (Kinnaman)

2. Albert Reemer was killed January 23, 1885 in Union Pacific's Carbon No. 5 mine from an explosion. It is unknown where he was buried. (Anderson) Albert Reemer was killed after he lit the fuse of a shot. When nothing happened, he went to investigate, following which the explosion occured. (Kinnaman)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 226,864 tons of coal in 1885. (UPCM)

1886

In The News

September 4, 1886: Apache Chief Geronimo surrendered to the United States troops.

October 28, 1886: President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.

1886: Wyoming experienced a harsh winter, known as the Great Blizzard of 1886.

1886: The University of Wyoming in Laramie was chartered.

Carbon Miner

One fatality occurred in the mines.

1. Alfred Ball was killed in the Union Pacific's Carbon No. 6 mine. He died October 19, 1886 from a fall of top coal. He was buried in the Carbon cemetery in a marked grave. (Anderson)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 214,235 tons of coal in 1886. (UPCM)

The coal camp at Carbon, Wyoming was strong and vibrant in 1886. The demand for coal was high and rapidly growing. The citizens of Carbon thought their coal field would last forever and the camp would prosper for many years to come. Little did they know that 1886 was the beginning of the end for their town.

There were eleven coal mines producing coal in the Wyoming Territory in 1886; two of those mines were located at Carbon and owned by the Union Pacific Railway Company. They were the No. 2 and the No. 6 mines.

The Union Pacific Railroad officials, especially Charles Adams,the president of the railroad, were facing some difficult times and hard decisions in 1886. The situations were politically complex, but the bottom line was simple. The railroad had to increase revenue or go broke. The railroad was facing a financial crisis on many fronts, but the debt owed the federal government was the most worrisome.

In order to pay the bills, the railroad needed to increase profits. The mining industry was one place the railroad felt more funds could be collected. But in order to increase income, some basic problems had to be solved.

A growing welter of problems in the mines, of which labor unrest was only one, existed. Some of the mines were played out and no longer economical to work. New veins had been located but would be costly to develop. As productive mines burrowed deeper, longer hauls were required, thereby hiking costs. Labor was scarce, coal cars even scarcer. Machinery wore down faster than expected, and some proved too light for the work demanded of it. The new machinery performed well but was expensive. To improve ventilation new fans needed to be installed. (Union Pacific, Vol. 1, Maury Klein)

Union Pacific General Manager, T.J. Potter, reported to Adams that he was concerned that if production didn't increase, the railroad would not have enough coal to meet their needs.

The question as Potter saw it was, “Shall the Company go ahead and expand, within the next two years, half a million dollars to put the mines in condition to increase their output, or will they lease them on some fair basis to responsible parties?” Potter favored a lease, perhaps to Beckwith, which would take the company out of the coal business at least until it settled the funding dispute with the government. The board responded by naming Adams, Fred Ames and Mark Hanna to a committee to take up Potter’s recommendation. Early in 1888, Beckwith was given charge of the Colorado coal and stone properties, but Adams wanted Hanna to run the Wyoming mines. When Potter died unexpectedly, the matter fell once more into confusion. (Union Pacific, Vol. 1, Maury Klein)

Beckwith was a labor contractor for the railroad. He also owned the Beckwith Mercantile stores. He provided the labor for the mines. He also served as paymaster for the miners. Potter felt Beckwith already had his fingers firmly in the pot and would be a natural fit to take over the production of the mines as well. Adams was swamped by railroad problems, so he looked to Mark Hanna for help with the production problems and the coal mining issues as a whole. In order to better understand the situation, Mark Hanna visited the Wyoming coal mines to examine the problems.

Hanna returned from his visit with some insight as to what was happening in the Wyoming coal mines. Primarily, he thought more investment was needed to get more profit. He also importantly believed the labor problems had to be solved. It was Beckwith who provided the Chinese labor to work in the coal mines and on the railroad. The miners in Carbon had gone on strike in January 1885 over wages and the importing of Chinese miners. It was the clash between the Chinese and white miners in Rock Springs that lead to the Chinese Massacre on September 2, 1885. Labor relations were severely affected by the hiring of Chinese labor and were a problem Mark Hanna had to deal with. Because of the massacre, no more Chinese would be hired, but Beckwith was now doing the same thing with other miners especially the Finnish miners. If he had control of production as well as labor, Hanna did not like how that might end up. On purpose, Beckwith provided workers who would not mix with the white miners. The hope was that they would not join the union or go on strike.

Fortunately, one of Adam's government directors was Mark Hanna, the shrewd, intelligent coal dealer from Cleveland who would later carve an impressive career in politics as he had in business. Hanna inspected the Wyoming mines in October 1886 to investigate complaints made by miners. Among other things he found that Beckwith was hiring Finnish miners because they did not “fraternize” with other miners” and resisted organizing. A strike in Colorado, provoked by a pay reduction, prompted officials there to seek Hungarians as replacements for the same reason. No more Chinese were imported, but the object was still to find men who would not join the union. As a result, labor tensions remained high at all the mines. (Union Pacific, Vol. 1, Maury Klein)

1887

In The News

January 1887: Wyoming experienced record cold and snowfall which decimated the state livestock industry, especially the large cattle herds.

May 9, 1887: Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show opened in London.

1887: The Carbon mines were operating, but the mineable coal was diminishing. A new source of coal was needed.

Carbon Miner

Fortunately, there were no reported fatalities in mines this year.

The Carbon mines produced a total of 288,358 tons of coal in 1887. (UPCM)

Wyoming Miner

The Territory of Wyoming had its first million tons of coal produced in 1887; 855,920 tons of coal were produced in 1884; 806,417 tons produced in 1885; 835, 999 tons produced in 1886 and 1,119,909 tons produced in 1887).

1888

In The News

March 12, 1888: Chinese laborers were excluded from the United States. The United States and China approved a treaty prohibiting Chinese laborers from entering the United States for 20 years.

1888: The Hanna town site at Chimney Springs was surveyed and the area explored for coal mine locations. Mark Hanna, at the request of the Union Pacific Railroad, toured the Wyoming coal mines. On his trip he visited the newly discovered coal fields at Chimney Springs for possible expansion. He recommended the coal field be developed. When the decision to move the coal operation from Carbon to Hanna was made, the coal site at Chimney Springs was named Hanna after Mark Hanna.

1888: The Wyoming Territorial Assembly sent the United States Congress a petition for admission to the Union.

Carbon and Hanna Miner

Two miners were killed in the mines.

1. Andrew Palso was so badly hurt from a fall of top coal in the Union Pacific Mine No. 2 in Carbon on January 15, 1888, that he died on the way to the U.P. Hospital in Denver the next day. (1888 MIR) The burial place of Andrew Palso is unknown. (Anderson)

2. John Peterson, on February 27, 1888, received injuries in No. 2 U.P. mine in Carbon by a fall of top coal in his room that was so serious he died in the U.P. Hospital at Denver on March 3, 1888. (1888 MIR) The burial place of John Petersonis unknown. (Anderson)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 347,754 tons of coal in 1888. (UPCM)

Joe Cox, who would later be responsible for developing the No. 1 and No. 2 mines in Hanna, was granted his Mine Foreman certificate on March 21, 1888. Alex Briggs, who would later become Superintendent of both the Carbon and Hanna mines, was granted the certificate to perform the duties of a Mine Foreman on May 28, 1888.

Resulting from the depletion of the quantity and quality of coal in the Carbon area, the story of the town of Hanna actually began in 1888 when the Union Pacific decided to develop the coal fields north of Carbon. The decision meant the abandonment of the coal field at Carbon and consequently the town of Carbon. The citizens of Carbon were for the most part devastated by the decision. Right up to the end, the people living in Carbon refused to believe their town was doomed.

Mark Hanna toured the Wyoming coal mines again in 1888. Adams trusted Hanna and his judgment, so he sent Hanna west again to examine the productivity, costs, and demand for Wyoming coal. While in Carbon, Hanna visited the newly discovered coal fields north of Carbon for possible expansion. He liked what he saw. After the trip to the area Hanna recommended to Adams and the railroad board of directors that additional expenditures be made to modernize the mines at Rock Springs and to develop the coal fields north of Carbon. His recommendation indicated that the area north of Carbon was rich in coal and could possibly meet the fuel needs of the railroad for years to come.

The latter part of 1888 was used to survey the Hanna town site and explore in detail the location of the proposed mines.

THE HANNA TOWN SITE AND MINES NO. 1 AND NO. 2 WERE DEVELOPED DURING THE WINTER OF 1889. DURING THE FIRST WINTER, THE MEN LIVED IN TENTS. (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES)

Wyoming Miner

The Territory of Wyoming produced 1,512,936 tons of coal in 1888 with 2,205 miners and total employees of 2,685. This was only the second year that the territorial mines produced over one million tons of coal in a single calendar year.

1889

In The News

January 30, 1889: the United States Post Office Department established a post office at Hanna and appointed George F. Doane as postmaster.

July 20, 1889: Homesteaders Ella Watson and James Averell were accused of rustling and were hanged by Wyoming ranchers.

September 30, 1889: Wyoming approved the first state constitution to grant women the right to vote.

1889: Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 7 mine in Carbon was opened for coal production.

1889: Workers spent their time in Hanna developing the No. 1 and No. 2 mines and building the town. Living conditions in Hanna during the winter of 1889 were difficult. The workers lived in tents and were exposed to the winter weather with little protection from Wyoming's cold and windy conditions.

1889: The town of Hanna experienced rapid growth.

1889: The Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Dana was opened for production. It produced 16,058 tons of coal in its first year.

Hanna, one of the new coal camps opened in this country less than one year ago is fast coming to the front and its quality of coal will - if it doesn't already - rank second to none among the soft coals of the west.

At present only two mines are being worked, in which a little more than fifty miners are employed, but that the company intends to greatly increase this number is proven beyond a doubt, as orders have just been received that 100 new dwelling houses are to be erected at once and that new hoisting works, engine and boiler house are to be put in at No. 2 mine. There are sixty company residents at Hanna at present and the addition of 100 new ones will give it the appearance of a good-sized city. (Rawlins Republican, 1889)

Carbon and Hanna Miner

One man was killed in the Carbon mines.

1. William Conner [William Connor] was crushed to death November 21, 1889, in Union Pacific Railway's No. 6 mine in Carbon. His burial place is unknown. (Anderson) (Kinnaman)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 170,258 tons of coal in 1889. (UPCM)

Historically, many accidents in coal mines occurred from the carelessness of the miner in the work place, but there also existed a lack of guidance and leadership from mine officials to assist the miner in working in a safe environment, especially for the huge number of non-English speaking miners.
Some accidents occur from carelessness while others occur that could not have been foreseen and avoided by the greatest of caution.

The coal miner may be provided with all necessary timbers, may set them with skill and good judgment, as to place and number, and may perform all the intelligent cautionary duties for safety, yet danger is in his presence. After he has done what his best judgment suggests to protect himself and his foreman approves what he has done, yet when he takes his pick in an effort to provide for his family, possibly every stroke of it is but uncovering a slip and weakening the roof over him which is soon to come down with little or no notice and maiming or crushing him to death. So long as coal mines are worked, the miner will never have certain immunity from accident; a minimum may be attained, but can only be done by the thorough and unwavering enforcement of rigid mine rules by a competent mine foreman, with the willing intelligent and prompt compliance of the miner. (1889 MIR)

The Carbon No. 7 mine opened for development in 1889, at about the same time as the Hanna No. 1 and No. 2 mines were developed. Coal was produced in the Carbon No. 7 mine in 1900 and 1901. The mine closed production in 1901 and was abandoned in 1902.

No. 7 Mine: (Sand Creek) This mine was situated approximately two miles south of the town of Carbon, and was opened in July 1899, and closed April 30th, 1902. Coal being of poor quality, and seam full of impurities, caused the abandonment of this mine. With the abandonment of this mine, all mining operations in or adjacent to Carbon ceased and the population which had dwindled from one thousand in the heyday of the town to approximately two hundred now, deserted the homes they occupied for a number of years, and secured employment in Union Pacific Mines at Spring Valley, Cumberland, Rock Springs, and Hanna. (1889 MIR)

In early 1889, Joseph Cox was given the responsibility of opening the No. 1 and No. 2 mines in Hanna, which was previously called Chimney Springs. He previously held the position of Boss Driver at the mines in Carbon.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF HANNA MINES NO. 1 AND NO. 2 REQUIRED A LARGE NUMBER OF MEN, MULES, HORSES AND WAGONS TO UNCOVER THE COAL SEAM AND HAUL AWAY THE EXCESS DIRT, ROCK AND SLATE IN WOODEN CARTS. (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES)

The prospectors found an excellent seam of coal and Joseph Cox arrived in 1889 with orders from Meyer to take charge of development work. Mr. Cox who had previously been in charge of the opening of the nearby Dana mine was splendidly equipped both in point of experience and temperament, to manage a rough new born mining town. In appearance he was a typical Englishman, but he had none of the Englishman's traditional reserve to hamper him in his dealings with the miners. One who knew him thus described him: he was hot tempered, quick on the trigger, but kindhearted. He would explode, swear until the air was blue, and then give you everything he had. (History of The Union Pacific Coal Mines 1868 to 1940)

In 1892, Joseph Cox was transferred by the Union Pacific Coal Company from Hanna to Gray Creek, Colorado, as superintendent of the mines located there. He later became an owner of two coal mines in Aguilar, Colorado.

THE HANNA MINE DEVELOPMENT PICTURED ABOVE PROVIDES A LOOK AT A SPOIL PILE FOR THE DIRT, ROCK AND SLATE TAKEN FROM THE DIGGING OF THE MINE. NOTE: THE HAUL WAGON WHEELS WERE SET TO THE BACK OF THE WAGON ALLOWING THE WAGON TO BE TIPPED BACKWARD BY THE DRIVER INVERTING THE BOX AND DUMPING THE LOAD WHILE THE MULES AND HORSES REMAINED ATTACHED. ALSO NOTE: AT THE TOP OF THE PICTURE, THE MINERS UNCOVERED THE COAL SEAM AT THE OUTCROPPING. (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES)

To open the Hanna mines, the miners drove an entry downward through the seam of coal. They then drove entries off the main slope at right angles creating a massive system of tunnels. Openings off the entries were called rooms. The rooms were the miners' underground workplace at the face of the coal seam. The rooms usually were about eight to twelve feet wide. Between the rooms, solid pillars of coal, twenty to one hundred feet wide, were left to hold up the mine roof. Miners would come back later and remove the pillars. Props made of timbers helped the pillars hold up the roof of the mine from caving.

CONVENTIONAL TIMBERING IN A HANNA MINE (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

The town of Hanna was located immediately on top of some of the mine slopes and entries. To help avoid the town from sinking into the mines, the Union Pacific Coal Company did not remove the coal pillars located under the town.

Instead of duplicating living conditions and housing found in Carbon, the Union Pacific decided to lay out the town of Hanna in advance and in an organized manner before building the town. The town was built originally in two sections, one near each of the mine entrances. The town’s Main Street ran east and west and was located on the first street on the north side of the railroad tracks. South of the tracks, near the entrance of the No. 1 mine was No. 1 town. North of the tracks, and slightly northwest of No. 1 town, was No. 2 town. It was built close to the main entrance of the No. 2 mine. No. 3 town would later be built northeast of No. 1 town, between Hanna and Elmo, near the entrance of the No. 3 mine. Jap Town would be built south of the No. 2 coal dump.

Hanna

HANNA, IN ABOUT 1891 (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

No. 1 Town and Mine

HANNA NO. 1 MINE DUMP BEFORE 1885 (1884 MINE INSPECTOR REPORT)

HANNA NO. 1 MINE DUMP AFTER 1885 (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL SERVICES)

TRIP OF COAL COMING OUT OF THE HANNA NO. 1 MINE (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

HANNA NO. 1 TOWN (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

As it turned out, the Hanna mines had extremely thick seams of coal. The seam in the No. 1 mine was from fifteen to thirty feet thick and the No. 2 mine seam was from twenty four to thirty six feet thick. With the coal seams so high, the working conditions were exceptionally dangerous. Several feet of coal were left at the top of the seam to protect dirt, rock, coal and other debris from caving in. These conditions left high ceilings, which were difficult to check at the top for loose rock and allowed high places for dangerous gases to accumulate.

HANNA MINERS AT THE NO. 1 MINE ABOUT 1900 (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

HANNA MINERS AND THEIR MULES AT HANNA NO. 1 MINE (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

No. 2 Town and Mine

HANNA NO. 2 TOWN (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

HANNA NO. 2 MINE DUMP. THE HOUSES ON THE LEFT OF THE PICTURE WERE FOR COMPANY MEN AND WERE CALLED CAPITAL HILL. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

HANNA MINERS AT THE NO. 2 MINE (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

HANNA NO. 2 MINE MACHINE SHOP (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

NO. 2 MINE POWER HOUSE (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

NO. 2 TOWN AT HANNA (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

The Hanna Miner

THIS MINER IS ABOUT TO ENTER THE NO. 1 MINE WITH HIS PICK, BAR, OIL LAMP AND LUNCH BOX: THE ESSENTIAL TOOLS OF A PICK MINER. UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY. (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

In 1889, coal mining was carried out primarily with pick, bar, shovel and powder. Pictured above is a pick miner heading onto the slope of the Hanna No. 1 mine on his way to his workplace or room at the face of the coal. The coal he dug was hauled to the surface in a trip of coal cars pulled by horses and mules on metal rails.

TWO MINERS PREPARING TO BLAST THE COAL IN THE NO. 1 MINE. THE MAN STANDING IS DRILLING THE FACE IN ORDER TO PLACE HIS POWDER, THE MAN LAYING DOWN IS UNDERCUTTING THE COAL TO AVOID A WINDY SHOT AND ALLOW THE COAL TO DROP TO THE MINE FLOOR IN CHUNKS READY FOR LOADING. NOTE THE TYPE AND LOCATION OF THE MINER'S OIL LAMPS.

Pictured below are two miners working in a room at the coal face. The miner at the bottom of the picture, lying down, is undercutting the coal and the man standing is drilling a hole in order to insert powder and blast the coal. The coal was undercut so the coal would fracture and fall in chunks to the mine floor ready for loading.

After the miners shot and loaded their coal into a coal car, a driver and mule hauled the coal out of the mine.

If the miners did not undercut the coal before it was shot, the force of the explosion would come out of the hole and not fracture the coal into chunks. This would be called a “windy shot” and was reported as the primary cause of the June 30, 1903 explosion.

Hanna No. 2 Mine. No. 4 ENTRY MOTOR. A MULE ATTACHED TO A TRIP OF COAL (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

After the Union Pacific Railroad decided to open new mines at Hanna and Dana, it also decided to build a branch line called the Carbon Cut-off from Allen Junction (located close to Medicine Bow) to Hanna. The Cut-Off was sixteen miles long. Work began on April 8, 1889, and was completed in November of the same year. The first shipment of coal from Hanna over the Cut-Off came in November of 1889.

The shipment of coal from the Union Pacific's mines at Hanna, on the Carbon Cutoff, has commenced. For the present, the company will use the coal. Very little commercial coal will come from this camp for several months. Superintendent Barr has formally accepted the Cutoff branch on behalf of the operating department. Allen is the junction station. The town of Hanna is constantly being improved. (Cheyenne Daily News, Nov. 8, 1889)

The cutoff was not without its problems. During construction one man was killed and several others would have been lynched, if they could have been found.

There was a very serious accident about 6:30 p.m. Monday on the Carbon cut-off, resulting in the killing of one man and the injury of two others, one perhaps fatally. The work train left two cars loaded with oats near the boarding car and went toward the end of the line, a distance of about five miles, to bring down to supper the men employed on the grade. Elmer E. Woodmansee was in charge as conductor and Engineer Dan Haskins was at the throttle. About fifteen men were taken on board the caboose, which was then backed to the boarding car. Whether through forgetfulness or not, the train was not stopped when the two cars which had been left behind were reached again and the caboose was pushed against them. The rate of speed could not have been very high, for only one car was thrown from the track. Several of the men had gone out on the platform of the caboose. One must have been out almost upon the bumpers when the cars came together, for he was caught and crushed and a portion of his skull cut away. His name was supposed to have been Diamond. Two others were thrown down and mangled. They were brought to the city Tuesday and taken to the hospital where Dr. Stevens, Harris, and Finfrock were called to attend them. Of these, the most seriously injured is William Penn. His left foot is crushed and his system is so depressed from the shock of the accident that it is impossible to give him chloroform for the purpose of amputating the injured member. His recovery is very doubtful. Pat King was also badly shocked. His right arm was broken and his thumb lacerated and nearly torn off. There was a lively time at the scene of the accident as soon as it occurred. The graders were incensed over the accident, holding the trainmen responsible, and some remarks that Conductor Woodmansee made only tended to increase their anger. Finally they secured a rope and announced their intention of having a lynching be immediately. Their actions were of a very threatening character and the trainmen rightly concluded that safety was the better part of valor. Conductor, engineer, fireman and brakeman all took to the sage brush and reports are to the effect that they were exceedingly wise in doing so. They walked many miles during the night, Fireman Jones Littlejohn and the brakeman going as far as the hills, twenty miles distant. It is believed that a desperate attempt to lynch them would certainly have been made had they remained near the scene of the accident. The victims of the accident are all men who were sent here some time ago from the east. (Boomerang, Oct. 10, 1889)

A coroner's inquest was held in Carbon over the death of Joseph Diamond. Engineer Dan Haskins was accused of ignoring signals and a verdict was returned of guilty. All the other members of the train crew were held without blame. Fearing he might still be lynched if the graders could find him, Dan Haskins went into hiding. He gave himself up in Rawlins, when the grand jury convened to consider his case. The grand jury refused to indict Dan Haskins for lack of evidence and the matter was dropped.

The first shipment of coal over the Carbon Cutoff was completed in November of 1889.

The shipment of coal from the Union Pacific's mines at Hanna on the Carbon Cutoff has commenced. For the present, the company will use the coal. Very little commercial coal will come from this camp for several months. Superintendent Barr has formally accepted the Cutoff branch on behalf of the operation department. Allen is the junction station. The town of Hanna is being constantly improved. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, Nov. 8, 1889)

The Union Pacific owned all the buildings in Hanna; the exceptions were the churches and parsonages.

In early 1889 the Union Pacific Coal Company hired Swedish carpenters to build the first houses in Hanna. Among the first carpenters were Elmer Larson, John Klaseen, Nels Eckman and John Linden.

The first business to locate in Hanna was the Beckwith Commercial Company. The following advertisement was placed in the Cheyenne Daily Leader in November of 1889. At the time, Captain Thomas O. Minta, was the manager of the Beckwith stores at Carbon, Dana and Hanna.

IN ADDITION TO BEING THE FIRST BUSINESS IN HANNA, THE BECKWITH COMMERCIAL COMPANY WAS ALSO LOCATED IN MANY OF THE OTHER MINING TOWNS IN WYOMING. IN ADDITION TO COMMERCIAL SALES, THE BUSINESS ACTED AS PAYMASTER FOR THE MINES. (RAWLINS REPUBLICAN)

The original Union Pacific Company Store was built in Hanna in 1889 and managed by George Doane. He operated the store until he retired from management and moved back east in September of 1893.
Mike Quealey took charge of the meat market adjoining the company store in September of 1893.

ABOVE, THE UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY'S STORE IN HANNA WAS MOVED FROM CARBON BY TRAIN. (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

The first water source for Hanna was a well sunk near the No. 2 mine. It turned out to be unusable for drinking water. Good water was found at Rattlesnake Creek. The Rattlesnake Water Company was incorporated and given the responsibility to bring drinking water to Dana and Hanna.

The Rattlesnake Water Company has a force of men at work up on Elk Mountain putting in a drain, says the Rawlins Journal. It is the purpose of this company to put in a pipeline to Dana and Hanna, the two new coal camps on the Union Pacific. The line will be about eighteen miles long. A fifteen inch pipe will convey the water to the new camps, and when completed they will have one of the best water systems of any town in Wyoming. (Daily Boomerang, Dec. 16, 1889)

Until the water line could be completed, water was hauled from Rattlesnake Creek to Hanna in barrels. The water delivery was similar to the delivery system followed in Carbon, when water was hauled from Medicine Bow to Carbon. Two concrete reservoirs were eventually built to keep an adequate supply of water on hand at all times. The town of Hanna uses the same basic water system today.

Carbon No. 2 mine superintendent was L. E. Meyer. George Heywood was the mine foreman. Carbon No. 6 mine superintendent was L. R. Meyer. Alex Briggs was the mine foreman. Dana No. 1 mine superintendent was L. R. Meyer. W. H. Brown was the assistant superintendent. W. S. Carr was the mine foreman. Hanna No. 1 and No. 2 mine superintendent was L. R. Meyer. Joe Cox was the mine foreman.

Carbon No. 2 is located in Carbon County on the main line of the Union Pacific Railway. This mine has been operated a number of years by the Union Pacific Railway Company to whom it belongs. Many times in its history it looked discouraging as a producer to be relied upon, but the courage and tactics of the local management has steadily met and overcome the difficulties presented and she has responded with encouraging out-puts in all cases of emergency and the condition’s promise has at no time in the past been better than on my last regular inspection. An average of about six feet of coal is taken and is reached by a slope from the crop, with a gradient of 6 to 8 degrees with lateral entries driven right and left, some irregular and crooked, because of intervening faults, by systems of plans in use the coal is conveniently delivered to the slope. The mine has during the past year, wonderfully improved in condition, in the particulars of hauling and traveling ways, manner of timbering, cleaning and keeping in order, air-ways and, in fact, almost every particular in which the intelligent conduct of a mine would suggest. It is well ventilated by a 20 foot Guibal fan. In the particular of ventilation, the mine is well up to the standard, the current being well under control and taken to working places, capacity of the mine is 1000 to 1200 tons per day. (1889 MIR)

Carbon No. 6 is an old mine owned and operated by the Union Pacific Railway Company and is located on the main line about half a mile from the No. 2 mine. It has been a good producer, but the field of coal that can be handled contently through the opening to this mine is about exhausted. Drawing the pillars is finishing the mine. When this is done, the mine will be closed. At present, the mine is in good condition generally. The ventilation is by a 20 foot Guibal fan, which, with the limited number of workers, supplies all the air needed.

Dana No. 1 mine has been opened during the past year by the Union Pacific Railway Company and is located on the main line of the railroad near Dana. The Union Pacific Company’s Mr. W. H. Brown, who discovered and opened the mine, operates it. He has been continuously in charge. The opening is on a 12-foot vein, extending in a northwest and southeast direction. The out-crop has been proven for about one and one-half miles, with indications that it will swing around towards the north and across the valley of the Chimney-Springs district [Hanna], this forming a part of that great coal basin in which developments are just begun. The Dana seam is a new one, not known before. It lies at an angle of 30 degrees and a little to the north of east. The vein has a distinct "parting," forming a bottom bench of 7 feet and top coal of five feet. The coal is clean and burns free, leaving no clinkers and compares favorably with Chimney-Springs [Hanna] coal. The mine promises well and the company is spending a great deal of money putting it in good condition by putting in convenient railroad trackage, dumps, scales, buildings for employees and all appliances and conveniences that go to make up a first-class coal camp. (1889 MIR)

THE CARBON-CUT OFF SPUR TRACK TO HANNA (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Hanna is an entirely new coal field. It is just being developed by the Union Pacific Railway Company. It is spoken of frequently as the Carbon-Cut-Off spur track that has been built from near Medicine Bow on the Union Pacific to the mines about 20 miles west. Two slope mines are being opened from the outcrop. The crop dips about 12 to 14 degrees. The vein is about 12 feet thick and the coal is of a superior quality. The coal is unusually clear of the slates or other foreign substances. Nothing, but narrow work has been done so far, but this is being pushed as rapidly as possible. Preparations are being made for complete hoisting plants at each mine and all other facilities for the convenient handling of the output will be supplied as fast as the work can be done. A great field of coal lies here and in the near future Hanna will be one of the best coal camps in the Territory. (1889 MIR)

Three Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal.

1. Carbon No. 2 underground mine with 351 employees and 25 mules produced 191,601 tons of coal.
2. Carbon No. 6 underground mine with 221 workers and 13 mules produced 71,906 tons of coal.
3. Dana No. 1 underground mine with 142 workers and 4 mules produced 7,432 tons of coal. (1889 MIR)

The Hanna No. 1 and No. 2 mines were under construction during 1889. Toward the end of the year, the mines were extracting coal and some of it was even shipped to Carbon over the Carbon Cut-Off, but the mines themselves used what was taken out. No coal sales or production was recorded.

1890

In The News

June 19, 1890: A fierce fire broke out in Carbon and burned most of the business district to the ground. A few reports indicate the fire started in the Scranton House hotel where a guest knocked over a kerosene lamp. The fire fighters even tried dynamiting a few buildings in hopes of stopping the fire from spreading, but their efforts were not successful. Immediately after the fire, the people and businesses started rebuilding the town and new laws and ordinances were passed to help avoid such a thing from happening again.

July 10, 1890: The new town of Hanna celebrated when President Harrison signed a bill creating the state of Wyoming. Wyoming became the 44th state.

December 29, 1890: The United States Army massacred 146 Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota.

1890: Wyoming’s population was 62,555 people, 6,857 of which were living in Carbon County.

1890: The Union Pacific Coal Company was organized as a subsidiary of the Union Pacific Railroad to oversee Wyoming coal mining.

1890: The Union Pacific‘s Carbon No. 6 mine in Carbon was abandoned because all the mineable coal had been removed. It was opened in 1880. Coal production numbers were not found for the No. 6 mine. Over time the Carbon mines experienced 41 documented deaths. It is not known in which mine 14 of the miners died, but 4 of the 41 miners died in the No. 6 mine.

1890: Additional housing was built in Hanna. R. B. Dykerman was contracted to build fifty new four-room houses in Hanna for the Union Pacific Coal Company.

1890: The original Hanna Methodist Church was built.

ORIGINAL HANNA METHODIST CHURCH BUILT IN 1890 (PICTURE FROM BONNIE AMAON)

John Caesar Mylorie served as pastor of the Methodist Church from about 1916 to 1924. He passed away on April 19, 1924, in Hanna. He and his wife Esther were from the Isle of Mann. (Robert James Mylorie, grandson of John Mylorie)

June 19, 1890, a fierce fire broke out in Carbon and burned most of the business district to the ground. A few reports indicate the fire started in the Scranton House hotel where a guest knocked over a kerosene lamp. The fire fighters even tried dynamiting a few buildings in hopes of stopping the fire from spreading, but their efforts were not successful. Immediately after the fire, the people and businesses started rebuilding the town and new laws and ordinances were passed to help avoid such a thing from happening again.

CARBON FIRE (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM AND GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION)

Carbon and Hanna Miner

Two men were killed in the mines.

1. Henry Ward was the first miner killed in the Hanna mines. He was the only miner killed when the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine exploded for the first time in its history.

It took place yesterday afternoon in No. 1 mine at Hanna, the only victim being Henry Ward, who was instantly killed. Fortunately the accident occurred on Sunday when the miners were not at work, or many would have been injured and killed. Ward entered the mine with a light. There was gas in the mine and when Ward neared a position near the pumps the gas ignited and exploded. He was killed and much damage was done, although it is said to be not so great but that work may be resumed in a few days. (Daily Laramie Boomerang, April 28, 1890) Henry Ward, was buried in the Rawlins, Wyoming cemetery. (BL)

2. Nels Nelsonwas killed on May 27, 1890, in a Carbon coal mine. It is unknown where he was buried. It is unknown which Carbon mine Nels Nelson was killed in. (Anderson)

The Carbon mines produced a total of 201,191 tons of coal in 1890. The Dana mine produced 29,886 tons. (UPCM)

After the Carbon Cutoff to Hanna was completed, the Union Pacific continued to push the railroad past Hanna toward Rawlins. The Union Pacific Railroad announced June 10, 1890, in the Laramie Boomerang that the main line through Hanna to Rawlins was completed. The main line of the railroad would now run from Laramie to Rawlins by way of Hanna. Stops at Como, Ramsey, Hanna and New Percy were added to the daily schedule. Stops at Allen Junction, Pynchon, Carbon, Simpson and Old Percy were dropped. The trip from Laramie to Rawlins was now eighteen miles shorter. The daily coal trips to Carbon still continued, but the railroad to Carbon was now a spur track.

THE FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN TO HANNA ARRIVED OVER THE CARBON CUT OFF IN 1890. (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL SERVICES)

By March 1890, the Hanna coal camp was well on the way to becoming an established town.

Judging by the preparations they are making, the Union Pacific intends to largely increase their output of coal next winter. The new mine at Dana is being rapidly pushed forward and is now in a depth of over 400 feet. The company is much pleased over the quality of the coal. A pump has been put in to keep the mine clear of water and a number of new buildings are in course of construction. The force has been increased and work is prosecuted night and day, the force being divided into three shifts.
At the Hanna mine in the Chimney Springs basin, two openings have been made and plans for two dumps have been forwarded from the engineer's office here. It was expected that work on the Carbon cutoff road would be commenced this week. This road leaves the main track near Medicine Bow and is carried 15 miles to the Hanna mines. It will probably be only a spur line for some time as there are serious engineering difficulties in the way of making a western connection with the main line.
Rapid progress is being made on the new dumps for No. 1 mine here. A battery of six new boilers is being placed in position and the four new scales are nearly in shape. The big hoisting engines have arrived and the large drums are expected every day. Some idea of their size may be gathered from the fact that the shaft upon which the drums turn weighs 18 tons. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, March 24, 1889)

As we are a full-fledged camp now, possibly a few lines from here may be of interest to some of your readers. We are a busy little camp. Two coal mines are being developed, giving employment to 150 men in and around the mines and we have an inexhaustible supply of good coal. No. 1 mine, has a seam of 20 feet in thickness that, according to Geologist Ricketts' report, is equal to Rock Springs. No. 2 mine has a seam of 31 feet in thickness, which is but little behind No. 1 in quality. The company is expending large amounts of money in developing the mines. Last summer they built what is known as the Carbon cutoff, especially for the coal traffic, the distance from Allen Junction, 16 miles. We probably have the second best depot in the territory. The Beckwith Commercial Company has the only store so far. A post office was established a short time ago and mail is brought from Dana, six miles, three times a week. George F. Doane is the present "Wannamaker." Billy Maher presides at the depot as station agent, express agent and operator. Where the hungry are fed, the company has erected 50 tenement houses as near alike as that many peas. We have several different nationalities of people, Finns, Swedes, Danes, English, Irish, Dutch, Laplanders and United States. The Finns have recently started a temperance society among themselves. A Sunday school will next be started; religious services have not been held here but once. There has been one wedding and one "bust up" and one open birth in the camp; no deaths have occurred yet.

We could stand all this, but the next thing that came along was a school; yes, we have a school and a real live school ma'am, none other than Miss Jennie Ruffcorn, of Rawlins. She has 16 students and uses one of the tenement buildings for a school house, but we hope soon to have an organized district. Mrs. Jennings has kindly consented to call an election on the 10th inst., for the selection of school trustees and we will be known as district number 7. (Rawlins Republican no. 18, April 18, 1890)

A TENEMENT BUILDING WAS USED FOR THE FIRST SCHOOL IN HANNA. PICTURED ABOVE IS THE FIRST SCHOOL BUILT (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

The town of Hanna had an excellent start by March of 1889, but many of the coal problems facing the railroad were yet to be solved.

The coal problem was, Adams admitted, a “hard conundrum for me to crack.” He had three basic options: get out of the business altogether, put it in the hands of outside parties, or continue to work it in some reorganized form. In Adams view, the only sound choice was to keep the business, but how to reorganize it? The answer came partly from Hanna and partly from the model offered by Pacific Express. “Problem solved!” Adams rejoiced in April, 1890. The coal properties would be transferred to a wholly owned subsidiary, the Union Pacific Coal Company, and run separately but in harmony with the railroad. Adams wanted Governor Francis Warren to manage the new company, but Wyoming was about to become a state and Warren was reluctant to leave politics. Instead Adams chose J.S. Tebbets, a young freight agent at Omaha, to be general manager reporting directly to the president. All the coal
interests, Adams declared, would “be maintained separately from the Omaha offices, and nothing can be done which is not approved here.” To emphasize his independence, Tebbets set up headquarters in Denver. (Union Pacific, Vol. 1, Maury Klein)

The Union Pacific Railway Company was changed to the Union Pacific Coal Company in 1890.
The creation of the Union Pacific Coal Company as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Union Pacific Railroad was initially designed to improve coal operations, but it quickly developed into a strategy much more valuable than that. It gave the railroad an improved avenue to increase and access revenues. It would also protect itself from debt and creditors. The creation of the Union Pacific Coal Company as a wholly owned subsidiary was a strategy the railroad would use over and over again in the development of the mines and the town of Hanna. The water system would be surveyed and installed by the Rattlesnake Water Company and the spur line from Allen Junction to Hanna known as the Carbon Cut-Off would be built by the Carbon Cut-Off Railway Company, both of which were wholly owned by the Union Pacific Railroad.

In 1890, the Union Pacific Coal Company controlled almost every aspect of a coal miner's life. The Company owned the stores and houses. It also determined wages and working conditions. Coal mining was extremely dangerous and the men worked in primitive conditions for very little money. Foreigners made up the largest percentage of the Hanna miners. They were brought directly to Hanna from many other countries. Many miners lost their lives in the mines and many more felt they would be killed sooner or later, but they had to provide for their families and felt there was no other place to go. A large number of men left behind widows and fatherless children without hope, money, or housing. The work demanded the men and women to be hard, fearless, and able to face considerable difficulty and hardship with great determination and effort or they wouldn't survive.

HANNA COAL CHUTES FOR FUELING AND WATERING THE TRAINS (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

HANNA DEPOT (MCNULTY COLLECTION)

1891

In The News

November 19, 1891: The Hanna mines loaded 1,300 tons of coal in one day, a state record.

1891: The Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming was the first national forest in the United States by an act signed by President Benjamin Harrison.

1891: A boarding house and hospital were built, along with 160 new houses in Hanna for miners to live in.

FIRST HANNA HOSPITAL AT THE EAST END OF FRONT STREET (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Carbon and Hanna Miner

Three miners were killed in the mines.

1. Dan Tucker [Dan Tuck], colored, injured on Friday, September 11, 1891, having his skull crushed by a mine car died on Sunday and was buried in the Hanna Cemetery on Wednesday. (Daily Boomerang, September 17, 1891) Dan Tuck, Colored, miner, aged 28. He was standing in the cross-cut between two rooms in the No. 1 mine of the Union Pacific Coal Company, where an apparatus was stationed for handling the cars, which was so arranged that the loaded car in descending in one room should raise the empty car in the next room. The empty car jumped the track, and the strain on the rope caused by the loaded car broke. The rail holding the apparatus, and the rope hurled with great force against Tuck, fracturing his skull and causing death. (1891 MIR) Dan Tuck, [Dan Tucker], age 28, born about 1863, was killed in the Hanna No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. M. J. Walsh was killed in the Dana No. 1 mine. He was Irish, a miner, age 34. While engaged in undercutting the coal a large piece fell from the roof and caught him. While struggling to get away, another piece fell, breaking his leg. He died on the train while en route to the hospital at Denver, Colorado. (1891 MIR) M. J. Walsh’s burial place is unknown. (BL)

3. Arthur McCourt was killed November 13, 1891 in a Carbon coal mine. It is not known where he was buried. (Anderson) It is unknown which Carbon mine Arthur McCourt was killed in. (BL)

Four Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal.

1. Carbon No. 2 underground mine, with 289 employees, worked 229 days and produced 163,490 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 1 underground mine, with an average of 231 employees, worked 231 days and produced 133,283 tons of coal.
3. Hanna No. 2 underground mine, with 154 employees, worked 120 days and produced 38,507 tons of coal.
4. Dana No. 1 underground mine, with 114 employees, worked 152 days produced 29,336 tons. (1891 MIR)

Hanna's First Hospital and Phycisians Office, Hanna, Wyoming. Picture stamped, taken by J. D. Sagris (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 364,624 tons of coal with 779 employees. The state of Wyoming's District No. 1 produced 2,098,542 tons with 3,417 employees.

1892

In The News

January 1, 1892: Ellis Island opened as a place to process immigrants coming into the United States. Many of those immigrants were headed to Carbon and Hanna, Wyoming.

1892: Joseph Cox was transferred by the Union Pacific Coal Company from Hanna to Gray Creek, Colorado, as superintendent of the mines located there. He later became a private owner of two coal mines in Aguilar, Colorado.

Carbon and Hanna Miner

Six men lost their lives in the mines.

1. Gustav Maki, a Finlander, was killed by a fall of coal, in the No. 1 Mine, on Wednesday; funeral in the Finn Hall on Friday with 250 miners attending. (Laramie Boomerang, May 12, 1892) Gustav Maki, Finlander, miner, age 40, was killed in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 Mine in Hanna. He had drilled and fired a blast in the bottom bench about twelve feet from the upper end of a pillar which he and another miner were to bring back. After the smoke had cleared away, Maki started to work out the coal loosened by the blast, before finding whether or not the coal above was safe. While in the act of digging the loose coal, a mass of the coal fell from the side above him, causing injuries to him from which he afterwards died. (1891-92 MIR) Note Coroner's Inquest: An inquisition held in Hanna, in the County of Carbon, on the 28th day of April A.D. 1892 before me, A.F. Those, Coroner of said county, upon the body of Gustav Maki, lying dead, by the jurors whose names are hereto subscribed, the said jurors upon their oaths do say: deceased came to his death on April the 27th, 1892 about 12:15 P.M. while working in room No. 8, Entry No. 3 of Mine No. 1 at Hanna, Wyoming by a piece of coal about one ton in weight falling upon him, crushing his skull. We further find that his death was accidental and caused by his own carelessness in not examining the coal above, which he was working, after having fired a blast. (1892 MIR) He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. Andrew Matson, a Finlander, miner, aged 28. He was loading a car of coal in a cross-cut in room 8 in Hanna No. 1 mine while the miners in room 10 were about to fire a blast. Ample notice was given to Matson of what the miners in 10 were about to do, but believing himself safe at such a distance he remained in the cross-cut. The blast threw a small piece of coal across room 10 into the cross-cut where Matson was working, striking him on the head and causing his death on the second day following. (1892 MIR) It is unknown where he was buried. (BL)

3. Isaac Pahto, a Finlander, miner, aged 20. He was loading a car in No. 1 mine [Hanna] when a large piece of rock fell from the roof, catching him and breaking his collarbone and injuring his back. He was taken to the hospital at Denver, Colorado, in which institution he died soon after. (1892 MIR) It is unknown where he was buried. (BL)

4. George Stansfield, an English miner, age 60, was killed in the Carbon No. 2 Mine. He was working in a room where a dangerous rock was known to be hanging in the face. His partner was back loading a cartridge with powder with which he intended to blast the coal from under the rock and in this manner get it safely down. Stansfield, for reasons which cannot be explained, went near this loose rock and commenced to work. The rock fell suddenly, catching the miner and caused his instant death. (1892 MIR)  He was about 60 years old and buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery. (BL)

5. William Wright, a Scotch miner, was killed in the Carbon No. 2 mine. He had just entered his place of work when a huge rock fell from the roof without warning and killed him. (1892 MIR)  He was about 23 years old and buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery. (BL)

6. Thomas Dodds, an English miner, rope runner, age 34, was killed in the Carbon No. 2 mine. While riding up the slope out of the mine on the last trip at night, his head struck a crossbeam, which supported the roof, knocking him under the cars causing injuries from which he died soon after. (1892 MIR)  He was buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery. (BL)

Two Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal.

1. Carbon No. 2 mine with 275 employees, worked 238 days, produced 184,317 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No.1 with 267 employees, worked 267 days, produced 260,409 tons of coal. (1892 MIR)

Alexander Briggs was superintendent of Carbon No. 2 mine and G. R. Sweeney was superintendent of the Hanna No. 1 mine. The Hanna No. 2 mine was idle during 1892, and the Dana No. 1 mine was closed. The price for coal was $1.75 a ton at the mine.

Carbon was at one time the largest coal mining town in Wyoming.

Six mines were opened in Carbon and now all but one are worked out and abandoned. No. 2, the mine now operating, was opened in 1869; it is a slope mine and very extensive. The bottom is quite soft, and the pressure from above on each side of the openings causes an upheaval, until the bottom sometimes touches the top. Whenever such a state of affairs occurs, the only remedy is to dig the bottom out, and it is a matter of such frequent occurrence as to be a source of great expense to the company. A twenty foot Guibal fan is used to ventilate the Mine, but because of the long levels and frequent "creeps and squeezes” the ventilation is difficult to maintain. In the course of another year the probabilities are that the old workings will be abandoned and the machinery moved to another field on the same vein where extensive prospecting is not being carried forward. This mine employs one hundred and ninety men inside and twenty mules. The water is pumped out by one large pump. Three smaller pumps are used to push the water to where the main pump is stationed. This mine is operated by the Union Pacific Coal Company. (1892 MIR)

E. J. Hall was Carbon mine superintendent from January 1892 to June, 1892, and Alex Briggs from July, 1892 to April, 1902.

The Union Pacific Coal Company's Dana mine opened in 1889, equipped with first class machinery and the slope driven a distance of thirteen hundred feet. Three levels were turned off the main slope, but the coal was not as good as expected, and the mine was abandoned in May 1891.

The Hanna mines are located on a spur of the Union Pacific Railway from Allen Junction, about twenty miles from Medicine Bow and about six miles from Dana.

Hanna No. 1 mine is one of the best-equipped mines in the State. It has twenty foot Guibal fan, which, by reason of the large air courses, easily displaces from 100,00 to 120,000 cubic feet of air per minute. Carbureted Hydrogen gas (the fire damp of the mine), escapes freely from the coal, and gas watchmen are continually in the mine looking for gas and keeping the ventilating apparatus in order. Once or twice a week the roadways and rooms are sprinkled with water and the deadly dust kept down. Every precaution is taken to make the mine safe for the men to work in.

Hanna No. 2 is a new mine, and as yet, no gas has been discovered in it, but the managers are on the alert, and I am assured that whenever it makes its appearance proper steps will be taken to render it harmless. Water pipes are laid along the levels to lay the dust, and the current of air produced by a twenty-foot fan keeps the mine cool and healthful. This mine was idle during the year 1892. Both No. 1 and No. 2 mines are operated by the Union Pacific Coal Company. (1892 MIR)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 444,726 tons of coal with 542 employees. The State of Wyoming's District No. 1 produced 2,408,165 tons of coal with 3,142 employees.

Chapter 4
The Outlaw Rattlesnake Pete (1893)

1893

The Outlaw Pete Anderson, or "Rattlesnake" Pete as he was called, was a thief in the town of Carbon. He stole Coffee Johnson's unique and valuable coin collection and made his way to Denmark.

Peter Anderson, commonly called "Rattlesnake" Pete, who drove a delivery wagon for C. F. Johnson, a grocery man at Carbon, skipped for parts unknown a few days ago, taking with him a collection of old coins, which belonged to Mr. Johnson and were valued by him at about $5000.00, and which he had been years collecting. Anderson, it seems, slept in the store and Mr. Johnson slept in the second story of the building. Anderson secured the coins and departed during the night, the theft not being discovered until a couple of days after his departure. Sherriff Hanson was then notified, but is doubtful if the culprit will be caught, as he had plenty of time to get out of the country before a search was inaugurated. (Rawlins Republican, February 16, 1893)

Peter Anderson, better known as "Rattlesnake" Pete, who was a trusted employee of the Carbon merchant Mr. C.F. Johnson and who robbed his employer of a cabinet of valuable old coins and some money, was caught in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Rock Springs Miner, April 27, 1893)

COFFEE JOHNSON (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Secretary of State Gresham has informed the governor of this state that he has received advices from the Danish government in reference to the case of Peter Anderson, alias John Miller, who stole the coin collection of C.F. Johnson at Carbon some time ago. The prisoner is a subject of Denmark and the government of that country prefers to punish him there to permitting him to come back to America for trial. The coins he stole are now on the way to their rightful owner, all having been recovered. Mr. Johnson expected to go to Denmark after the robber, but was instructed not to do so and is now in Chicago, taking in the World's Fair. (Rawlins Republican, May 27, 1893)

Rattlesnake Pete got it in the neck over in Denmark. He was sentenced to ten years in the pen for stealing the valuable coin collection of Mr. Johnson of Carbon. It is learned that he is an habitual criminal and has done time in previous years in Denmark prisons. (Laramie Weekly Sentinel June 3, 1893)

Word has just been received from Copenhagen, Denmark that Pete Anderson, "Rattlesnake" Pete, who stole the valuable collection of coins from C.F. Johnson, the Carbon merchant, has just been sentenced to a term of ten years in prison for his crime. The collection of coins has been forwarded to Mr. Johnson by Denmark authorities. It will be remembered that the king of Denmark would not surrender "Rattlesnake" Pete to this government. The communication received by Secretary Gresham stated that they preferred to punish him there. It will be seen how well they have done their work. "Rattlesnake Pete" should have stayed here and taken a year or two in the Laramie penitentiary. (Laramie Boomerang, June 8, 1893)

The coins stolen by "Rattlesnake" Pete are again in the possession of their rightful owner, C.F. Johnson. Sherriff Hansen the latter part of last week received them and Mr. Johnson came up from Carbon Sunday to get them. The box in which they were shipped bore the address which brought them from the Old Country to Washington, as well as the address which brought them from Washington to Cheyenne. The address put on in Denmark was: "W. T. Greshouse, secretary of state, Dept. of state, Washington, D.C.," and the address brought them to Cheyenne was: "His Excellency, the Governor of Wyoming, J. E. O'Hosrne, Cheyenne, Wyo." (Rawlins Republican, June 22, 1893)

Mr. C.F. Johnson returned to Carbon Tuesday evening after an absence of five weeks, in the east, where he went in an endeavor to get "Rattlesnake" Pete returned to this country. He failed to do so, but will have the coins restored to him. Mr. Johnson looks splendid and evidently took great care of himself while absent. (Rawlins Republican, July 1, 1893)

C.F. "COFFEE" JOHNSON GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORE. COFFEE JOHNSON, WITH A BEARD, IS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE STORE. (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Chapter 5
The Transition: Carbon Ends and Hanna Begins (1893 – 1902)

1893

In The News

September 1, 1893: The Finnish miners in Hanna, numbering about 200, ran the Mine Boss, Archie Raite,out of town by threatening to murder him if he did not leave. He was accused of refusing to give the miners necessary mining materials such as ties, rails, etc. and using language not becoming to any man when dealing with others.

1893: The Union Pacific Coal Company towns of Carbon and Hanna overlapped coal production for 13 years from 1890 to 1902.

1893: The Union Pacific Railroad went into bankruptcy.

Carbon and Hanna Miner

Two miners were killed in the mines.

1. Evor Jones, an American, age 19 years, was killed in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 mine in Carbon. He was driving a mule, and while taking down a train of loaded cars on a heavy grade, he did not use the required number of sprags in rounding a curve. The cars jumped the track and knocked out a set of timbers, which allowed a rock to fall on him, causing instant death. (1893 MIR) Evor Jones was buried in a marked grave in the Carbon cemetery. (BL)

2. J. A. Hendrickson, a Finnish miner, age 26, was killed in the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 2 mine in Carbon. He and his partner were loading a cartridge when a spark fell from his lamp into the powder and exploded the keg. His hands, face and body were terribly burned. He died the next day in the hospital at Denver. (1893 MIR) It is unknown where J. A. Hendrickson was buried. (BL)

Two Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal.

1. Carbon No. 2 underground mine, with 219 employees, produced 159,635 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 1 underground mine, with 232 employees, produced 147,092 tons of coal. (1893 MIR)

The Hanna No. 2 mine was idle and the No.1 mine in Dana was abandoned.

The Hanna No. 1 mine was a gaseous mine. A gas explosion in the mine killed Henry Ward three years earlier in 1890.

Firedamp is found in dangerous quantities in the No. 1 mine in Hanna, Carbon County. That no loss of life has occurred in this mine in recent years is due to the mine managers giving the gas-watch-men absolute control over the ventilation, permitting them, regardless of expense, to force the dangerous mixture out of the mine in accordance with the most advanced methods and ideas. The return airways, in many cases, are charged with gas, but there are no means at hand to ascertain the exact amount. It often happens that it is necessary to enter these return air-ways to look after the stoppings, regulators, over-casts, etc., and in doing so the possibilities of an explosion are at times very great because the light used for entering may ignite the gas. Heretofore the safety lamp afforded the only means of detecting fire damp in the mines when three percent or more existed, but there was no way of finding just how much Carbonic Oxide or Carbonic Acid gas was in the mine, save in cases where the last named was present in such large quantities as to extinguish the light. (1893 MIR)

One of the methods to detect if there was dangerous gas in the mine was to take a canary into the mine. Canaries were used because they had a nervous system similar to a human that controls breathing. If the canary did well then the miner was safe from gas. If the bird started panicking, shaking the cage, and died, the miner should assume dangerous gas was present and get out of the mine. It is not known if canaries were used in the Hanna Basin mines, but identifying firedamp in the Hanna No. 1 mine was aided by the invention of the Shaw's Gas Tester. The tester was kept on the outside of the mine and the air to be tested was carried in a rubber bag to the instrument. The tests could be conducted in one or two minutes and several hundred during a day. The tests gave mine officials an idea where the gas was located in the mine. The gas tester was of great help, but better gas instruments were on the horizon.

An instrument invented by Thomas Shaw meets the mines needs for gas detection requirements in a most successful manner and is known as Shaw's Gas Tester for mines. It indicates to the smallest fraction the presence of any of the dangerous gases. It measures them accurately and tells the total gas given off and the section of the mine giving off possible gas, thereby enabling the Mine Boss to easily determine where to look for danger. (1893 MIR)

The Hanna mines experienced some labor problems.

At Hanna the miners became dissatisfied with a Mine Boss and petitioned the company to remove him. They stated that if their request was denied they would attend to the matter themselves; implying by their notice that murder would likely occur unless their wishes were granted. The local superintendent submitted the petition to the Assistant General Superintendent of the Union Pacific Coal Company in Rock Springs who decided to retain the Mine Boss until the miners had given good and sufficient reasons for his removal.

On the night of September 1, 1893, a delegation numbering about two hundred marched to the company's office and notified the local superintendent that they would give the Mine Boss twenty four hours to leave the camp. If they found him after that time, they would hang him.

The Boss immediately left for parts unknown. Although county officers were there and pledged him safe protection, nothing would induce him to remain.

The Company at no time previous to the disturbance could get any satisfactory explanation from the miners for wanting to remove the Boss and after their unlawful proceeding I was asked to go to Hanna and find from the men what their grievances really were. This I did and found that the Boss was very overbearing toward his men. He refused to give them the necessary materials for their rooms, such as ties, rails and etc. He used language not becoming to any man in dealing with others.

The company wisely concluded not to make any effort to get the Boss back and since then everything has been moving along smoothly. (1893 MIR)

The Rawlins Republican provided additional details about the mine boss dispute in Hanna.

There was some trouble in the mines at Hanna Sunday and Monday. It seems the miners took a dislike to a mine foreman by the name of Archie Raite and a petition was circulated requesting him to leave town inside of twenty-four hours and nearly every miner signed it. A colored miner by the name of Ed Brown refused to sign, when a number of colored men attempted to kill him with knives. Warrants for the arrest of those who tried to kill Brown were sworn out before Judge Clark of Carbon and further trouble is looked for. (Rawlins Republican, Sept. 7, 1893)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

Hanna Basin mines produced 306,727 tons of coal with 451 workers. The State produced 2,243,401 tons with 2,987 workers.

1894

In The News

1894: Labor Day became a federal holiday to be observed the first Monday in September. It was created to pay tribute to the contribution and achievements of American workers. In the Hanna Basin it was one of the most celebrated holidays.

1894: Estelle Reel Meyer was elected as Superintendent of Public Instruction in Wyoming. She was the first woman elected statewide.

Carbon and Hanna Miner

Four miners were killed in the mines.

1. J. Maki [John Maki] [John Mackie] was killed in 1894, in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine in Hanna. (Andy Ruskenen)  It is unknown where he was buried. (BL)

2. Edward Kelly, a track layer, was killed at Hanna No. 1 mine by falling coal. He was putting in a switch [with James Rider] to a new room, when a very large piece of coal fell from the roof suddenly, and killed them instantly. (1894 MIR)  It is unknown where he was buried. (BL)

3. James Rider, a track layer, was killed at Hanna No. 1 mine by falling coal. He was putting in a switch [with Edward Kelly] to a new room, when a very large piece of coal fell from the roof suddenly, and killed them instantly. (1894 MIR)  It is unknown where he was buried. (BL)

4. Matt Lakari [Matti Laahaij] was killed September 22, 1894, in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 mine in Carbon. It is unknown where he was buried. (Anderson) (BL)

Two Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal.

1. Carbon No. 2 underground mine, with 242 employees and 27 mules, produced 137,132 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 1 underground mine, with 266 employees and 22 mules, produced 196,236 tons of coal. (1894 MIR)

G. L. Black was superintendent of both Hanna mines. John Battle was foreman of the Hanna No. 1 and Alex Briggs was foreman of the Carbon No. 2.

The Carbon No. 2 mine was expanding to a new coal field.

The Union Pacific Coal Company's Carbon No. 2 is a slope mine and was opened in 1869. The vein is seven feet thick, the bottom soft and the roof rock brittle. January 1st, 1894 a tunnel 1,575 feet long was begun and September 1st completed to a new field of coal. The old workings were then abandoned completely and attention of the managers directed to the new field. This promises to be a very large field and means a great deal to the town of Carbon.

Ventilation is had by means of a large twenty foot Guibal fan and when all the arrangements are completed will furnish plenty of air to all the men.

Drainage is conducted by siphon to a large dam and from there is pumped to the surface.
Capacity of the mine, owing to the new work, is about five hundred tons per day. This amount will be largely increased during the next year. (1894 MIR)

1894 UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY'S NO. 2 MINE IN CARBON (1894 MINE INSPECTOR REPORT)

Mine officials in the No. 1 mine in Hanna were concerned with dangerous gas in the mine.

Hanna No. 1 mine was opened by the Union Pacific Coal Company in 1889. It is a slope mine situated on the Hanna branch of the Union Pacific Railway. The vein is twenty-one feet thick and the coal is very hard, requiring the use of much powder to displace. Gas is found in the mine, and watchmen for this purpose are regularly employed.

A twenty foot Guibal fan produces ventilation, and the air courses being very large, no trouble is experienced in supplying the mine with all the air that may be required.

Drainage is not a problem. The mine makes very little water, but provisions are made for handling large quantities if it ever becomes necessary. Pumps are stationed at the bottom of the slope, which are only run a few hours out of the twenty-four to discharge all the water made in the mine.

Capacity of the mine is from ten to fifteen hundred tons per day, two hundred and seventy men and 22 mules are worked in the mine for this out-put. (1894 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

The Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 333,368 tons of coal with 508 workers. The State of Wyoming's District No. 1 produced 2,202,635 tons with 3,453 workers.

1894 UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY'S NO. 1 MINE IN HANNA. RESCREENER AND CONVEYOR. (1894 MINE INSPECTOR REPORT)

1895

In The News

November 8, 1895: German scientist, Wilhelm Rontgen, discovered X-rays.

1895: The Hanna Community Hall was built. Originally named Linden Hall, the building served as a saloon during the town’s early years and as a pool hall during prohibition. Today, it serves as the Hanna Basin Museum.

1895: Thomas Jackson moved his clothing store from Carbon to Hanna. His store, along with the Beckworth Commercial Company, were two of the few that were allowed in the town of Hanna which were not wholly owned by the Union Pacific Coal Company.

Carbon and Hanna Miner

There were no deaths in the Hanna Basin mines.

The Union Pacific Coal Company was operating three mines.

1. Carbon No. 2 underground mine produced 145,538 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 1 underground mine produced 185,244 tons of coal.
3. Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 31,131 tons of coal. (1895 MIR)

The Hanna No. 2 mine was put back into production when a fire in the No. 1 mine forced the closure of the No. 1 mine.

The Hanna No. 1 mine was considered dangerous because it produced large amounts of explosive gas.

There are four mines in the state, which by reason of the very large quantities of firedamp generated in them, are considered dangerous. Great care is exercised by the managers in providing plenty of material such as is always used in mines of this character, plenty of ventilation and water enough to keep all the dust out of the air current. No. 1 mine in Hanna is undoubtedly the safest of these four, being a thick vein and having a hard top. Large air courses enable the fan to easily displace 120,000 cubic feet of air per minute. The road-ways, rooms and traveling-ways are regularly sprinkled with water. The dust is always kept wet and a sufficient number of experienced men are constantly employed to keep the fire-damp from accumulating in any portion of the mine. (1895 MIR)

The Hanna No. 1 mine caught fire in February of 1895.

On February 2, 1895, fire was discovered in the 12th back entry at Hanna mine No. 1 and before water could be brought to it, it had gained such headway that it was deemed advisable to close all the openings to the mine and in this manner smother it out. Steam was pumped into the mine for four or five days and after three weeks it was decided to try and open it up again. For this purpose the company provided all the material that would be necessary, and with plenty of men, the opening was made. We had no difficulty descending to the very lowest levels and found small coals of fire. While working on this, smoke oozed out from one of the stoppings above and proved that fire was breaking out again in the return air course. The men were quickly brought to the surface and the mine closed up again. Four different attempts were made to reopen the mine and on May 2, 1895 we finally succeeded.

On May 2nd hoisting [of coal] was begun and on the 8th the dump burned down. A temporary dump was erected and on May 23rd hoisting was resumed. On October 14th, the new dump was completed and the temporary was abandoned. (1895 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

The Hanna Basin produced a total of 361,913 tons of coal and the state of Wyoming's District No. 1 produced 2,016,601 tons.

1896

In The News

January 19, 1896: Butch Cassidy was released from the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Laramie after Governor William A. Richards pardoned him.

April 6, 1896: The first modern Olympic games were held in Athens, Greece with athletes from the United States participating.

Carbon and Hanna Miner

There were two fatalities in the Hanna Basin mines in 1896.

1. Samuel Jones was killed March 17, 1896, in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 mine in Carbon. He was buried in a marked grave in the Carbon cemetery. (Anderson)

2. Matt Yoke [Matt Yoki] was killed April 20, 1896, in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 mine in Carbon from a fall of rock that crushed his head. It is not known where he was buried. (Anderson)

Two Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal.

1. Carbon No. 2 underground mine produced 119,850 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 1 underground mine produced 202,673 tons of coal. (1896 MIR)

Once again, the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine in Hanna was designated as one of the most dangerous mines in the state of Wyoming.

The most dangerous mines in the state are at Hanna, Red Canon and Almy. These mines have fire-damp in large quantities, which is a continual source of care and anxiety on the part of management. The gas is constantly oozing from the fissures in the coal and rock and the current of pure air required to dilute and carry it off is enormous. The ventilating fan is never allowed to stop except in case of a break in some of the machinery, and when this happens, care is taken that no one is in the mine.

The large volume of air circulating in and about all the workings, dries up the dust along the road-ways, and when it is stirred up by the shots, and mules traveling with their loads, it is picked up by the air and carried to all parts of the mine. It is when the dust laden air comes in contact with a blown out shot, or a small quantity of burning gas, that great danger to all the men's lives is imminent.

To avoid this danger, pipes are laid along the entries and in some cases up the rooms, and two men, twice a week, are employed to sprinkle every location with plenty of water, and in this manner keep the dust wet and soggy, so as to prevent it from being raised by the strong current of air. There is no law specifying that water shall be used, or another method, for allaying the dust, which has come to be regarded as a danger to life in coal mines as the deadly fire-damp.

The above mentioned mines are being well cared for in this respect, but a provision to the Mining Laws should be added making it compulsory to sprinkle with water all mines generating fire-damp. This legislative precaution while not really needed at present, for reason stated above, would enable the inspector, in mines involving fire-damp, to make recommendation which would prevent the dust from entering largely into the dangers of the mine. (1896 MIR)

Carbon No. 2 is undoubtedly the oldest working mine in the state. The mine in many places the coal vein shows much rock and bone which has added greatly to the cost of production and adds very much to the work of the miner. The development work has been going on in the west side of the new rock cut, or slope, with a view of opening up on that side should the coal prove clean and of good quality. (1896 MIR)

Hanna No. 1 has not required any improvements other than an extension of its air course and entries. An air course running up from 1 entry has been driven 1,505 yards in the past year. It will be ultimately be driven through the cropping to the surface and be used as an intake for air. This, in addition to their present large and roomy air courses, will be sufficient to provide enough air for the mine as long as it may last. (1896 MIR)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

The Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 322,523 tons of coal and the State of Wyoming's District No. 1 produced 2,163,187 tons.

The Union Pacific Coal Company was operating seven mines in the state; one mine each at Hanna and Carbon, four in Rock Springs and one at Almy.

That all mines, in which firedamp is present and where the dust is highly combustible, be sprinkled thoroughly with water as often as twice a week.

That the inspector, after carefully measuring the air, and finding it defective shall immediately order such places closed until the same is corrected, unless in his judgment the men are working for the purpose of preparing a better way of ventilating.

That all small mines employing forty men or more shall use a fan for ventilating purposes, the furnace being unreliable ought to be discarded.

There have been no labor troubles during the year just closed. The miners in most cases are barely making a living for themselves and their families. (1896 MIR)

In 1896, Wyoming coal was transported primarily to Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Montana, and California.

1897

In The News

April 19, 1897: The first Boston Marathon was held.

September 23, 1897: The first Frontier Days rodeo celebration was held in Cheyenne Wyoming.

Carbon and Hanna Miner

One miner was killed in the Hanna Basin mines.

1. Oscar Takala, miner, age 24, Finlander, single, employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company for about two months prior to the accident. Takala was employed in the Hanna mine No. 1. At 12:15 p.m. he had fired a shot in his room, and went up to the face to load a car. His partner was pulling down some coal at the face of the room. Takala had always worked at the right hand side of the room. He quit loading and walked around to the left hand side of the room. Just then a piece of coal fell, striking him on the head and killing him instantly. At an inquest held at Hanna on October 8, 1897, Oscar Takala, while working in his room in No. 14 entry of No. 1 mine at Hanna, Wyo., was killed from a large piece of coal falling upon him from the side wall of the face of his room while loading his car, and, further, that the deceased should have removed said piece of coal before getting to work under it. (1897 MIR) It is unknown where Oscar Takala was buried. (BL)

The Union Pacific Coal Company was the only producer of coal. The superintendent of both mines was Alexander Briggs.

1. Carbon No. 2 underground mine with 319 workers produced 134,142 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 1 underground mine with 205 workers produced 284,754 tons of coal. (1897 MIR)

The Carbon No. 2 and Hanna No. 1 mines employed boys as young as age 14.

The Carbon No. 2 mine employs 205 men and boys, and during the year ended September 30, 1897, produced 124,422 tons of lump; 9,720 tons of slack for a total of 134,142 tons. There was but one accident at the mine during the year, this non-fatal. The capacity of the mine is 500 tons per day. The volume of air current is 48,000 cubic feet per minute. The mine is in fairly good condition. Owing to the fact that the mine is one of the oldest in the state, and that the production from it has been very great, the mine can last but a short time, and the indications are that it will be closed at an early date.

The Hanna No. 1 mine employs 319 men and boys, and produced during the year ending September 30, 1897, 131,429 tons of lump; 48,848 tons of egg; 27,878 tons of nut; 369 tons run of mine; 76,230 tons of slack: for a total of 284,754 tons. There were but four accidents during the year, all of these non-fatal. [One fatal accident, Oscar Takala, after the year-end report was published. He was reported in the 1898 Mine Inspector Report]. The volume of air current is 140,000 cubic feet per minute. The capacity of the mine is 1,500 tons per day. The improvements during the year consisted of opening up 1,600 yards of entry, 1,494 yards of air course, and 338 yards of cross cut.
This mine is gaseous, but great care is taken and accidents from this source have been avoided. The mine is one of the best regulated in the state, especially in regard to ventilation. All overcast and undercast airways are cut in the solid giving no opportunity for leakage. (1897 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

The Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 418,896 tons of coal with 524 workers and the State of Wyoming's District No. 1 produced 2,663,133 tons of coal. (1897 MIR)

The coal mines in the State are generally in good condition; the mines are adequately supplied with all the proper appliances for working the mines in accordance with the law, and the owners and operators are using diligent efforts for the care and safety of their employees.

The conditions of the coal trade of the state are improving, and the mines of Wyoming, during the past year, have been enabled to largely increase their working time and add materially to their output. The aggregate increase of the coal production in the state is half a million tons greater in 1887 than in 1886.

The number of accidents during the past year has been gratifyingly small. The number of fatal accidents to actual employees has been five, or one for every 532,626 tons of coal mines: the non-fatal has been thirteen, or one for every 204,856 tons, a very low rate when compared with that of other states. (1897 MIR)

1898

In The News

August 12, 1898: An Armistice ended the Spanish-American War.

Carbon and Hanna Miner

Five men were killed in mines.

1. John Hilsey, age 23, nativity Finn, occupation miner, married with a wife, was killed November 3, 1898, at the Hanna No. 1 mine. Hilsey was taking down top coal. He had a hole drilled and charged ready to fire. He removed one of the props that was supporting the top coal and started to remove a second. His partner, Isaac Ketterla, called upon him to look out, but he kept on until he cut the prop. As soon as he did so, a large piece of coal face fell on him killing him instantly. At an inquest held November 3, 1898, the coroner's jury rendered a verdict that the deceased met his death through his own carelessness. He had been in the employ of the company about 2 years. (1898 MIR) It is unknown where he was buried. (BL)

2. James Lewis, colored, age 45, nativity United States, occupation miner, killed in No. 1 mine at Hanna. He was killed on December 24, 1898. He was married with a wife and two children. He had been in the employ of the Company two months at the time of his death. Lewis was loading a car with coal at the face of his room when a small piece of coal, weighing about ten pounds fell from the rib, close to the roof. The coal struck him on the head and fractured his skull, causing his death the same day. At an inquest held on the 26th day of December 1898, the coroner's jury rendered a verdict that his death was due to an unavoidable accident and that neither the company nor its employees were to blame for Lewis's death. (1898 MIR) It is unknown where he was buried. (BL)

3. Simon Simonson, age 37, occupation miner, nativity Finn, married with two children. He was killed March 1, 1898, at Hanna mine No. 1. Simonson was killed while loading a car of coal in his room by a fall of coal and slate from the roof. The pit boss examined the room in the morning told him to examine his room carefully and to put up props. He neglected to put up any props during the day. Before the accident occurred he fired a heavy shot in the face, which loosened the coal, which fell and killed him. At an inquest held March 2, 1898 by A. F. Thode, Coroner, a verdict was rendered that the accident could have been avoided if the deceased had used more precautions in his work. (1898 MIR) He was buried in Denver, Colorado. (BL)

4. Oscar Finnala, age 24, nativity Finland, occupation miner, married, wife and one child. He had been in the employ of the Company three years previous to his decease. He was killed in Carbon No. 2. Finnala and his partner, Gus Niemie, were working in a room together on Oct. 14, 1898. The room was well propped and they had a safety prop placed under a large rock which they believed to be solid. The rock became loose, and a smooth slip on the side of it gave the rock a chance to fall. Finnala was killed. The weight of the rock broke itself free around the prop, which let it fall, and left the prop standing. (1898 MIR) He was buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery. (BL)

5. Thomas Myers was killed August 25, 1898, in one of the Union Pacific Carbon coal mines. He was buried in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery in a marked grave. It is not known in which of the Carbon mines he was killed. (Anderson) (BL)

Two Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal.

1. Carbon No. 2 underground mine with 157 employees produced 129,109 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 1 underground mine with 306 employees produced 225,247 tons of coal. (1898 MIR)

The Carbon No. 2 mine was in danger of closing because it was running out of mineable coal.

The No. 2 mine is situated at Carbon. It is owned by the Union Pacific Coal Company, the superintendent is Alexander Briggs. The mine employed during the year an average of 157 employees. The production of coal for the year was 129,109 tons of lump, all of which was used for railroad purposes on the Nebraska and Kansas divisions of the Union Pacific railway. There were no accidents during the year. The ventilation is supplied by fan with the volume of air current being 43,000 cubic feet of air per minute. No improvements have been made in this mine during the year. The coal is rapidly being exhausted and the mine will soon close. (1898 MIR)

The Hanna No. 1 mine was considered well managed and in excellent condition.

The Hanna Mine No. 1 mine is owned by the Union Pacific Coal Company. The superintendent is Alexander Briggs. The mine employs an average of 306 employees during the year. The mine production for the year ended September 30, 1898 was 164,790 tons lump; 30,897 tons net; 29,560 tons slack; total 225,247 tons. The production was cut down 60,000 tons by a strike of six weeks. Ventilation is supplied by fan, the volume of air current being 122,000 cubic feet per minute. The capacity of the mine is 1,500 tons of coal per day. the improvements during the year consisted in driving a rock tunnel to catch the coal east of a fault at No. 17 entry. No. 16 entry was driven 600 yards to open rooms on this level. A drift has been opened on the twelve-foot seam to test the quality of the coal. Prospecting has been done with good results on No. 1 and No. 12 seams. Exhaust steam has been taken up for heating water for boilers with good results. The mine is gaseous, but no accidents from this source have occurred. Great care is taken in providing ample ventilation and the mine is well managed in all respects. The mine is generally in good condition with fair prospects for better production. The men are making good wages and have recently been making overtime. (1898 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 354,899 tons of coal with 463 workers and the State of Wyoming's District No. 1 produced 2,946,846 tons of coal.

Mining coal in the state of Wyoming was an extremely dangerous occupation.

During the year ending September 30, 1898, there have been ten fatal accidents in the mines of the State, or one for every 294,684 tons of coal mined: the non-fatal accidents have been twelve, or one for every 245,570 tons mined. It is notable that eight of the ten fatal accidents and eight of the twelve non-fatal resulted from falls of rock or coal, a class of accidents practically unavoidable in the dangerous occupation of coal mining, and that in no case among those reported has an accident been found to be the result of any neglect on the part of the mine owner to furnish proper and safe appliances for working the mine.

With the exception of several months lost at two of the mines on account of local strikes, the mines have worked full time; some of them, in fact, have worked over-time, and the year has even one of the best for miners and other workmen connected with the mines in the history of coal mining in the state.

During the closing portion of the year a number of improvements were made in the facilities for mining in several of the larger mines of the state; in other words the workings have been extended with a view to a larger output. In northeastern Wyoming a new coal field has recently been developed and will soon be put in connection with markets by an extension of the Northwestern Railway system. These improvements and extensions, combined with an increasing demand for Wyoming coal, indicate an indefinite continuance of the present prosperous conditions of the coal trade of the state. (1898 MIR)

1899

In The News

March 6, 1899: Aspirin was invented.

June 2, 1899: Butch Cassidy [Robert Leroy Parker] and the Sundance Kid [Harry Longbaugh] along with the rest of the Wild Bunch robbed a train east of Carbon.

December 4, 1899: The first shipment of coal left Cambria, Wyoming.

1899: In Hanna and Carbon, miners were paid 70 cents a ton for mined coal. The cost of coal loaded on railroad cars was $1.10 a ton.

Carbon and Hanna Miner

There were four fatalities in the Hanna Basin mines.

1. John Sekela [John Sekelo], age 38, nativity Finland, was killed in Hanna No. 1 mine on September 4, 1899. He had been in the employ of the Company three years. He was married with a wife and four children. He was killed by a fall of coal from the rib where he had just fired a shot. At an inquest held on September 4, 1899, the jury rendered a verdict that he met his death through his own carelessness. (1899 MIR) It is unknown where he was buried. (BL)

2. William H. Edwards, age 59, nativity England, occupation timberman, had been in the employ of the company 20 years, was killed at Carbon Mine No. 2 on the18thof October 1899 was married and had one daughter and one granddaughter. Edwards was killed by a fall of rock. He was an experienced timber man and knew that the rock was loose and told the men who were working with him to keep from getting under that particular rock a few minutes before it fell. Evidence showed that he knew that the rock was loose; that he had timbered it himself the day before, and should have taken care of himself. (1900 MIR) He was buried in a marked grave in the Laramie, Wyoming cemetery. (Anderson) (BL)

3. John Runama, age 40, nativity Finland; occupation miner; married, had three children, had been in the employ of the company 4 months, was killed in Carbon mine No. 2 on the 2nd day of November 1899. Runama was killed by a fall of rock in Entry "R" Pillar No. 3 in the above named mine. The rock under which he was working gave a sudden crack and the deceased's partner called to him to run, but he became confused and ran underneath the rock which fell, killing him. The coroner's jury held that his death was accidental. (1900 MIR) He was buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery. (BL)

4. Robinson was killed November 2, 1899, in Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 mine in Carbon. His burial place is unknown. (Anderson) (BL)

Two Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal.

1. Hanna No. 1 underground mine with 350 employees produced 282,110 tons of coal.
2. Carbon No. 2 underground mine with 172 employees produced 145,938 tons of coal. (1899 MIR)

The superintendent of the Hanna No. 1 mine is Alex Briggs. This mine employs an average for the year of 350 men. The capacity of the mine is 1,800 tons of coal per day. The improvements and developing work done during the year were confined to stopping 175 yards. The mine is generally in good condition and made substantial gains in output during the past year.

The superintendent of the Carbon No. 2 mine is also Alex Briggs. During the year the average number of men employed was 172 men. The capacity of the mine is 400 tons per day. Improvements during the year were: 3,193 yards of entry, 1,156 yards of air course and 256 yards of cross-cutting. (1899 MIR)

CARBON N0. 2 MINE (JONES FAMILY COLLECTION FROM JOHN JONES)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

The Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 428,048 tons of coal with 522 workers and the state District No. 1 produced 3,908,319 tons of coal. (1900 MIR)

1900

In The News

1900: Wyoming's population was 92,531 people; Carbon County was home to 9,589 of them.

1900: The price paid to Hanna miners for mining coal was 65 cents a ton.

1900: Union Pacific Coal Company’s Carbon No. 2 mine was abandoned. The No. 2 mine in Carbon was opened for production in 1868. The mine was originally opened as a drift mine. Mules hauled the coal one car at a time from the workings to the drift. From the drift point, the coal was taken by mule power to the tipple. Later a steam hoist was installed at the intersection of the drift and slope and the one-car-trip haul was eliminated. Later, a new opening to the mine was made and a new tipple built to handle the coal. The mine produced 1,604,176 tons of coal from 1889 to the end of 1900 with an average of 249 employees. Production numbers before 1889 have not been found. The Carbon mines, in total, experienced 41 documented deaths. It is not known in which mine 14 of the 41 were killed, but at least 14 of the 41 occurred in the No. 2 mine.

1900: The first year of production for the Union Pacific Coal Company's Carbon No. 7 mine. The No. 7 mine was also known as the Sand Creek mine and was the only Carbon mine producing coal at this time.

1900: The two-story Finn Hall was moved from Carbon to Hanna. The Finnish miners moved the hall by hand seven miles from Carbon to the Hanna. The hall was originally placed near the school that was built in 1918. When the new high school was built in 1950, the Finn hall was moved north of town near the present day football field.

1900: The first Methodist/Episcopal Church meetings were held at the Union Pacific Railroad depot.

CHURCH SERVICES AT THE HANNA DEPOT (MCNULTY COLLECTION)

THE FINN HALL IS PART OF NO. 2 TOWN. THE HALL IS THE LARGE WHITE BUILDING NEAR THE CENTER OF THE PICTURE. THE NO. 2 MINE DUMP IS ON THE TOP RIGHT ACROSS THE TRACKS. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Carbon and Hanna Miner

Three miners were killed in the mines.

1. George Mills, colored, age 28, occupation driver, married, was killed in Hanna mine No. 1 on the 15thday of January 1900. He had been in the employ of the company about 15 months. He was killed while riding on his car facing backwards instead of forwards, by allowing his car to run into a pile of rock which had fallen. As he collided with the fallen rock, some more fell, killing him instantly. (1900 MIR) It is unknown where he was buried. (BL)

2. Andy Nyman, age 34, nativity Finland; occupation, timberman; single, was killed in Hanna mine No. 1 on the 1st of July 1900. He had been in the employ of the company about eight years. Some of the men with whom he worked attempted to run a loaded car down the entry. They had a long rope attached to the car with which to haul it back. The rope became unfastened and the car got away running over Nyman and killing him. (1900 MIR) It is unknown where he was buried. (BL)

3. Tony Tarrala [Tony Tarrallo] was killed October 19, 1900, at age 41. The accident occurred at mine No. 1 in Hanna. He was a native of Italy. He was married and left a widow and six children. He was employed as a miner and had just fired a shot in his room, but had neglected sounding the top, or to pull down the loose coal after the shot was fired. While he was loading a car, a large piece of coal fell down striking him causing injuries from which he died in about ten minutes. (1900 MIR) It is unknown where he was buried. (BL)

The Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 483,767 tons of coal with an average of 455 employees.

Three Union Pacific Coal Company underground mines were producing coal.

1. Carbon No. 2 mine produced 93,416 tons of coal.
2. Carbon No. 7 produced 50,351 tons of coal.
3. Hanna No. 1 produced 340,000 tons of coal. (1900 MIR)

The Hanna No. 1 mine is under the supervision of E. S. Brooks. Its present number of employees is 330 with a yearly average of 300. Its output for the year was 260,000 tons of lump; 30,000 tons of nut; and 50,000 tons of slack. The price paid to miners per ton for mining was 65 cents. A 20 foot Guibal fan ventilates the mine. The capacity of the mine is 1800 tons per day. The improvements for the year were placing a pair of 24x48 hoisting engines to replace a pair of 18x36 and driving of 3000 yards of entry. There occurred two fatal accidents at this mine during the past year. Two fatal and one non-fatal accidents were experienced. (1900 MIR)

The Carbon No. 2 mine was abandoned in the middle of October and all of the mining equipment was moved to the Carbon No. 7 mine, which was also called the Sand Creek mine. The No. 7 mine was located about 2 miles to the south of Carbon.

The superintendent was Alex Briggs. This mine was closed during the past year. The pillars were drawn and the material taken out. The output for the year was 81,640 tons of lump and 11,776 tons of nut for a total of 93,416 tons. Average number of employees was 45. (1900 MIR)

The superintendent is Alex Briggs. This mine was opened about a year ago. It is equipped with a 7 ft. fan having a ventilating capacity of about 50,000 cubic feet per minute. Its production for the current year was 40,340 tons of lump; 10,011 tons of slack for a total of 50,351 tons. The price per ton paid miners was $.70. The average number of employees for the year was 80. The present number is 201. Improvements and development were driving 1,500 feet of slope and six entries. Two sets of boilers have been placed and another set is under construction. Other minor improvements have been made. (1900 MIR)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

A large number of fatalities were reported in the state coal mines.

The State experienced twenty-four fatal and twelve non-fatal accidents. The majority of these accidents was caused by fall of rock, something utterly unavoidable, and the other accidents, as a rule were caused by carelessness on the part of those injured, and in no case reported has it been found that the cause was neglect on the part of the mine owners or superintendents.

Seven new mines have been opened in the state very recently and promise to become large producers. The conditions of the men employed in all of the mines of the state compare favorably with similar class of labor anywhere in the United States and in no place in Wyoming is there any strike in progress among the coal miners. (1900 MIR)

JOSEPH IREDALE OPERATING THE HOIST IN THE NO. 1 MINE IN 1900 (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES)

1901

In The News

February 1901: Mail service via railroad from Allen Junction to Carbon was discontinued.

Carbon and Hanna Miner

One miner was killed in the mines.

1. Gabriel Nestor Lassi, age 17, was killed February 4, 1901 in Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 7 mine in Carbon from a fall of rock. It is unknown where he was buried. (Anderson)

Two Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal.

1. Carbon No. 7 underground mine with 215 employees produced 182,407 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 1 underground mine with 300 employees produced 341,512 tons of coal. (1901 MIR)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

The Hanna Basin mines produced 523,919 tons of coal with 515 employees and the State of Wyoming's District No. 1 produced 4,392,497 tons with 5,223 employees.

Wyoming mines experienced 45 fatalities. The majority of the fatalities came from an explosion at Diamondville where 28 men were killed.

1902

In The News

June 1902: All of the mines in Carbon were abandoned. The salvageable mining equipment was removed from the mines and moved or sold to other mines in the area. The coal chutes for fueling trains were torn down. The railroad track from Carbon to the No. 7 Sand Creek mine was taken up and moved elsewhere.

1902: The great Pennsylvania coal miner strike of 1902: J. P. Morgan battled the United Mine Workers over higher wages, shorter workdays and recognition of the union.

1902: J. C. Penney opened the first store on April 14, 1902 in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The store was still open in 2018.

1902: The Union Pacific’s Carbon No. 7 mine, also known as the Sand Creek mine, located about two miles south of Carbon was abandoned. The mine opened in 1899. The coal turned out to be poor in quality with the coal seams full of impurities. Coal production numbers were not found. The Carbon mines experienced 41 documented deaths. It is not known in which mine 14 of the miners died, but 1 of the 41 died in the No. 7 mine.

1902: Property owners were selling off their homes and businesses to any buyer they could find. The Union Pacific Coal Company was moving out of Carbon, so the town was finished.

Carbon and Hanna Miner

One man was killed in the mines.

1. Matt Kattelus [Matt Katlins] [Matt Kitlins], a Finnish miner, age 48, was killed in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 underground mine in Hanna. Matt Katlin [Matt Kattelus], a miner, was killed almost instantaneously yesterday in entry No. 8 of the No. 1 mine by the falling of a large mass of rock from the roof of the entry. Katlin was well known here, having worked for a long time in the mines. A coroner's jury was empaneled and a verdict that death was the result of an accident was brought in. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, April 9, 1902) It is not known where he was buried. (BL)

Chapter 6
The June 30, 1903 Explosion (1903)

Click here for a list of the 169 Men Killed in the June 30, 1903 Explosion of Hanna, Wyoming Mine No. 1

1903

June 30, 1903, the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna exploded, killing 169 men.

The Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna was the only mine to explode in Hanna and it did so four different times in its short history. The first explosion occurred in April of 1890, killing one miner, Henry Ward. The second explosion happened June 30, 1903 killing 169 men and the third and fourth explosions would come on the same day March 28, 1908, killing an additional 59 miners. The No. 1 mine killed 229 miners in the four explosions. Many other men were killed in the No. 1 mine from other types of accidents.

April, 1890, The First Explosion of the No. 1 Mine

One miner, Henry Ward, was the only man killed when the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine exploded for the first time.

The explosion took place in the afternoon in the No. 1 mine at Hanna. The only victim was Henry Ward, who was instantly killed. Fortunately the accident occurred on Sunday when the miners were not at work, or many would have been injured and killed. Ward entered the mine with a light. There was gas in the mine and when Ward neared a position near the pumps the gas became ignited and exploded. He was killed and much damage was done, although it is said to be not so great, but that work may be resumed in a few days. (Daily Laramie Boomerang, April 28, 1890)

June 30, 1903, The Second Explosion of the No. 1 Mine

On June 30, 1903, Union Pacific Coal Company No. 1 mine in Hanna exploded for the second time in the mine’s history at approximately 10:30 in the morning killing 169 men and leaving about 150 women widowed and 600 children fatherless.

State Mine Inspector Noah Young, who investigated the 1903 explosion, later reported, "the 1903 explosion was probably caused by a breaking out of gas in the mine and its ignition by a ‘blown-out-shot.’" A full shift of miners was in the mine at the time of the explosion. (1904 MIR)

After the explosion, mine officials immediately started rescue efforts. Groups of people, including families, flocked around the entrance to the mine watching men frantically trying to reopen the slope to the No. 1 mine. In 1903, there was only one way into the mine, the west entry. An east entry was underway at the time of the explosion, but the east and west entries were about 400 feet from being connected.

JUNE 30, 1903 EXPLOSION (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

HANNA NO. 1 MINE DUMP (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

June 30, 1903
Day 1

When rescue workers were able to enter the mine, one miner was found.

1. John Boney, was found at entry 11. He was from Ireland, age 70. His remains were buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery. (BL)

State Inspector of Coal Mines A. E. Bradbury arrived at 11:30 a.m. at the exploded mine site. He was informed of the explosion by Edward Brooks, Superintendent of the No. 1 mine and arrived by train on the No. 2 Limited. Bradbury found the mouth of the main slope and manway filled with rock, timber and dirt from five to fifteen feet in thickness and one hundred fifty feet long. Large forces of men under the supervision of Superintendent Park of the Union Pacific Railway Company were working to clear up the debris. He entered the damaged mine along with Assistant Superintendent of the mine Black, and Special Mine Deputy Thomas Snedden. They made it as far as entry 7. Men were working along the way to make a passable roadway for the rescuing party to bring out the bodies of dead miners. The mine was starting to fill with Carbonated Hydrogen, an explosive gas, so all naked lights were ordered taken out of the mine and safety lamps used. The safety lamp retarded the movements of the miners and slowed the work down, but it was considered the best way to continue the work safely. It was thought at the time the bodies could be recovered in a few days. There was little hope that anyone would be found alive. After examination of the slope the three men left the mine to report their findings and consult with Superintendent of the mine Brooks. Brooks arranged for three eight-hour shifts of men to work night and day removing debris from the slope. Each shift contained 75 to 100 men. Mine General Manager, Clark ordered arrangements made for receiving the bodies. He ordered caskets and suits. The bodies were to be washed and dressed before placed in the caskets. (1904 MIR)

THE LARAMIE BOOMERANG REVEALED THE EXPLOSION WAS THE WORST COAL MINING CATASTROPHE IN THE HISTORY OF WYOMING. THE FINAL FATALITY COUNT WAS ONE HUNDRED SIXTY NINE MEN KILLED ON THAT HORRIFIC DAY. (LARAMIE BOOMERANG)

July 1, 1903
Day 2

Two miners were found.

1. John A. Saari, a Finnish miner, age 40, was found on the slope at entry seven. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. John Deacon Jones, a miner from the United Kingdom, age 34, was found on the slope at entry seven. He was buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery. (BL)

A group of men including Mine Inspector Bradbury along with mine officials Brooks, Morgan, Griffith, and Sneddon entered the mine to inspect the progress of the rescue workers. They worked their way to entry 16 which was badly damaged and filled with gas. Brattice was erected to remove the gas and the entry was examined. Coal, rock and timbers were found piled in every imaginable shape and direction. More brattice was installed to move gas to the manway. A mule was found covered by pieces of pit cars, timbers, coal and dirt. The explosion at entry 16 was violent. Pit cars were blown into splinters. In entry 16, room 1, a dead miner was found about forty feet from the entry. Approximately one hundred feet from the body of the first dead miner another dead miner was found at the side of a loaded pit car. It was unsafe at this time to go below entry 16, because the mine was full of gas below this level. (1904 MIR)

July 2, 1903
Day 3

A fire was discovered at entry 17 by rescue miners. (1904 MIR)

A full force of men have been engaged all night in clearing the track at the mouth of the slope which was buried 25 feet deep with dirt and timbers. Excellent progress has been made and by daylight cars can be run down from the tipple.

A large force of men under the direction of Supt. E. A. Brooks have been at work closing up the entrances from the slope to the rooms. They have reached No. 12 entrance and closed them all with canvass and lumber in order that the air may be forced straight through permitting the rescuers to proceed on toward the bottom. The pumps are working steadily and there is no danger of water interfering in the least. The fan is also rapidly expelling the bad air.

Work was resumed early this morning by a large force of men who have arrived from Rock Springs, Spring Valley and also some from Utah. They are working in three shifts, 49 men in each, and efforts are all concentrated on the main slope. The track is clear from the tipple down several hundred feet into the mine and the mass of coal, timbers, preps, etc. which have caved in and buried up the track at the seventh entry is being loaded into cars and hauled out. Supt. Brooks with a number of expert miners are employed at No. 17 entrance. The fire which it has been thought was near this point in the stables is now definitely located and the efforts of the men are directed toward that place in order that they may extinguish it before it spreads. It is not thought the fire has taken hold of the walls of the room to any great extent. By closing the entrances to the rooms on the seventeenth level and shutting up the slope so that the air cannot get beyond this point, it is believed that it will be impossible for the fire to make any headway and will smother out. The slope is absolutely free from the black damp at this time and the only thing, which prevents miners from going farther down the slope, is the smoke. The men engaged at this point have had to deal with mine explosions before, and thoroughly understand how to proceed. They have divided the slope making a current of air down one side and out through the air course but it does not reach the point of the fire. It will be only a course of a short time until they get to the stable with the hose and with water entirely extinguish the fire.

In putting up the canvass to shut out the air from the stable this afternoon the miners caused a great volume of smoke to ascend the fan. Every person in the camp noticed it, and those down town feared that another explosion had taken place. Those near the mine were also much worried about the safety of the men on the inside and expected every minute to hear another explosion. Women and children came running up to the main entrance of the mine, crying and wringing their hands, asking if any got out alive and how many there were under the ground. Several of them fainted. The excitement which ran high for several hours after the catastrophe Tuesday, had died away to a considerable extent and those who had lost relatives in the explosion had partially reconciled themselves to their great misfortunes, but the indications were that the pitiful scenes were to be reenacted. Guards about the mine had great difficulty in controlling the throng of people who were persistent in their efforts to get near the mouth of the slope so they could look down into the darkness where they supposed more men had lost their lives. It took some time to explain to them that all was well and not until an hour later when all the smoke was cut off again did they return to their homes. At this time the situation is very encouraging.

The work of removing the dead bodies from the mine was suspended for today in order that the attention of those who would work might be given to putting out the fire. Many of those who have been employed about the mine were unwilling to return to work for fear of another accident, but they are regaining their courage and the force is being added to constantly. The new miners who have arrived here are a courageous lot of fellows and work rapidly. Although unfamiliar with the mine they made a careful study of the blue print and laid their plans carefully. Every step is taken with due precaution. The mouth of the slope has been carefully propped and the timbers inside are also being replaced. It is not thought that the men are making any dangerous moves but guarding against everything that might possibly result in further loss of life. Forty more miners will arrive on train No. 102 this evening from Spring Valley to join the force.

There will be no celebration at this place July 4. The money on hand for this purpose amounting to about one thousand dollars has been turned into a general relief fund by the unanimous request of the contributors. There are over 100 families in this place who are left in destitute circumstances and aid must be given to them. The conditions staring the citizens of the camp in the face are very grave. Liberal contributions have been made by those able to give. Passengers on the trains have also swelled to the fund considerably by their contributions as they pass through. It is a time for everyone to act and come to the rescue of the unfortunate widows and children who have been so suddenly thrown upon charity and with no other visible means of being provided for.

Work has shut down at the mine until morning. Little showing has been made today except removing the dirt and timbers from the mouth of the slope. This would have been opened by this time so that cars could be run several hundred feet into the mine but for the steep banks giving way on either side sliding down upon the track. The work has been carried on by a line of men extending back as far as the slope had caved in by laying rails over the mass of earth, which covered the old track, and every few minutes a string of half a dozen cars or more were loaded, taken out and dumped.

Some difficulty has been experienced in getting men who know the mine to go into it. Gas has bothered some up as far as the fifteenth entry and but for the resistance on the part of the men would probably have come higher.

At 8:20 last evening the body of John A. Sarri who was killed near the entrance at the seventh level was brought up and taken to the carpenter shop where Undertaker Rasmusson prepared it for burial. Although badly disfigured the body was positively identified by those of his own nationality as that of Sarri. He was a Fin, his parents still living in their native country. He had a brother here who also perished in the mine and has not yet been found. Aside from the body of John Boney, the plain runner, which was taken out a few hours after the disaster came; this was the first to be brought to the top. Sarri was employed to oil the pulleys on the slope. He had apparently been struck by a heavy piece of timber in the groin and his right leg was badly bruised. The whole front of his body had been burned and one shoe torn from his foot. He carried a watch, which had stopped at 10:27 and this is believed to be the exact time the explosion took place.

The Finnish people have given the use of their hall to place the remains of the Finn miners as they are brought out and placed in caskets. It is estimated that 65 percent of the men employed in the mine were of that nationality.

Soon after 9 o’clock last night the body of John A. (Deacon) Jones was brought out of the mine and turned over to the coroner. He was not so badly burned as Mr. Sarri, but his right arm was broken just above the wrist and his right shoulder dislocated. His face had also been bruised, but not to such an extent as to mar the features a great deal. Jones is a married man and has three children. He was about 31 years of age. Two of his brothers were killed in the Carbon mines within the last few years and he was employed in the mines there until they were closed down. His father died about a year ago but his mother survives him. Jones was found near the other victim. Those who carried the remains out had a narrow escape from death.

The rescuers were led by J. G. Black, the boss electrician, who noticed that the timbers near where the body had lain for two days seemed weak and were apparently giving way under the great weight upon them. After the body had been placed on a stretcher and the men started out a great mass of coal, probably ten tons, fell right at their heels. Had they been half a minute slower every one of them would have been buried and perished in a few moments, as there was no one then nearer than the top of the slope.

There are strong indications of fire. There is a great deal of smoke in the lower levels and it is rising out through the airshaft at the fan. There is not enough to make much heat but it has caused some alarm. The men were all called out before midnight. Men descended to the seventeenth level and drew a canvass over the slope. By cutting out the air from the slope it was thought the fire would smother out and the smoke settle to the bottom and by morning the bodies in rooms 17 and 18 could be brought out without difficulty.

Not a single man is employed in or near the mine at this time. Many of the men have been working almost all the time since the explosion occurred. Great credit is due Superintendent Brooks and also his gang bosses, for their persistency in carrying out the work and the manner in which it has been done. He has had little rest in the last 36 hours until tonight, and has been almost constantly at the mine directing the work both inside and out. Mr. Black, the electrician, also has plenty of trouble. The explosion is supposed to have torn out most of the light works in the mine. He has ordered 2,000 feet of copper wire and just as soon as it is possible to work in the mine will begin making repairs. The damage to the light system cannot be estimated. A few seconds before the explosion the dynamo gave a loud groaning sound. The man in charge knowing something was wrong threw the switch off immediately. No sooner had he done it than the report came from the mine.

Mine No. 1 consists of a main incline slope and is one and a half miles in length. There are twenty-eight entries or levels and about twenty miles of workage in all. The mine has always been considered dangerous on account of gas but not more so than many of the coal mines of the state. Gas occurred in this property to a greater extent than in any of the mines with the possible exception of the Spring Valley colliery, but precautions have been taken here. No. 1 mine is one of a very few in the state equipped with fire appliances, escapes, entries and brattices. The air system was considered one of the best, the machinery being modern and in good working order. As a precautionary measure to prevent the possibility of accidents, men with safety lamps were sent into the mine every morning before the men went to work. These men were called fire bosses and there were five of them on the day shift. There was a standing order that no miner should enter a room for any purpose until the fire boss had inspected the area. Unless the fire boss pronounced the entry free from gas they could not go to work. (The Rawlins Republican, Wednesday, July 1, 1903)

July 3, 1903
Day 4

One miner was found.

1. Theodore Schill, a German miner, age unknown, was found between entry 5 and 7 on the manway. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

Superintendent Brooks put additional men to work putting up brattice and building new walls up and down the main slope. Repairs to the mine had to be made in advance of extinguishing the fire in the levels below entry 16. The fires had to be put out before the majority of the dead could be brought to the surface. (1904 MIR)

July 4, 1903
Day 5

Hanna, Wyo., July 4, 1903

Editor Tribune, Cheyenne, Wyo;

In order to relieve the present distress of the sufferers from the recent mine disaster at Hanna, Wyo., a permanent relief committee was organized tonight to provide for the wants of the many widows and fatherless children. The following constitutes the committee:
Enoch P Vaughn, chairman.
Ivor Christensen, secretary.
Thomas R. Jackson, treasurer.
Rev. W.A. Maudellof, of the Lutheran church.
Rev. Howard Stoy, of the Episcopal church.
Rev. Father Delehanty, of the Catholic church.
George P. Headman.
James Gilday.
Theodore P. Henkell.
William H. Jefferies.

Send all communications to Secretary I. Christensen, Hanna, Wyo., and remittances to Rawlins National Bank, Rawlins, Wyo.

Ivor Christensen.
Hanna, Wyo. (Laramie Boomerang, July 10, 1903)

July 6, 1903
Day 7

Superintendent Brooks supervised the dangerous firework on entry 17. The hope was to open the entry and put out the fire. Brattice work was completed to control the movement of air. Thirty of the best men available made a rush toward the fire to corner the smoke and make it upcast. The effort failed and smoke and heat entered the work area forcing the men to retreat for fresh air. About 30 minutes later, after the men were rested, they formed another line and rushed the fire a second time. The smoke and damp along with the extreme heat forced the fire fighters to retreat again to safety and fresh air. It was concluded that more work was necessary before the fire could be reached. The work would include walling off the fire in hopes of smothering it. The walling would also diminish the chance of another explosion. (1904 MIR)

July 9, 1903
Day 10

The workmen have encountered new difficulties in clearing the main slope, and the work from now on will be much slower than it has been. The falls and cave-ins are larger and heavier and it is necessary to haul the debris out in small cars. Only a dozen cars are hauled at a trip. The carriers are small and as the men are compelled to wait until the train is dumped and the cars returned progress is necessarily very slow.

The people of Wyoming are coming forward with generous aid for the survivors. All they will need is money, for the company is supplying everything else, but if the first donations of cash are any indication of what is to come, there should be no suffering for want of funds. (Wyoming Tribune, July 10, 1903)

July 10, 1903
Day 11

Such rapid progress has been made in removing the debris from Hanna mine No. 1 that the first of the bodies will probably be taken out this afternoon. It was the original intention to remove no bodies until the main slope had been cleared its entire length, but as no fire or gas has been encountered during the past few days, the officials believe the work of recovering the bodies of the victims can now begin.

All entries have been bratticed up, but there are many tons of earth in the main slope that must be removed before the men can penetrate to the lower end, and there are probably thousands of tons of earth and rock in the several entries that must be removed before the mines can be operated to any extent.

A report was circulated that another explosion had occurred, but this, the officials say, is not true. There have been no explosions, and contrary to expectations the amount of gas encountered has not been large. The fire, which is still burning, is confined to a much smaller space than was first believed, and there will be less difficulty in overcoming it than the officials feared. The trips are now taking out debris from between the fifteenth and sixteenth entries and by tomorrow night the seventeenth entry will be reached. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, July 10, 1903)

The work of cleaning away the debris in the slope of the Hanna mine, had so far advanced yesterday, that the brattices of the 17thentry were taken down and an attempt made to get at the bodies on the slope.

On account of the bad air and gas, however, it was found impossible to penetrate far. Some of the bodies were seen, and they were terribly bloated and decomposed by the heat resulting from the fire in the mine, and it will be an awful task to get them out.

It not being found practicable to draw the bad air from the entry into the slope as had been planned, it is now determined to open a vent by drilling from the surface down into the 17th entry and allow the air to escape.

It is expected that some bodies from other entries will be brought up today.

The committee, which has been making a canvass of the town to ascertain the true number of victims, has nearly completed the work and it shows that the number of dead is smaller than at first reported. The list now shows 169 dead in the mine and it is not believed that this list will be changed very materially when the work is completed, as there are not a great many men who are now unaccounted for.

The list of widows and children is not yet completed, but so far it shows eighty-nine widows and 170 children to provide for. Strict guards now keep watch over the mine and no one is allowed in inside of the deadline on order from Superintendent Brooks. (Laramie Boomerang, July 10, 1903)

Mine officials determined that the mine needed to be disinfected as the bodies were removed.

Dr. A.W. Barber has a big job on his hands. The Union Pacific Coal Company has sent him on a mission to Hanna to superintend the disinfecting of the mine from fire damp and poisonous gases during the disinterment of the bodies of the men who have been entombed in the mining tunnels for the past ten days. The doctor left No. 3 today with large supplies of the necessary chemicals, disinfectants and anti-septics to carry on this work in which he will be assisted by all the facilities of the mining equipment, ventilation, water and air shafts. The mine is now pronounced in a condition where the bodies of the dead men can be removed and a corps of physician and undertakers will be in attendance to properly care for all cases. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, July 10, 1903)

July 12, 1903
Day 13

One more miner was found.

1. Rudolph Salo [Rudolf Salo] [Rudolph Sella], a Finnish miner, age 23, was found at entry 16 room 1. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

After six days of additional mine repairs and extensive efforts to wall off the fire at entry 17, the fire itself created enough pressure on the stoppings that it pushed the wall back and created a vent for the black damp and smoke to force itself through the wall with such force that it knocked down several of the men working in front of the stopping. All lights in the area were extinguished in hopes of eliminating another explosion. Because the mine was in total darkness, miners in the rear had to slowly move forward and lead those in the dark out to the slope. The fire damp and smoke followed the miners up the slope making their retreat unpleasant and dangerous. State Mine Inspector Brooks ordered new stoppings built. He ordered one of those stoppings built at entry 15 to stop the advance of fire damp and smoke. (1904 MIR)

Fire was discovered on both sides of the slope along with a lot of smoke and gas causing the rescue workers to retreat

The workmen in the Hanna mine have made excellent progress toward reaching the bodies of the entombed men until yesterday when they received a setback, which probably cannot be overcome for at least a few days.

The miners reached entry No. 17 near where the stables were located, and came within 20 feet of the bodies of several dead men. All the way down the slope they had to fight smoke, but they succeeded in bratticing up the entries and made everything safe as they went along.

Yesterday afternoon however the heat became so intense that it was impossible to reach the stables, and they also encountered gas from which a number of the men were overcome and had to be taken up the slope. They were driven back to No. 14 entry and dared not approach nearer.

Such a result was altogether unexpected. It has been announced that they would commence removing bodies not later than tonight and Undertaker Rasmusson was sent to prepare a number of caskets and have them ready as soon as the bodies were removed.

Coroner Besset and the members of his jury were notified to be there to view the remains before burial, as it would be impossible to hold them any length of time, but obstacles seem to be greater than before. It was thought that the mine was free from gas or nearly so, but there is still a great quantity at the seventeenth level.

The mine was closed up and no more men will be sent down until the first of next week. It is believed now that the efforts to reach the point of the fire have been a little premature and that if the mine had been closed at first and remained so, the fire would have been smothered by this time and there would have been but little difficulty. Now it is understood, although the officers of the mine have not made the statement, that there is fire on both sides of the slope. All of the openings to the mine have been sealed up and the slope closed at entry No. 14, so that it is believed no air can reach the burning portions.

Many of the men who were sent to Hanna from Rock Springs and other points west, have returned to their former places of employment, as it is thought that a large force of men cannot be used even when the smoke, fire and gas have subsided, making it possible to reach the seventeenth level. (Rawlins Republican, July 11, 1903)

The accounts from the burning coal mine at Hanna are most distressing. The fire has driven out the rescuing parties, who penetrated, at the imminent risk of their lives, close to the scene of the late explosion, but were driven back.

There is nothing more heroic in the annals of men than the efforts of miners to rescue their comrades who have met with accidents underground, whether by cavings, floorings or explosions. No matter what the peril, more than enough great souls are ready to undertake the rescue, and to carry it out, too, if the task is within the possible power of mortal man.

This disaster at Hanna has but proved again that splendid truth. And there is one thing more to add. None are more quick or generous to respond to the call of distress for relief in such emergencies as are mining communities. (Rawlins Republican, July 11, 1903)

July 13, 1903
Day 14

Repair work continued in the mine. Stoppings were installed and old ones repaired. (1904 MIR)

July 14, 1903
Day 15

Preparations are being made to resume the work of opening the coal mine here and rescuing the dead bodies of the victims of the disaster of June 30th. Fifty expert miners arrived last night from Rock Springs, and others are en route from Diamondville, Cumberland and Spring Valley. These men have had years of experience in fighting fires, and they will make a herculean effort to extinguish the flames and reach the bodies at once. If the tide of battle is again turned against the brave men, it is possible all efforts to reach the bodies will be abandoned, the workings sealed up and a new mine opened.

When the workmen were driven from the mine by fire last week they reported that the bodies were in such a horrible state of decomposition that the remains would have to be removed immediately if at all.

The workmen are today being examined as to their proficiency in the handling of safety lamps, etc., and probably tomorrow the stopping of the fourteenth entry will be removed and the men will be rushed into the mine and an attempt made to wall up the fire. The crucial test will probably come tomorrow afternoon and if the men are unsuccessful then Hanna mine No. 1 will become the perpetual tomb and burial ground of the 169 unfortunate miners that were caught like rats in a trap and their lives snuffed out in a twinkling. (Wyoming Tribune, July 15, 1903)

July 15, 1903
Day 16

After several days of repairing and building new stoppings the mine management took thirty-eight men into entry 15 with nose brattice. Using the main slope the miners made their way to the face of the stopping at entry 17 and found the fire still raging. The men successfully fought the firedamp and smoke and were able to install a new firewall that was both secure and safe. The new wall was necessary to prepare to put the fire out. (MIR)

July 16, 1903
Day 17

Two miners were found.

1. Y. Hamkimo [Yrjo Hanhimaki] was found at entry 16 between rooms 6 and 7. He was from Finland, age 25. His remains were buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

2. Felix McKenna, a miner from the United Kingdom, age 55, was found in the pump room. He was buried in Erie, Colorado.

The rescue miners reach entries 16 and 17 where the electrical pump and stables were located. Brattice was installed and the door opened to the main air return to receive the intake of smoke and gas, but the air immediately reversed itself, bringing smoke and fire damp toward the rescue team. The smoke and damp forced all the men working in the front to retreat to the main slope. To eliminate the damp and smoke, the miners knocked out a cross cut between the downcast of air from the main slope and the upcast of air and placed a brattice in the crosscut. The men then returned down the intake until they once again reached the pump room. The pump room was still filled with smoke and damp. About three o’clock in the afternoon, the men conquered the damp and smoke by erecting stoppings in the entry leading to the stables. The goal was to smother the fire in the stable. The pumps were inspected and the stable walled off. (1904 MIR)

July 17, 1903
Day 18

One miner was found.

1. Gus Westerlund [Gus Westerland], a Finnish miner, age unknown, was found at entry 16. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

I am advised from the records of the Coal Company that by reason of the sad accident in the explosion at the Hanna mine, there are eighty-eight widows, and one hundred and thirty-four orphans left in destitute circumstances.

Fennimore Chatterton, Governor, “I trust that the generosity of Wyoming's splendid citizenship will make a material response to the necessities of these bereaved and dependent women and children. Contributions can be sent to Hon. Fred B. Sheldon, deputy State Treasurer, Cheyenne, Wyo. and will be by him distributed to the sufferers in accordance with the necessities of the several cases.” (Clipper, July 17, 1903)

One body was removed yesterday from the lower workings of mine No. 1. The remains of Felix McKenna were found in the stable entry of level seventeen. It was in a fair state of preservation, and will be shipped to Erie, Colo., his former home. Workmen did not attempt to explore entry seventeen further than the stables. That part of the mine, which conceals the 166 dead miners, is still filled with gas from the smoldering fire, and it will be several days before another attempt will be made to clear it. (CheyenneDaily Leader, July 17, 1903)

July 18, 1903
Day 19

Four miners were found.

1. Sam Hudspeth [Samuel Hudspetts], an African American miner, age 40, was found at entry 16, room 1. He was buried in Plot 279 in the Hanna cemetery.

2. John Runnala [J. Ruonala] [John Runnola], a Finnish miner, age 24, was found at entry 16 room 11. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

3. Jac Mikkila,a Finnish miner,was found at entry 16 room 29. He was 30 years old. His remains were buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

4. Gabe Maki [Kaappo Korkiamaki], a Finnish miner, age 22, found at entry 16 room 7. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

The mine No. 1 search party was responsible for finding the dead miners, but it was the mortician’s job to remove the miner’s body from the mine, prepare him for burial and then see that the body is buried.

Entry No. 16 was opened yesterday and the relief workers are just beginning to realize the horror of their task. A trip of loaded and empty cars was found scattered about. Many of the cars were nothing more than broken masses of wood and twisted iron, while all had received the full force of the explosion and were damaged more or less. Scattered among the broken cars were the carcasses of the mules, their bodies mangled and harness broken and portions blown away. The tools of the men were twisted, broken and scattered.

In room No. 1 of entry 16 the body of Rudolph Sella [Salo], the fifth to be recovered was found. The remains were burned in a terrible manner and were only recognized after the most careful search for his gold filled teeth and other markings.

Near Sella’s [Salo’s], the sixth body was found, being so badly burned and mangled that recognition is impossible.

At the face of room No. 1 the remains of Gust Westerlund were found, and as in the case of Sella [Salo], it was almost impossible to recognize in the blackened face of the victim the well know features of Westerlund.

As soon as the bodies were brought to the surface they were properly identified and prepared for immediate burial.

More bodies will probably be taken out tonight, for the relief workers are now making rapid progress. As fast as the gas is removed from the rooms of an entry they are explored thoroughly and the bodies brought to the surface.

There have been no demonstrations of any kind, now that the actual work of rescuing the victims is progressing. The people gather about town and talk about the situation, but they are not permitted to approach near the mouth of the slope. The company has its various forces of men well instructed so that there is no hitch of any kind. The men in the lower workings are experienced miners and they are doing everything possible to prevent another explosion. The rooms and entries are closed and opened with great care in order to prevent more serious accidents. A large force of undertakers is on hand and they take the bodies in charge as soon as they are brought to the surface. Coroner Bennett and the members of his jury view the remains, then the victims are prepared for burial. (Cheyenne Leader, July 18, 1903)

The body of a pump man, Felix McKenna, was recovered from the entrance of the 16thlevel at the Hanna mine yesterday morning. He had received the full force of the explosion but the body was recognizable.

During the afternoon two more bodies were recovered from the 16thlevel. They were in a good state of preservation except for the hands and face. They have not yet been identified.

The body of a horse was also brought up from the 16thlevel yesterday.

The prospects for the recovery of most of the bodies are more favorable than at any time so far. (Laramie Boomerang, July 18, 1903)

Hanna, Wyo., July 18,-- 2 p.m.-- Relief workers are making good progress, and have penetrated entry No. 16 up to room No. 6. They found one miner on the entry and one about ten yards in the room from the entry. They were evidently running when they fell as they had left shovels stuck in coal in the act of shoveling when the explosion occurred. Their car check numbers found in their pockets identified them as Gabe Maki and Y. Hunkimo. The first named was married and had a wife and several children in Finland. The other was a single man. Both were buried at Hanna.

The latest word from Hanna is that the work in the mine is progressing quite satisfactorily and the workmen have succeeded in reaching a few of the bodies. The body of Chas [Felix] McKenna was taken out Wednesday evening. Yesterday the bodies of Rudolf Sella [Salo] and Gust Westerlund were brought to the surface. These bodies were all found at 16 entry. The men have succeeded in reaching this point in the last few days and there are more victims in the immediate vicinity that can be removed at once.

The black damp has interfered to a great extent, so progress has been necessarily slow. The workmen have at last succeeded in bratticing up the No. 17 entry and have the fire closed off. The fire will smother soon, or at least can give the men no trouble.

Upon reaching this point they found loaded cars piled up and twisted in every conceivable shape. Horses had been blown into the cars, their harness torn off and some of them found 30 feet away. Tools were found twisted and bent into all sorts of shapes.

The bodies of men were horribly burned and could only be recognized by their clothing or some little pocket pieces of various kinds.

Undertaker Rasmusson with his assistants, W.L. Evans and W.G. Brown have been in Hanna for several days to attend to the bodies as soon as they are removed. Coroner Bennett and the jury have also been there since the first of the week to perform their duties.

Felix McKenna, the man found Wednesday evening was the father of two sons, both of whom were employed in the mine. One son, George, was one of the victims of the explosion. The other son, Chas, has been at work ever since giving all the assistance possible to help reach the bodies of his father and brother. Mrs. McKenna came to Rawlins Thursday to purchase a casket for her husband but being unable to find one that suited her had one ordered from Denver.

During the last few days subscriptions continue to come in for the aid of the widows and children. In addition to the $300 contributed by the Masons of Cheyenne, the firm of Idelma Brothers of that city have contributed $50. The Salt Lake Tribune has also subscribed $50 and several others have contributed to the fund. There is now over $2,500 on deposit in the Rawlins National Bank and several hundred dollars more have been subscribed that will be paid as soon as the committee calls for it.

Administrators have been appointed by Judge Craig to take charge of the estates of the dead men. Reverend Howard Stoy was appointed administrator for the estates of all English speaking people; P.A. Boyd and W.H. Jeffrey for the colored men; Fank Massaro for the Italians and A.W. Havela for the Finns. These five gentlemen will have charge of the 150 estates, the papers for which have already been filed with the clerk of the court. (Rawlins Republican, July 18, 1903)

July 19, 1903
Day 20

One miner was found.

1. Simon Ojala, a Finnish miner, age 43, was found at entry 16 room 17. He was buried in Plot 253 in the Hanna cemetery.

Simon Ojala was found in room 11, and identified by his son by checks found upon him. He worked alone on the day of the explosion. His son usually worked with him, but laid off on this fatal day. The workmen proceeded along the entry to room 25, where E. Brown, a colored driver and a loaded trip are covered with a cave-in of rock and timbers and, cannot proceed further or take out any of the bodies until the debris and cars are removed. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, July 21, 1903)

July 20, 1903
Day 21

One more miner was found.

1. Ed Brown was found at entry 16 opposite room 25. He was an African American miner, age 18. His remains were buried in plot 279 in the Hanna cemetery.

Saturday night three more bodies were taken from the fatal mine, making twelve bodies in all, which have been recovered from the mine to date. Gas in increased quantities is being encountered, which renders slow and more perilous the work of recovering the bodies.

The remains of Sam Hudspeth, colored, were found between rooms 14 and 15 of entry No. 6. One arm had been blown off, both legs broken and the body mutilated. Hudspeth leaves a widow.

The bodies of John Runnala and Jack Mikilla, who leave widows with large families, were found in the face of room No. 11.

All the above miners were badly burned. They were identified by the car checks found upon them. All will be buried in Hanna.

The bodies of Gus Westerland [Gus Westerlund], a miner who worked in room one, entry 16, and Rudolph Sellers [Salo] , a driver, were found Friday night. The face, hands and feet of both of the victims were burned to a crisp and the bodies identified only by room checks. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, July 20, 1903)

July 21, 1903
Day 22

Two miners were found.

1. Dave Jones Jr. [David Jones Jr.], an English miner, age 17, was found at level 18 at the parting. He was buried in Plot 72 in the Hanna cemetery.

2. Martin Mickelson, a Swedish miner, age 19, was found at level 18 at the parting. He was buried in Plot 200 in the Hanna cemetery.

State Mine Inspector Bradbury visited the mine. He examined the 16 entry and found the work progressing well. The area was clear of gas. He visited entry 16, room 25 and found a new cave that had fallen in the past twenty-four hours. It was sixty feet long and fifteen feet high. A trip of pit cars was buried under it. The work to timber the area was exceedingly dangerous. Superintendent Brooks, his assistant foreman and a crew of men were putting up brattices between entry 18 and 20 on the manway where they found a horrendous result of the explosion. The force of the explosion knocked an empty coal trip into splinters. It drove the pit cars and a mule attached to the cars, down the manway about fifteen to twenty feet. The boys that managed the mule and the trip of pit cars were found at the edge of the manway. The force of the explosion completely disrobed the boys of every stitch of clothing and left them completely nude. The loaded trip of cars on the main slope was upset and uncoupled. Half the trip was broken away and down the slope sixty feet. The manrope runner was found thirty feet below the ten cars that had broken away. These signs indicated to the rescue miners that the force of the explosion came down the slope from where the explosion originated. The explosion followed down the main slope toward entry 22. Entries below 22 could not be examined due to high water. (1904 MIR)

July 22, 1903
Day 23

One miner was found in the mine.

1. D. Massaro, an Italian miner, age unknown, found at entry 15 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

State Mine Inspector Bradbury, Sneddon, Morgan, Griffith and Thomas inspected 17 entry. The stoppings were found cool and in good order. A watchman was on duty at this stopping night and day watching for trouble. (1904 MIR)

Hanna, Wyoming, July 21 - Four more bodies were taken from the Hanna mine today, making eighteen in all taken out since the explosion.

At noon, word was received that a body had been found in the main slope between the eighteenth and twentieth entries.

Coroner Bennett, Undertaker Rasmusson, Dr. Wilseck and assistants immediately entered the mine at 2:30 and returned with the body. It proved to be that of Michael Speero [Sparo] [Sporro], the rope runner. The body was found lying between the rails, below the trip, which he was riding at the time of the explosion. His parents and several sisters are living in Hanna. The body will be taken to Denver for burial.

Shortly after Speero's [Sparo’s] body was taken out three more bodies were found in the eighteenth entry parting. The first was that of John B. Matson, driver, a son of August Matson, a ranchman near Saratoga. He was easily recognized and his parents notified.

David B. Jones' body was next found. He was a driver and the son of David Jones of Hanna, who identified him.

The next was Martin Nickelson [Teofilus Koski] [Files Nickelson], also a driver, who was identified by his brother. The father was also killed in the mine but the body has not yet been recovered.

Jones and Nickelsonwere young men of about nineteen years of age, and were inseparable companions. Their bodies were found lying close together.

The condition of the three men shows that the force of the explosion in the eighteenth entry was terrible. The bodies were much mangled and cars nearby badly wrecked. (WyomingTribune, July 22, 1903)

July 23, 1903
Day 24

Eight miners were found.

1. James While Jr., a miner from England, age 18, was found at entry 20. He was buried in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery in a marked grave.

2. Robert Tinsley Sr. [Robert Tinslay], an African American miner, age unknown, was found at room 16. He was buried in Hanna cemetery then later disinterred and reburied in Carrollton, Missouri.

3. Clay Tinnley [Clay Tinslay] [Clay Tinsley], an African American miner, age unknown, was found at entry 20 room 16. He was buried in Hanna cemetery then later disinterred and reburied in Carrollton, Missouri.

4. Henry Lindi, a Finnish miner, age 55, was found at entry 20 room 14. He was buried in Plot 260 in the Hanna cemetery.

5. James Watson Jr., a miner from the United Kingdom, age 26, was found at entry 20 room 13. He was buried in Carbon, Wyoming in a marked grave.

6. John Malberg [John Malburg] [John Malmberg], a Finnish miner, age 42, was found at entry 20 room 18. He was buried in Plot 149 in the Hanna cemetery.

7. Uriah Davis, was found at entry 20 room 13. He was from the United Kingdom, age unknown. Uriah was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

8. Jac Nanti [Jack Wasti] was a Finnish miner, age unknown, found at entry 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

July 24, 1903
Day 25

Twenty-three more miners were found.

1. Mat Lundberg Sr. [Matti Lundburg Sr.], a Finnish miner, age 55, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in Plot 258 in the Hanna cemetery.

2. Mat Lundberg Jr. [Matti Lundburg Jr.], a Finnish miner, age 14, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in Plot 258 in the Hanna cemetery.

3. George Hooper [George Hoper], an African American miner, age 23, was found at entry 18 room 23. He was buried in Plot 291 in the Hanna cemetery.

4. Mat A. Longi [Matti Longi], a Finnish miner, age 15, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

5. John Lundberg [John Lundburg], a Finnish miner, age 25, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in Plot 258 in the Hanna cemetery.

6. John Lassali [John Lassila] [John Lassall], a Finnish miner, age 46, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

7. John Honks [John Honka] [John Hunks] was found at entry 20 back.  John was from Finland, age 21. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

8. Thomas Lanty [Thomas Manty], a Finnish miner, age 25, was found at entry 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

9. John Blumstrom, a Finnish miner, age 39, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in Plot 150 in the Hanna cemetery.

10. John Pelto [John Peltokangas], a Finnish miner, age 44, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

11. Henry Wilmumsen [H. Wilmunen] [Henry Wilmunsen], a Finnish miner, age 29, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

12. Samuel Kaeria [Samuel Kaeris] [SamuelKaerie], a Finnish miner, age unknown, was found at entry 20 back was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

13. Nic Laamanen [Nicolai Laamanen] [Nic Larmen], a Finnish miner, age 40, was found at entry 20 room 17. Hewas buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

14. Sakru Wilmunen [Sac Wilmumen] [S. Wilmumen], a Finnish miner, age 20, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

15. Files Nickelson [Teofilus Koski], a Finnish miner, age 20, was found at entry 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

16. Otto Hullanda [Otto Kankaanpaa] [O. Hullando], a Finnish miner, age 21, was found at entry 20 back. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

17. Andrew Williams [Anti Kankaanpaa], a Finnish miner, age 25, was found at entry 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

18. Nic Servista [Nikolai Sorvisto], a Finnish miner, age 30, was found at entry 20. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

19. H. Rankinen [H. Hankinen] [H. Rankenen] was found at entry 20 back.  He was a Finnish miner, age 25. His remains were buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

20. Alf Niomo [Matti Niemi] [A. Neime], a Finnish miner, age 23, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

21. Henry Reese, a United Kingdom miner, age 27, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery.

22. Ole Jacobson [Olaf Jacobson] was found at entry 20 back.  Ole was from Sweden, age 35. He was buried in Plot 178 in the Hanna cemetery.

23. James Hayes was found at entry 20 back.  He was from the United Kingdom, age unknown. He buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

Superintendent Brooks, George Black, William Armstrong, Gomer Thomas, Morgan, Griffith Thomas, Sneddon and State Mine Inspector Bradbury opened and explored entry 20. In the back entry, opposite room 25, twenty-one dead miners were found. They were recognized as miners who worked at the extreme end of entry 20. All indications showed the dead miners traveled from the extreme inside of room 25 after the explosion. It also indicated that the explosion had little force at the working place of these men. Entries 18 and 19 were found to be troublesome. Caves and gas in entries 18 and 19 forced the men to leave their work in these entries. (1904 MIR)

Numerous pathetic sights met the gaze of the relief workers when they opened entry No. 20 and found 22 bodies scattered about in the main entry and various rooms. The position of every body indicated that the unfortunate miners had realized their danger and had attempted to escape from the workings after the explosion. Some of the men, probably stronger than their companions, had moved from rear rooms to near the mouth of the entry before being overcome by the deadly after damp.

The body of Mat Lundberg, Jr., son of Mat Lundberg, was found on top of his father. The boy had been picked up by the father and carried some distance on his back, but they finally succumbed to the black damp and both sank to the floor of the entry. The boy’s arms were clasped around his father’s neck.

Some of the miners had been knocked down by falling rock after the explosion occurred and while they were making their way toward the main slope, for their bodies were partly buried, mangled and cut. Many of the men were found with their caps crammed into their mouths showing that they made a heroic fight to escape the deadly gases. (Laramie Boomerang, July 28, 1903)

July 27, 1903
Day 28

Six miners were found.

1. Alec Nikkola [Alex Nikkola], a Finnish miner, age 24, was found at entry 20 near room 32. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

2. Oscar Kukkola [O. Kukola], a Finnish miner, age 24, was found at entry 20 near room 32. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

3. Mike Kukkola [Mike Nikkola] [M. Kukkola], a Finnish miner, age 26, was found at entry 20 near room 32. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

5. Gus Linden, [Gustaf Linden], a Finnish miner, age 24, was found at entry 20 near room 32. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

6. Mat Malbert [Mat Malburg] [Matti Maimberg], a Finnish miner, age 32, was found at entry 20 room 18. He was buried in Plot 146 in the Hanna cemetery.

7. Gust Malberg [Gust Malburg] [G. Malbert] [Kusti Maimberg], a Finnish miner, age 16, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in Plot 149 in the Hanna cemetery.

July 28, 1903
Day 29

John McNeal, State Mine Inspector from Colorado and State Mine Inspector Bradbury visited the mine. They inspected entry 20 and found mixed results. The explosion showed great force at some places, but at other places in the area there was little sign of an explosion at all. (1904 MIR)

July 29, 1903
Day 30

A work party found two kegs of black powder at entry 20. The kegs were badly damaged, but the powder had not exploded from the initial explosion. Some signs of fire were visible in this part of the mine, yet some places showed few signs of heat or flames. (1904 MIR)

July 30, 1903
Day 31

Four miners were found.

1. Harry Leakela [Henrik Laskala] [Harry Leskela], a Finnish miner, age 30, was found at entry 16, between rooms 14 and 15. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

2. Dan Luoma, a Finnish miner, age 38, was found at entry 16 room 29. Hewas buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

3. John Takia [John Tapio], a Finnish miner, age unknown, was found at entry 16 room 29. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

4. Lauri A. Saari [J. A. Saari], a Finnish miner, age 21, was found at entry 16 room 29. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

State Mine Inspector Bradbury visited entries 16, 18 and 20. The rescue workers were experiencing slow going in this section of the mine. Little advance was made that day. Detailed work was being done to make the mine safe and recover deceased miners. (1904 MIR)

July 31, 1903
Day 32

State Mine Inspectors Bradbury and Gomer Thomas inspected the mine. After 16 days of being walled off, preparations were made to put out the fire in entry 17. (1904 MIR)

August 1, 1903
Day 33

State Mine Inspector Thomas and Superintendent Brooks were in preparation of opening entry 17. However, caves that day in entry 16, rooms 1 and 12, occurred. Gas was generated by the caves and a small fire broke out. Entry 16 was walled off to smother the fire. Opening entry 17 was put off for another day. (1904 MIR)

August 6, 1903
Day 38

The rescue miners reached the pump house. There was no indication of an active, open fire. The pump and back cross cut were walled off giving the miners access to the machinery in the pump room. The goal was to get the pumps in working order. It was expected the single electric pump could be in working order within twenty four hours, but the rescue miners found the wiring had been destroyed by the explosion and not fixable. The electric pump could not be used. One steam pump was operational. The steam pump was slow at removing water. Since the explosion, the lower sections of the mine were filling with water. No exploration for lost miners had been done below entry 20 because of water. (1904 MIR)

August 7, 1903
Day 39

One miner was found.

1. Mat Jarvals [Mat Jarvela] [Mat Jarvals] [Mat Jarvala], a Finnish miner, age 24, was found at entry 17 at the parting. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

August 8, 1903
Day 40

Thirty-three miners were found.

1. James While Sr., an English miner from the United Kingdom, age 41, was found at entry 17 on the outer edge of the dip. He was buried in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery in a marked grave.

2. Job While, an English miner from the United Kingdom, age 35, was found at entry 17 on the outer edge of the dip. He was buried in Carbon, Wyoming in a marked grave.

3. Thomas Davis was found at entry 17 on the dip.  Thomas was from the United Kingdom, age 19. He was buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery.

4. James Smith, a miner from the United Kingdom, age 45, was found at entry 17 on the outer edge of the dip. He was buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery.

5. Joseph Sheffield [Joe Sheffield], a United Kingdom miner, age 36, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery.

6. Alfred Hapgood, was found at entry 17 on the dip.  Alfred was from the United Kingdom, age 38. He was buried in Laramie, Wyoming.

7. Oscar Jacobson was found at entry 17 on the dip, at the edge of the room.  Oscar was from Sweden, age 61. He was buried in Plot 178 in the Hanna cemetery.

8. Jim Delmonico [Juisto Delmonico]was found at entry 17 on the dip.  Jim was from Italy, age unknown. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

9. Henry Ojua [Henry Oja] [Henry Ojala], a Finnish miner, age 35, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

10. Erick Longu [Erick Longi], a Finnish miner, age 44, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

11. August Longi [Aukusti Longi], a Finnish miner, age 26, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

12. Charles Kertilla [Charles Mertala], a Finnish miner, age 29, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

13. John Ashblund [John Asplund] was found at entry 17 on the dip.  John was from Finland, age 42. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

14. Herman Renko [Herman Rinko] [H. Rengo], a Finnish miner, age 39, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in Plot 182 in the Hanna cemetery.

15. Alex Kiemo [Alex Keimo] [Alex Klemettila] [Alex Klem], a Finnish miner, age 38, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

16. Abe Neimo [Abraham Niemela] [A. Neime], a Finnish miner, age 40, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

17. John Tempet [JohnTomperi], a Finnish miner, age unknown, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

18. John Hill [John Sannamaki] [John Saunamaki], a Finnish miner, age 35, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

19. Isaac S. Maki [Isak Hietamaki], was found at entry 17 on the dip.  Isaac was from Finland, age 27. He was buried in Plot 193 in the Hanna cemetery.

20. August Maki [August Saarineva], a Finnish miner, age 23, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

21. Alf Maki [Alfred Makynen], a Finnish miner, age 22, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

22. S. Pouti [Solomon Pohto] [S. Poutta] [Salmun Podetta], a Finnish miner, age 22, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

23. Mat Hako [Mat Hakomaki] [Matt Hakko]was found at entry 17 on the dip.  Mat was from Finland, age 43. He was buried in Plot 266 in the Hanna cemetery.

24. Sac Lakko [Sakari Kakko] [Sack Sakko], a Finnish miner, age 23, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

25. M. M. Louma [M. M. Hukanluoman] [M.M. Luoma], a Finnish miner, age 27, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in Plot 145 in the Hanna cemetery.

26. Henry Glaat [Henrik Glad] [Henry Gloat] was found at entry 17 on the dip. Henry was from Finland, age 39. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

27. August K. Matson [Andrus Kaanta], a Finnish miner, age unknown, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

28. William Sakrison [William Sackrison], a Finnish miner, age 46, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in Plot 317 in the Hanna cemetery.

29. Nels Waktala [Nikolai Wahtola] [John Wattila], a Finnish miner, age unknown, found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

30. Sac Jacobson [Sakri Payhonen], a Finnish miner, age 29, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

31. Henry Kenkamper [Henrik Kankaanpaa] [H. Koskamper], a Finnish miner, age 28, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

32. Jac Niemststc [Jacob Niemisto] [J. Neimisto], a Finnish miner, age 37, was found at entry 17 on the dip. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

33. Axel Cittila [Aksek Kerttula] [ Yittala Kertula] [A. Kertilla], a Finnish miner, age 21, was found at entry 17 on the outer edge of the dip. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

Thirty-three bodies were recovered from entry No. 17 Saturday night and Sunday. Seventeen of these were found in a cave 400 or 500 feet from the slope. This cave is continuous from where the men lay piled up to within 75 feet of the slope. The men could hardly have escaped through this entry to the slope as they were trying to do when the black damp overtook them.

Bodies were brought through a tunnel 300 feet long by H. Rasmusson and his assistants, W. G. Brown, W. L. Evans and John Thomas. In taking the dead miners through the tunnel the rescuers were forced to make their way through two and a half feet of water. Then for fifteen hundred feet more over heaps of coal and rock, some places wiggling through a space not more than two feet square and drawing their charge after them out to the main slope through 15 entry. The work was most difficult and the advanced stage of decomposition of the bodies made it equally disagreeable. The rescuers deserve great praise for their untiring efforts to bring the entombed miners to a Christian burial.

Five men were found in 17 back entry. They had been wandering around, got tired and sat down one against the other and died.

Eleven men were found at or near the electric hoist on this entry. They were trying to make their escape when the black damp caught them.

They were identified as follows:

M.M. Luoms, Herman Rengo, Alex Kleme, Henry Gloat, Wm. Sackrison, Henry Konkamper, Erick Longi, Sack Sakko, Aug. Longi, Chas. Mertilla, Aug. K. Mattson, Isaac S. Maki, Abe Neimie, Matt Hakko, John Asblund, Axel Yittals, Aug. Maki, Henry Oja, Jack Nelmisto, John H. Hill, John Tomper, John Wattils, S. Podetta, Sac Jacobson, Alfred Maki. These are all Finn miners and were interred in the Hanna cemetery.

The others were more or less English speaking people: Job While and James While, Sr. gas watchers; Joe Sheffield, Jim Delmonico and Alf Hapgood, miners; Oscar Jacobson, brattice man; Jas. Smith, track layer; Tommy Davis, electric hoist engineer and step son of D.A. Griffiths, master mechanic of the Hanna mines.

Tommy Davis was nearly 20 years of age. He was born in Wilkesbarre, Penn., July 11, 1883, and came to Wyoming 19 years ago. He was raised at Carbon and Hanna and was the pride of his parents and well liked by all his acquaintances.

The remains of Alf Hapgood were shipped to Laramie Monday accompanied by R. Wilson, John Cole and C.M. Cunningham, where interment took place Tuesday.

James Smith was a member of the I.O.O.F. and K. of P., and Jas. While and Jas. Sheffield were each a member of the K. of P. and these bodies were interred at Carbon by these orders. The funeral cortege was very large, many people came in from the surrounding country.

Most bodies were in a much better state of preservation than those taken out two weeks ago, some of them being identified by their features.

It is expected to start the pumps at once and drain the lower levels as soon as possible. This will require at least six weeks. (Rawlins Republican, August 12, 1903)

August 18, 1903
Day 51

Fifteen miners were found.

1. Elmer Matson [Elmer Mattson] [Hjalmar Raasio], a Finnish miner, age 25, was found at entry 18. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

2. Andrew Matson [Andy Myllyniemi], a Finnish miner, age 26, was found at entry 18. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

3. Chas. Pelto [Charles Peltokangas] [C. Pelto], a Finnish miner, age 20, was found at entry 18. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

4. E. Petracco [Ejidio Petracco], an Italian miner, age unknown, was found at entry 18. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

5. Thomas Weathers [Thomas Westhers] [T. Wethers], an African American miner, age unknown, was found at entry 18. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

6. Mark Miller, an African American miner, age unknown, was found at entry 18. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

7. John Passi, a Finnish miner, age 24, was found at entry 18. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

8. Alu Heitala [Alrick Hatala] [A. Heitala], a Finnish miner, age unknown, was found at entry 18. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

9. Andrew I. Koski [Andry Korkiakaski], a Finnish miner, age 58, was found at entry 18. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

10. John Merttilla [John Mertala], a Finnish miner, age 24, was found at entry 18. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

11. Alfred Holm, a Finnish miner, age 18, was found at entry 18. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

12. Wm. Williams [William Williams] [William William], an African American miner, age unknown, was found at entry 18. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

13. Samuel Aysto was found at entry 18. Samuel was from Finland, age 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

14. Wm. Rassia [Wilheim Rossia] [John Raasio], a Finnish miner, age 28, was found at entry 18. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

15. A. U. Zalla [Alf Zillo] [A. V. Zilla], a Finnish miner, age unknown, was found at entry 18. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

Fifteen bodies were recovered from entry No. 18 on Aug. 18th and identified as follows: Andrew I. Kaski [Koski], Alfred Holm, Sam Avsto [Aysto], Alu Atitia [Hatala] [Heitals], Chas. Pelto, John Mertilla, John Passi, Elmer Mattson, W. Rossia, and Mattson, all Finnish miners; E. Patrco, A.D. Zilla, Italian miners; M.R. Miller, W. Williams and Tom Wethers, colored miners. All were interred in the Hanna cemetery. (Rawlins Republican, August 22, 1903)

August 21, 1903
Day 54

Seven miners were found.

1. John Rysbert [John Rysberg] [Juho Kuusberg], a Finnish miner, age 29, was found at entry 16 room 11. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

2. John Huhta [John Alahuhta] was found at entry 16 in the cross cut. John was a Finnish miner, age 29. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

3. Charles Somerill [C. Summerill] [Charles Somers], a Finnish miner, age 59, was found at entry 16. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

4. John Hokka [Hakka], a Finnish miner, age 20, was found at entry 16. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

5. Mat Nissila [M. Nassila], a Finnish miner, age 42, was found at entry 16. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

6. Mike Sporro [Mike Sparo], an Italian miner, age unknown, was found between entries 18 and 20 on the slope. He was buried in Denver, Colorado in a marked grave.

7. John B. Matson, a Swedish miner, age unknown, was found at the parting of entry 18. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

Entry No. 18 was opened last night after being sealed up for two weeks. Three thousand feet from the slope, John Rysberg and John Huhta, Finnish miners, were found. Near them was a gallon of oil. They were prepared to keep a light for a week if necessary, but they were overcome by the deadly afterdamp. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, Aug. 22, 1903)

August 22, 1903
Day 55

Four miners were found.

1. Heiskamen [C. H. Heiskanen] was found at entry 16 in the cross cut. He was from Finland, age 28. He was buried in Plot 169 in the Hanna cemetery.

2. K. H. Heiskanen [Erik Heiskanen] was found at entry 16. He was from Finland, age 32. He was buried in Plot 169 in the Hanna cemetery.

3. John Hopnack [John Rapakko], a Finnish miner, age 22, was found at entry 16. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

4. Henry Talkanan [Henry Talkkinen] [Henry Tolkkinen], a Finnish miner, age 34, was found at entry 16. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

Cases Settled: Relatives of Forty-one Hanna Mine Victims. Widows Received $800.00. Fifty Dollars Additional for each Minor Child - Relatives of Single Men get $350.00 each. Expected that Other Cases will be Settled on Similar Basis.

General Claim Agent John R. Manchester and Claim Agent W.C. Hussey, representing the Union Pacific Coal Company, have effected a settlement with a number of the relatives of the miners who lost their lives in the Hanna disaster.

Orders were signed by Judge Craig today in forty-one cases and the money will be paid over by the company as soon as the several administrators file the required bond.

Settlement in these cases is made on the following basis: $800.00 for each widow residing in this country, and $50.00 additional for each minor child; $350.00 for single men and $350.00 to widows residing in foreign countries.

The claims settled today include eighteen colored men, twelve Finns and eleven Italians. The order which is entered in each case by agreement recites that the company disclaims any responsibility for the death of the deceased, and by the payment of the amount agreed upon is relieved of all claims of whatsoever nature for the death of the men who were killed while in the employ of the company.

In addition to the amounts paid to the several claimants, the dependent ones of the deceased have been maintained at the expense of the company since the date of the explosion and the company has also paid the burial expenses.

Attorney D.A. Reavill, was present to represent A.W. Havela, administrator of the Finns and Italians, and W.H. Jefferies, the administrator of the colored men.

It is expected that an agreement will be reached so that a number of other cases can be amicably settled in a few days. (Rawlins Republican - August 22, 1903)

August 24, 1903
Day 57

Two miners were found.

1. Carl Ruski [Charles Ruuska] [Kalle Rouska], a Finnish miner, age 38, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in Plot 167 in the Hanna cemetery.

2. Andrew Tikka, a Finnish miner, age 19, was found at the back of entry 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

August 29, 1903
Day 63

One miner was found.

1. Herman Talkamen [Herman Kaskelo] [Herman Takkinen], a Finnish miner, age 40, was found at entry 16. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

August 30, 1903
Day 64

One miner was found.

1. Dan Luoma, a Finnish miner, age 38, was found at entry 16 room 29. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

September 5, 1903
Day 68

One miner was found.

1. Fred Wilkins [Fred Willkins], an African American miner, age 34, was found at entry 18 room 23. He was buried in Plot 279 in the Hanna cemetery.

September 30, 1903
Day 95

One miner was found.

1. Andrew Luoma [Andrew Luomala], a Finnish miner, age 41, was found at entry 18 room 19. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

October 2, 1903
Day 97

One miner was found.

1. Eric Luoma [Erid Luomala], a Finnish miner, age 50, was found at entry 18 room 19. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

October 8, 1903
Day 103

One miner was found.

1. Mat Tukola [Matti Tuhkala], a Finnish miner, age 20, was found at entry 20 at the cross cut 26 to 27. His remains were buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

October 18, 1903
Day 113

One miner was found.

1. J. H. Swanson [John Swanson], a Swedish miner, age unknown, was found at entry 18 room 20. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

October 20, 1903
Day 115

One miner was found.

1. Pete Nowley [Peter Howley] was found at entry 22 at the parting inside the manway. Pete was from Ireland, age unknown. He was buried in a marked grave in the Laramie, Wyoming cemetery.

October 21, 1903
Day 116

Two miners were found.

1. Nick Massaro, an Italian miner, age unknown, was found at entry 22 room 16. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

2. P. DiCesare [Passa Decasaro] was found at entry 22 cross 17 and 18. He was from Italy, age unknown. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

State Mine Inspector Bradbury inspected the mine and found large quantities of water at the lower entries of the mine. Many of the miners bodies had not yet been recovered. The majority of the bodies were thought to be in entries 22 and 26, which could not be reached because of water. (1904 MIR)

October 22, 1903
Day 117

Nine miners were found.

1. Andrew Longi, a Finnish miner, age 23, was found at entry 22. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

2. Phippip Marzon [Felepo Mazzana], an Italian miner, age unknown, was found at entry 22. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

3. D. C. Dandry [Christ Decreshentis] was found at entry 22 room 18.  He was from Italy, age unknown. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

4. William Austin was found at entry 22 room 29. William was an African American miner. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

5. Mike Arthurs was found at entry 22 room 15. Mike was from Ireland. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

6. Henry Sanders [Henry Saunders], an African American miner, age 35, was found at entry 22 room 13. He was buried in Plot 279 in the Hanna cemetery.

7. Jesse McDonald, an African American miner, age 22, was found at entry 22 room 13. He was buried in Plot 301 in the Hanna cemetery.

8. W. L. Smith, an African American miner, age unknown, was found at entry 22 room 16. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

9. Desha Austin was found at entry 22 room 28.  Desha was an African American miner. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

October 23, 1903
Day 118

Seven miners were found.

1. Mat Longi, a Finnish miner, age unknown, was found at entry 22 cross cut at the face. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

2. James Thomas, an African American miner, age 35, was found at entry 22 cross cut at the face. He was buried in Plot 279 in the Hanna cemetery.

3. Chas. Niemo [Charles Nieme] [Charles Neime], a Finnish miner, age 28, was found at entry 22 room 30. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

4. Wm. Pulkamen [Wilhelm Pulkkinen] [W. Pulkenen], a Finnish miner, age 34, was found at entry 22 room 30. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in an unmarked grave.

5. W. O. Williams, an African American miner, age unknown, found at entry 22 room 28. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

6. Richard Bain was found at entry 22, back at the face. Richard was an African American miner, age 22. He was buried in Plot 279 in the Hanna cemetery.

7. Ed Love [Edward Love], an African American miner, age 36, was found at entry 22 room 29. He was buried in Plot 302 in the Hanna cemetery.

October 28, 1903
Day 123

One miner was found.

1. S. Tukola [Simon Tuhkala], a Finnish miner, age 23, was found at entry 20 room 26. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

October 30, 1903
Day 125

One miner was found.

1. Archie McDonald [Archie McDanald] [A. McDonald], an African American miner, age 19, was found at entry 22 room 13. He was buried in Plot 301 in the Hanna cemetery.

November 7, 1903
Day 133

One miner was found.

1. Samuel Mickelson, a Swedish miner, age 47, was found at entry 18 room 20. He was buried in Plot 200 in the Hanna cemetery.

November 13, 1903
Day 139

State Mine Inspector Bradbury visited the mine to inspect the progress made in restoring the mine since the explosion. An examination of the mine was made which showed slow progress in pumping out the water from the mine. Lots of water was running into the mine from outside sources. Pumps were working night and day, but pumping the water out was taking lots of time. (1904 MIR)

November 22, 1903
Day 148

One miner was found.

1. Robert Nunley, an African American miner, age unknown, was found at entry 22 room 14. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

November 28, 1903
Day 154

One miner was found.

1. John Clarkson was found at entry 20 room 25. John was from the United Kingdom,age 32.He was buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery.

November 30, 1903
Day 156

Two miners were found.

1. Robert Clarkson, was found at entry 29 room 25. Robert was from the United Kingdom, age 38. He was buried in a marked grave in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery.

2. S. H. Klaseen [John Klaseen], a Swedish miner, age 41, was found at entry 20 room 36. He was buried in Plot 205 in the Hanna cemetery.

December 2, 1903
Day 158

Two miners were found.

1. C. Ciarallo [Castanzo Ciarallas] [C. Ciarallo] was found at entry 28 inside 5th crosscut 28E. He was from Italy, age unknown. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

2. John R. Cox, was found at entry 28 outside 5th crosscut. John was from the United Kingdom, age 33. He was buried in Plot 202 in the Hanna cemetery. His father, John H. Cox, was killed in the explosion, but his body was not recovered and is still at the bottom of the mine.

December 3, 1903
Day 159

Four miners were found.

1. John Raite [John Rait], a miner from the United Kingdom, age 27, was found at entry 28 outside the 5th crosscut. He was buried in Plot 244 in the Hanna cemetery.

2. E. Newsome [A. E. Cooper] [A. Muzum], an African American miner, age 18, was found on the slope at the 8th crosscut from the basin. He was buried in Plot 279 in the Hanna cemetery.

3. William Hall was found on the slope at the 8th crosscut from the basin. William was an African American miner, age unknown. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

4. George McKenna, a miner from the United Kingdom, age 20, was found on the slope at entry 26. He was buried in a marked grave in Erie, Colorado.

Mine Inspector Bradbury made another visit to the mine. Ex-Colorado Mine Inspector John McNeal and Superintendent Brooks accompanied him in the mine along with a rescue crew of gas experts. Brooks informed Bradbury that the water had been sufficiently pumped out of the lower levels to allow exploration of entries 24 through 26 and the main slope on the east side. Large quantities of gas were encountered. Seven dead miners were found on the east side of the main slope. (1904 MIR)

December 4, 1903
Day 160

Seven miners were found.

1. Nick Thies [Nick Thidz] [Nic Thies], a Belgium miner, age unknown, was found at entry 20 room 26. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

2. Ben Miller,an African American miner, age 23, was found on the slope at 8th crosscut from the basin. He was buried in Plot 279 in the Hanna cemetery.

3. Robert Evans [Robert Branch] was found on the slope at 8th crosscut from the basin. Robert was an African American miner, age unknown. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

4. James Denny [James Patton], an African American miner, age unknown, was found on the slope at 8th crosscut from the basin. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

5. Joe Julio, an Italian miner, age unknown, was found on the slope at the 8th crosscut from the basin. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

6. James Massey, a miner from the United Kingdom, age 35, was found at the back of entry 26 at the face. He was buried in Plot 244 in the Hanna cemetery.

7. John Battle [John Bettue] was found at entry 26 back, at the face. John was from the United Kingdom, age unknown. He was buried in a marked grave in the Laramie, Wyoming cemetery.

The No. 1 mine slope was about 400 feet from breaking through to the east surface.

During the week the remainder of the bodies in the Hanna mine, except five, have been recovered and all but one of these is located and will be taken out today. The remains of John Raite, John R. Cox, Nic Thies, John Norkenan, Geo. McKenna and two Italians, named C. Ciarallo and John Delbarto, were removed Thursday. Yesterday A. Muzum, Ben Miller, Wm. Hall, Robt. Evans and Jas. Patton were taken out. Mr. Raite's remains could be identified only by his teeth and a piece of gunny sack wrapped around his ankle to keep the dirt out of his shoes. There yet remain in the mine the bodies of John Battle, mine foreman, John Massey, John Cox Sr., and Axel Matson and one other whose name was not learned. These are all located except for John Cox, but he is thought to have been near the others.

The last named men were all found at the farther end of the slope on the up grade being dug to the surface. They had constructed a brattice across the slope to keep out the gas and fire damp and it is altogether probable that they starved to death. The explosion did no damage in that part of the mine, seemingly stopping when the bottom of the slope was reached. Neither had the water extended up the slope far enough to reach the men who were more than a mile from the mouth of the mine. This would indicate, that had the slope been finished the few hundred feet yet remaining, that those beyond the bottom of the slope where it again starts up toward the surface could have made their way out alive. Perhaps those men lived several days and died from sheer starvation. There is gas in the mine at present and the workmen are proceeding with great precaution. One man was overcome by the damp Thursday and had to be carried out.

A few days after the explosion it was thought best to close up the mine permanently, but the company decided not to and although it has cost approximately $700 for every body that has been recovered, the company pushed the work and one by one recovered them. The workings were completely shattered, many mining experts saying it would be useless to reopen the mine, for the amount of money that would have to be expended in the work could develop a much better property, but now the company has recovered almost all of the bodies and the mine is fast being put in condition to produce hundreds of tons of coal daily. (Rawlins Republican, Dec. 5, 1903)

December 12, 1903
Day 168

One body was found.

1. John Eelearto [Giovanno D'Bartilomeo] [J. Delbarto] was found at entry 28 inside the 5th crosscut 28. John was from Italy, age unknown. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

December 13, 1903
Day 169

One more body was found in the mine.

1. Axel Matson, a Swedish miner, age unknown, was found at entry 17 between rooms 2 and 3. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

December 16, 1903
Day 172

The last body to be found was John Norconen. John Cox had not been found yet, but he never would be.

1. John Norconen [John Notunen] [J. Norkonen], a Finnish miner, age unknown, was found at entry 15 on the dip near the 17th over cast. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

The gas in the mine was removed by the rescue miners to the face of entry 26. Two miners were found dead from the explosion at the face of entry 26. They were John Battle, the foreman of the mine and Mr. Massey, fire boss of the mine. All of the dead miners were now accounted for except John Cox, the fire boss who examined the mine June 30, 1903. He was still missing. (1904 MIR)

March 21, 1904
Day 267

State Mine Inspector A. E. Bradbury made another visit to the mine. He was accompanied by William Ray, assistant superintendent. The entire mine was inspected. Air measurements and gas readings were taken throughout the mine. No gas was found and the report book showed that no gas had been detected for the past two months. A new system of water supply to the mine entries was in place. (1904 MIR)

Conclusion

In Bradbury’s judgment the explosion started in entry 16 in the vicinity of rooms 1 through 11. Room 11 was the least disturbed, but exhibited signs of fire passing through it. Rooms 1 through 11 were repeatedly examined, hoping to discover signs that would provide a definite answer to the exact place and cause of the explosion. No particular spot in any of the rooms could be positively identified as the initial spot of the explosion. In entry 16 the force of the explosion was violent all through the entry. Timbers and brattices were blown in every direction.

The force of the explosion was so great in nearly all the rooms that solid support materials were torn from their foundations, causing great caves from one end to another in entry 16. The explosion might have been caused by an accumulation of a small quantity of gas being ignited by an open lamp. A miner filling his cartridge and igniting his powder by his open lamp also might have caused it. It is also quite possible the explosion was caused by a series of rapid shots fired from the face of the coal. The rapid shots may have created a cloud of dust and a blown out shot came into contact with the dust and an explosion occurred. The actual cause is a mystery and will remain so. (1904 MIR)

It took over 267 days for the State Mine Inspector to file a final report for the explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna.

Chapter 7
Unmarked Graves and the Rasmusson Lawsuit (1903-1904)

1904

Immediately after the June 30, 1903 explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna. Henry Rasmusson, a mortician from Rawlins, was hired by company officials as the head undertaker and given the responsibility of removing the miner’s bodies from the No. 1 mine, identifying the men, preparing the bodies for burial and burying them.

On December 6, 1903, Henry Rasmusson was called to Hanna. The remains of Axel Matson, one of the last remaining men in the mine, was found and Rasmusson needed to take care of the body. Rasmusson recovered the body from the mine, officially identified Axel, prepared him for burial, then buried him in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery. After his return from taking care of Axel Matson in Hanna, Henry fell ill and was diagnosed with spinal meningitis. It wasn’t until March of 1904 that he was reported as improved and able to get around. His assistants completed his commitments in Hanna while he was ill.

When his work was considered finished at the No. 1 mine, a bill for his services was given to the Union Pacific Coal Company. The company refused to pay the bill because it considered the charges submitted were too high.

On December 17, 1904, Henry Rasmusson filed a lawsuit against the Union Pacific Coal Company seeking payment of the money he thought was owed him.

One of the largest, if not in fact the largest, civil suit ever in the district court of this county, was filed late Saturday in the clerk’s office. The case involves $26,036.00, H. Rasmusson of this city, being the plaintiff and the Union Pacific Coal Company, the defendant.

The suit grows out of the disaster at the Hanna mine, June 30, 1903, when 169 men lost their lives. Undertaker Rasmusson was engaged as undertaker at that time to attend to the removal and identification of the bodies in the mine, and upon presenting his claim to the coal company for payment, it was considered larger than the conditions warranted and it has been taken into the court for adjustment.

Undertaker Rasmusson sets forth his claims in the following itemized statement:

To services rendered by order of D. O. Clark, general superintendent of the Union Pacific Coal Company, in connection with the removal from the Hanna mine No. 1, the identification of, preparation for burial and burial of 168 bodies of men killed in the explosion in the mine June 30, 1903, $25,200, or $150 for each body.

To eleven days trimming coffins by order of J. H. Abbott, manager of the Union Pacific Coal Company’s store at Hanna, $5.00 per day, $55.00.

To eight mules and horses taken out of the mine, $10.00 per head, $80.00

To thirty-five name plates at $1.50 per plate, $52.50.

To 168 zere cloths for wrapping bodies, prepared and furnished, $3.50 per cloth, $588.00.

To railroad fare H. Larson, account coffin trimming, Hanna to Rawlins, $2.00.

To one copper lining for Alf Hapgood, by order E. S. Brooks, $25.00.
To cash to J. W. Stryker, undertaker at Laramie for Hapgood burial expenses, by order E. S. Brooks, $33.50. An answer to this petition has not yet been filed. (The Rawlins Republican, January. 17, 1904)

Mr. Rasmusson was employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company as the head undertaker. He was put in charge of removing the bodies of the victims and preparing them for burial. It was no small task, as there were nearly 170 [169] killed in the explosion and it took several months before the last body was removed. Mr. Rasmusson claims the work was very hazardous, not only because of the bad conditions in the mine, but because of the advanced state of decomposition of the bodies that were found.

No arrangements were entered into as to payment and Mr. Rasmusson paid the salaries of several assistants during the time he was employed.

When he presented his bill, the company refused to pay it on the ground that the charges were too high and not in keeping with the work performed.

The matter has been hanging ever since, as Mr. Rasmusson was dangerously ill for several weeks after having returned from Hanna. He has been preparing his case against the company for some time and now intends to enforce payment.

The suit will be watched with considerable interest. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, Jan. 20, 1904)

Henry Rasmusson’s lawsuit was filed in District Court in Rawlins, Wyoming. The Union Pacific Coal Company responded by objecting to the jurisdiction of the court. The company untimely won the argument and the trial was moved from Rawlins to Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Union Pacific Coal Company was able to delay the lawsuit until November 28, 1905 when it finally went to trial in Salt Lake City, Utah.

November 28, 1905

Big Suit On – Funeral Bill For $26,400 of H. Rasmusson Being Contested by Union Pacific – Case Now Being Tried in Court at Salt Lake – Arose Out of Terrible Mine Disaster at Hanna, When One Hundred Sixty-Nine Miners Lost Their Lives

Special to the Tribune: Salt Lake, Nov. 28, 1905 – Today the suit of H. Rasmusson against the Union Pacific for $26,000 alleged to be due for the burial of the one hundred sixty-nine bodies of the victims of the Hanna mine holocaust on June 30, 1903, was commenced in the courts in the city.

Rasmusson is the Rawlins undertaker and was given the contract to bury the mine victims. Rasmusson submitted the bill, which was rejected by the company, and the suit was brought. The plaintiff claims that many of the bodies were not recovered for weeks after the disaster, that they were in a horrible, putrid and decomposed state, that many had to be brought from long distances underground and frequently through water, and that as a result his health was permanently impaired. (Wyoming Semi-Weekly Tribune, Dec. 1, 1905)

June 9, 1906

After two-and-a half-years of legal wrangling, Henry Rasmusson received a settlement of $11,000 from the Union Pacific Railroad. It was an amount less than half of the original bill.

Rawlins Undertaker Awarded $11,000.00
H. Rasmusson, the Rawlins undertaker, who brought suit for $26,400 against the Union Pacific Coal company through the Utah courts at Salt Lake City, has been awarded $11,000 for services rendered at the time of the Hanna coal mine disaster. (Centennial Post, June 30, 1906)

If all the men, except one, were found in the mine, removed, identified, prepared for burial and buried by Henry Rasmusson, why were so many miners, like Axel Matson, buried in unmarked graves?

The 1903 explosion killed 169 men; 1 man, John Cox, was not recovered and is at the bottom of the mine, 20 of the 169 were buried in other towns, 38 of the 169 men were buried in marked graves in the Hanna cemetery and 110 men were buried in unmarked graves in the Hanna cemetery.

One of the possible answers for so many unmarked graves may be found in Henry Rasmusson’s itemized bill. Mr. Rasmusson claims in the bill to have prepared for burial and then buried 168 of the 169 miners at $150.00 each for a total of $25,200.00. He also claims to have paid for 35 name plates at $1.50 each for a total of $52.50. If Rasmusson buried 168 men, how come he billed the Union Pacific Coal Company for only 35 name plates? Did 35 graves get marked and the rest did not? It appears so.

Most of the unmarked graves were non-English speaking foreigners. The unmarked graves consisted of 81 from Finland, 11 African Americans, 10 from Italy, 3 from Sweden, 1 from Belgium, 1 from Germany, 1 from Ireland and 2 from the United Kingdom. The English-speaking miners, for the most part, seem to have been marked because they have permanent markers today.

In addition, it appears that the Union Pacific Coal Company felt little or no responsibility to the miner who was killed in their mine, or to the miner’s family to mark or in any way take care of the dead man’s grave. The company was forced to find, identify, then bury the miner, but the company was not forced to mark or take care of the grave, so it didn’t.

Unfortunately, the same thing would happen to the men who would die in the same mine five years later in the March 28, 1908 explosion. More dead miners would be buried in unmarked graves in the Hanna cemetery.

For decades the unmarked graves in the Hanna cemetery were left unattended. It wasn’t until Mary Ford, the longtime manager of the Hanna Hotel, initiated a project in the 1940’s to mark the graves with welded rebar crosses, painted silver.

Most of the victims of the early mine disasters were buried in the Hanna Cemetery in unmarked graves. Mrs. Ford of Laramie (her father was killed in the 1908 explosion) initiated the idea of marking the graves with crosses made from rebar. Pete Henningson, master mechanic of the Union Pacific at Hanna, Tony Scarpelli and Jack Crawshaw constructed the crosses. An old photograph shows the assembled crosses on the back lawn of the old Hanna Hotel where they were painted before being placed on the graves of the mine explosion victims. (Cheyenne Sunday Magazine, March 18, 1984)

Years ago, Mary Ford worked with a few friends in Hanna to make and paint white metal crosses to mark the unknown graves of the victims of the two explosions in the Hanna cemetery. (Charles Stebner, 1989)

SILVER CROSSES FOR THE UNMARKED GRAVES IN THE HANNA CEMETERY AT MARY FORD'S HANNA HOTEL (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

Mary Ford and her friends were able to find and mark the graves because the graves were located in more or less straight rows as pictured below. The white lines indicate rows of unmarked graves. When closely examined, the rows and the graves can be detected even today.

UNMARKED GRAVES IN THE HANNA CEMETERY (GOOGLE MAP LABELED BY BOB LEATHERS)

In 2000, the Hanna cemetery board voted to remove Mary Ford’s crosses and replace them with “Unknown Miner” markers. The new markers were flat, so the cemetery caretakers could better maintain the cemetery.

Today, we may not know which miner is buried in which grave, but we do know the names of the miners buried in those graves.

METAL CROSSES THAT MARKED THE GRAVES OF DECEASED MINERS IN THE HANNA CEMETERY (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

UNKNOWN MINER PLAQUES THAT TODAY MARK THE GRAVES OF THOSE BURIED IN UNMARKED GRAVES IN THE HANNA CEMETERY (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Chapter 8
The Making of Another Explosion (1903 – 1907)

1903

In The News

1903: About eleven months after the June 30, 1903 explosion, the Union Pacific Coal Company No. 1 mine was back to normal coal production. This proved to be a fast recovery for a mine that was decimated by a violent explosion. The rush to normal production, according to a mine inspector at the time, was one the primary causes of the March 28, 1908 explosion, killing an additional 59 men.

Hanna Miner

Only one Union Pacific Coal Company mine was producing coal.

1. Hanna No. 1 underground mine with 400 employees produced 325,656 tons of coal until the June 30, 1903 explosion cut off production. (1903 MIR)

1904

In The News

1904: The Hanna mines were working every day, and it was reported that any man who was a coal miner would not be out of work an hour after his arrival.

Hanna Miner

Two miners lost their lives in mines.

1. Herman Holm, an old timer at the Hanna mine, was killed Thursday by another cave-in. He had just fired a shot, which knocked out a prop, and when he returned to the place where he was blasting a great body of coal fell from the roof and buried him. His son was killed in the explosion June 30 of last year. He was employed as a blacksmith up to that time, then he went to mining. Coroner Bennett was in Hanna yesterday to hold the inquest and the jury consisted of T. H. Butler, Con Olafson and Alex Greenwood. They found the death was due to an accident caused by the blasting. This is the third man killed in the past month by similar causes. The roof, walls and props are so weakened by blasting that sometimes a small jar or several of them in succession causes the coal to fall. The blame can be placed on no one in particular as the officers of the mine exercise the greatest precaution and warn the employee to keep themselves from danger. Holm’s remains were buried in the Hanna cemetery. (Rawlins Republican, February 6, 1904) Herman Holm was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

2. H. West, was a fatality of the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 mine in Hanna. (MM) It is unknown where he was buried.

The Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine was once again producing coal. Even after an explosion ripped the mine apart, the mine produced a significant amount of coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company’s Hanna No.1 underground mine with 485 employees produced 262,102 tons of coal. (1904 MIR)

Wyoming Miners
District No. 1

The Hanna No. 1 mine produced a total of 262,102 tons of coal with 485 workers. Wyoming's District No. 1 produced 3,956,586 tons with 7,857 employees.

1905

In The News

December 2, 1905: An explosion in Diamondville, Wyoming killed 18 coal miners.

Hanna Miner

There were two fatalities in the mines, a father and a son.

1. Michael Cummings, age 48, was killed in Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna. Coroner Bennett was notified last night that Michael Cummings and his son were killed in mine No. 1 at Hanna at 11 o'clock last night by a fall of rock. There are no further particulars. Cummings was a well-known resident of the county, having been for years in the camp of Carbon before going to Hanna. He was for many years a prominent figure in politics and ran for office two or three times on the Democratic ticket. His popularity in his home town was attested to by the fact that each time his name appeared on the ticket he received the votes of nearly everyone who could speak the English language. He even succeeded in breaking into the solid vote of the foreign element. He was a typical Irishman, large hearted and witty as they are, and had a large circle of warm friends throughout the county. (Carbon County Journal, December 23, 1904) Michael Cummings was buried in Plot 209 in the Hanna cemetery.

2. John Cummings,age 19, was killed in Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna. Coroner Bennett was notified last night that John Cummings and his father Michael Cummings were killed in mine No. 1 at Hanna at 11 o'clock last night by a fall of rock. (Carbon County Journal, December 23, 1904) John Cummings was buried in Plot 209 in the Hanna cemetery.

A letter written December 29, 1905 by a young miner to his bride to be in England tells of the tragic story of a father and his son, which turned out to be Michael and John Cummings.

We had two men, a father and son buried in the mine for 3 days and nights. On Christmas Eve, I along with a few more English men found them at 8 o'clock and as I placed them on the stretchers, my thoughts flew back to olden times and to you.

The young miner gave the following interview.

Well, we found them. It was just before Christmas Eve and the Superintendent asked me and George Albert Brown to go down and help find them. They had been searching for 3 days. We went down that night and we found them buried. I helped pack one out on a stretcher. I was at the back of the stretcher and of course he had begun to smell. That was Christmas Eve when we found them both. They were all covered with rock. When we got them out, Superintendent Brooks took us all into the mine office and brought out a bottle of whiskey to ease the trauma on Christmas Eve. (Miner unknown)

One Union Pacific Coal Company mine was producing coal.

1. Hanna No. 1 underground mine with 290 employees produced 371,949 tons of coal. (1905 MIR)

The Union Pacific Coal Company has made arrangements to open up their old mine No. 2, located at Hanna, Wyoming. They also built a new plant and mine called No. 3. It is now in operation, and is expected that the increase of tonnage of coal the Hanna mines in District No. 1. (1905 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Wyoming as a whole was suffering from a shortage of coal miners. The mines were also suffering from a shortage of railroad coal cars. The railroad was not able to supply the state mines with the necessary number of coal cars to fill all the coal orders, which caused some contracts not to be fully filled.

The Hanna Basin mine with 290 employees produced a total of 371,949 tons of coal. The State of Wyoming's District No. 1 with 4,387 employees produced 4,241,882 tons of coal.

1906

In The News

April 18, 1906: At 5:13 in the morning, the Great San Francisco earthquake killed over 3,000 people.

September 24, 1906: Devil’s Tower was declared a United States National Monument by Theodore Roosevelt

1906: Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 3 mine in Hanna opened and started coal production. The mine slope ran from north to south.

Hanna No. 3 Town - No. 3 and No. 3.5 Mine

HANNA NO. 3 TOWN. THE TIPPLE WAS LOCATED TO THE EAST OF THE TOWN. IT IS BARELY VISIBLE ABOVE THE LEFT ROW OF HOUSES. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY’S NO. 3 MINE IN HANNA. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

On the back of the picture above was written:

“You can never tell how the weather is going to be, for when we go out in the morning the sun will be shining, and at dinner time there will be a foot of snow on the ground. Me and Dick have sent for some winter things. A jacket with sheep-skin lining, and a fur collar which will reach to the top of our heads, and a winter cap which will cover our faces up entirely.” Unknown Writer.

HANNA NO. 3 TOWN (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY’S NO. 3 MINE IN HANNA (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

HANNA NO. 3 MINE POWER PLANT (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Hanna Miner

Two miners lost their lives in Hanna Basin mines in 1906.

1. Y. Nakayama, a Japanese miner, was injured by being struck by cars on the No 2 slope [No. 2 mine slope], Hanna, and died the same day. This occurred October 12th, 1906. He was moving his tools from No. 4 entry to No. 5 entry, and went onto the slope. He was told to look out for the trip, but paid no attention, and the result was as stated above. (1906 MIR)

It is unknown where he was buried.

1. Jacob Akela, on the 21st day of December 1906, a Finlander miner, age 56, married (his family consists of a wife and one daughter), was killed in the No. 1 mine, Hanna, Wyoming. He had fired a shot in his room and returned before the smoke had cleared away. Some coal fell upon him, crushing his head, which caused his death. The Coroner's jury returned a verdict that death was the result of an accident. (1906 MIR) It is unknown where Jacob was buried.

Three Union Pacific Coal Company mines in Hanna were producing coal.

1. Hanna No. 1 underground mine produced 336,025 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 70,668 tons of coal.
3. Hanna No. 3 underground mine produced 30,530 tons of coal. (1906 MIR)

State Mine Inspector D. W. Elias inspected the Hanna No. 1 and No. 2 mines on November 13, 1906. This was his first visit to the Hanna mines. Mr. Elias would die two years later in the June 30, 1908 explosion of the No. 1 mine.

The Hanna No. 1 mine is a slope mine, or rather a two-slope mine. The slope on the west side was driven to "A" basin and from there driven out to the surface on the east side. Separate hoisting plants for each. Horses haul the coal to the slope at both places. On the East side the coal is dropped to the basin and hoisted to the surface on the west side. The ventilating apparatus consists of two 20 ft. "Giobal" fans, one for each slope. This mine has good ventilation. The drainage is taken care of. A large electric pump is stationed opposite 16 Entry on the West slope. The number of men employed inside the mine is 335 men. The local officers on this date were E. S. Brooks, Mine Superintendent, Joseph Burton, Mine Foreman. Since this time, Mr. Brooks resigned and was succeeded by Mr. Alex Briggs. (1906 MIR)

The Hanna No. 2 mine is a slope mine. The mine has just been opened after having been closed for ten years. A modern dump and hoisting plant is being put in, but at the time of my visit, was not completed. The coal is hauled by horses to the slope and from there hoisted to the surface. A temporary hoist is being used at present. The ventilating apparatus consists of a Cole fan, which is temporary and supplies a fair ventilating current. The drainage is taken care of. Not much water is being made at this time. The number of men employed inside the mine is 145. The local officers on this date were E. S. Brooks, Mine Superintendent and Alfred Dodds was the Mine Foreman. Since my visit Mr. Alex Briggs succeeded Mr. Brooks as mine superintendent. (1906 MIR)

LOADING AND MOVING THE COAL (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

The Hanna Basin mines produced 437,223 tons of coal. The State of Wyoming's District No. 1 produced 4,506,957 tons.

1907

In The News

December 6, 1907 : The Fairmont Coal Company’s mine exploded in Monongah, West Virginia. The explosion killing 361 miners. It was the worst mining disaster in American history.

December 19, 1907: At Jacobs Creek, Pennsylvania, 239 miners were killed in a coal mine explosion.

April 1907: The average pay of teachers in Hanna was $51.63 a month.

1907: The Union Pacific Coal Company formally recognized the United Mine Workers of America as the union representing the Hanna miners. The Hanna local 2335 was established. All of the union members were employees of the Union Pacific Coal Company. William “Bill” Pascoe was the first president.

Hanna Miner

One miner was killed in the mines.

1. T. Shimudsu [Touchei Shimizu], November 21, 1907, age 41, Japanese, miner for the Union Pacific Coal Company No. 2 mine at Hanna. He was working under loose coal. The gas watch and the shot firer told him to shoot the loose coal down as it was unsafe. This he did not do, so they took him into another room to work. In a short time, he returned and was breaking up some coal when the roof fell upon him, killing him instantly. His partner was severely injured at the same time. The coroner’s jury reported he came to his death by his own carelessness. (1907 MIR) He was buried in Plot 303 in the Hanna cemetery.

Three Union Pacific Coal Company mines in Hanna were producing coal.

1. Hanna No. 1 underground mine, with 300 employees, produced 258,655 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 2 underground mine, with 225 employees, produced 255,057 tons of coal.
3. Hanna No. 3 underground mine, with 65 employees, produced 9,094 tons of coal. (1907 MIR)

Chapter 9
The March 28, 1908 Explosions (1908)

1908

March 28, 1908 Explosions of Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 Mine in Hanna.

HANNA NO. 1 MINE DUMP (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

On March 28, 1908, the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine in Hanna exploded twice in the same day for the third and fourth times in the history of the mine. The explosions killed 59 men and left about 33 widows and 103 fatherless children.

A SHORT FIVE YEARS AFTER THE 1903 EXPLOSION, THE HEADLINES WERE SIMILAR; MORE MINERS DIE IN THE HANNA MINE. THIS TIME 59 MEN WERE KILLED ON MARCH 28, 1908 IN TWO SEPARATE EXPLOSIONS ON THE SAME DAY. (THE CHEYENNE DAILY LEADER, MARCH 29, 1908)

In the headline above the actual number of miners killed was 59 and not 70. The number of rescue miners killed was 41 and not 50.

March 28, 1908 marked another explosion in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine in Hanna,

Mine No. 1 has always been gaseous, feeders being frequently broken into. For some years preceding the disaster of 1903, a section of the mine is said to have smoldered behind airtight bulkheads. The 1903 explosion resulting in the loss of 169 miners is said to have been caused by the breaking out of gas and its ignition by a blown-out shot, while coal dust raised by the gas explosion likewise resulted in a series of local explosions. The mine was opened up shortly after the disaster and operated continuously up to the present time.

Referring to the mine map, Figure 4, it will be noted that entries No. 8 and No. 10 extend south from the east slope for a distance of about 1,600 feet. No rooms had as yet been started from these entries. On Friday, March 20th, the face of the upper entry of No. 10 (the haulage way) was set on fire. (Mines and Minerals, May 1908)

On the 20thof March, eight days before the 1908 explosion of Hanna Mine No. 1, John Burton and William Bailey were working in No. 10 entry. They fired a shot about 11 P.M., which set fire to the coal. They tried to secure water with which to extinguish the flames but were unable to do so, as the pipeline was out of order. They then attempted to extinguish the fire by spreading the burning coal over the floor of the entry. They believed they had the fire out and later started out of the mine. On their way out along the entry, they met fire boss John Evans and informed him of what had happened. Evans investigated and later told Burton and Bailey that the fire was out.

On the evening of Saturday, the 21st, John Evans, in making his rounds, discovered fire in the same entry. He reported it to the mine foreman, Burton. By this time, the fire had gained such headway that it was found necessary to stop it off. (1908 MIR)

Fires of this sort had become such a frequent occurrence that no special apprehension was felt; however, entry No. 10 was promptly walled off with stoppings placed just inside the first slant at a and b as shown in Figure 4. On Thursday, the 26th, the haulage-way stopping a was advanced 200 feet to a point c just beyond the first cross-cut. The mine force of 200 odd miners was idle on the following Tuesday, the 24th; Thursday, the 26th; and Saturday, the 28th, the day of the disaster. The demand for coal this winter has been light and as a result the mines have usually been idle on Tuesdays and Thursdays for several months. (Mines and Minerals, May 1908)

Saturday, March 28, 1908
Day 1

A work party lead by Superintendent Alex Briggs entered the No. 1 mine to put out the fire.

Taking advantage of the mine's idleness on Saturday the 28th, Superintendent Briggs with a picked force of 17 men proceeded to attack the fire smoldering behind the stopping in the No. 10 entry. This force comprised of Joseph Burton, Alfred Dodds and James Knox, foremen of mines No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 respectively, five gas watchmen and nine others, noted for their skill, nerve and experience in fire fighting. It thus constituted the flower of the camp of Hanna contributed by all three of the company's mines. Just what method of attack on the fire was adopted will probably never be known.

Mr. E.O. Christiansen, the mining engineer, and a survivor of the disaster through a fortunate circumstance, supplied the writer with the detailed map, Figure 4. The return air-course terminates in an upcast shaft leading to a 20-foot diameter fan on the surface. The east slope, from which entry 10 was turned, is thus a downcast. The return airway of entry No. 10 connects with the air-course to the fan which passes under the haulage way of entry No. 10 by an under cast; entry No. 10 had the cross-cuts and slants as shown spaced at 200 foot intervals for the first 800 feet in from the slope. Beyond that point, cross-cuts were spaced at 100 foot intervals for the remaining 800 feet of the entry.

Mr. E.O. Christiansen, thinks the following method was adopted basing his opinion on the discussion of plans the night before the disaster, when Briggs, Dodds and Burton were present.

Shown in Figure 4, the stopping c in the haulage way was probably first taken out and advanced to d just beyond the second slant, then the slant stopping e was removed and the air-course stopping b removed to a point f beyond the slant, allowing the fresh air to clear out the gases between d and f and the slope. In this way it is probable that the fire fighters had advanced to just beyond the second slant, 800 feet in from the slope, when the catastrophe occurred. Possibly in the process of carrying the stopping d forward, the majority of the party were overcome with white damp allowing the air to come in contact with the gas in too great a quantity and thus forming an explosive mixture. It seems probable, that at least four of the party, Monson, Warburton and Parry, gas men at the three mines, and Raimey, the rope runner, had some warning, for their bodies were found at point g on the No. 10 entry parting. It seems probable that they were just going in to join the others. When feeling the air blast accompanying the explosion, they threw themselves face downward. (Mines and Minerals, May 1908)

Figure 4

FIGURE 4. EAST SLOPE MINE MAP OF THE UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY'S HANNA MINE NO. 1. AFTER THE 1908 EXPLOSION. NOTE: THE ORIGINAL DIAGRAM HAS BEEN REPRODUCED AND EDITED TO PROVIDE IMPORTANT DETAILS ABOUT THE EXPLOSION WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE OBTAINABLE. (MINES AND MINERALS, MAY 1908 EDITION)

Hanna, the scene of a double mine tragedy on Saturday, March 28, 1908, is situated one hundred thirty four miles west of Cheyenne, on the main line of the Union Pacific Railroad. It is one of the most important of Wyoming's coal camps and is said to have an annual output of about 450,000 tons. The Union Pacific Coal Co. operates three mines, No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 respectively. No. 1 and No. 2 opened about 18 years ago in 1890. The No. 3 opened in 1906.

The No. 1 mine has been the scene of four separate disasters: the first, a minor one, occurring in 1890 the year it was opened, the second on June 30, 1903, when 169 lives were lost, and the last two described below. No. 2 and No. 3 mines have thus far had no disasters.

The Hanna coal seams form a basin or synclinal trough. The coal outcroppings on the surface may be likened to the rim of an oval-shaped bowl, as it dips at angles varying from 14 to 22 degrees toward a central axis, running approximately northwest to southeast. All three mines are opened on the western side of the oval outcrop; mine No. 2 occupying the extreme western position, mine No. 1 located a mile east of it, while mine No. 3 is nearly 3 miles east of No. 1. The coal basin then is roughly some 6 miles along its longest dimension (east to west) and extents and about 2 miles wide from outcrop to outcrop. Mine No. 1 was first opened on the west side by a slope from the outcrop in the seam at an inclination of about 14 degrees. In the first 14 years of operation, an extensive territory was opened up from the west side reaching to the bottom of the basin and starting to ascend the eastern side, which was found to rise at approximately 22 degrees. To facilitate the working of the coal on this side, the east slope was started to connect in a straight line with the west slope. At the time of the 1903 disaster, an intervening 400 feet of coal separated the two slope headings. The east slope was provided on the surface with merely a hoist and fan, as no coal was pulled to the surface except enough to supply the boilers. The mine output was pulled up the west slope to the tipple located at the west entrance because of its proximity to the railroad. The coal mined in the entries driven on the east slope of the basin was lowered to the bottom where the trips were made up and pulled to the west side tipple. The coal seam worked by mine No. 1 varies from 12 to 15 feet in thickness and averages about 12 feet of workable coal. (R.L. Herrick, An Account of the Two Explosions, Mines and Minerals, 1908)

Low rumbling sounds accompanied by a jarring of the earth that shook the town announced the explosion at 3:05 P.M. Investigationshowed the west slope was completely wrecked and hopelessly caved in as seen in Figure 1. While the wooden top of the air-shaft was blown off, the fan itself was uninjured and the shaft was quickly repaired with brattice cloth. Evidence seems to show that the fan was stopped, however, and not started until suggested by Inspector Elias, upon his arrival.

Some idea of the force of the explosion on the west side is gained from the finding of slope timbers blown out of the pit mouth toward the tipple. Several 12 foot timbers, a foot in diameter, were blown against the tipple at distances of from 300 to 400 feet and one 15 inches in diameter fell close to the boiler plant, after a flight of more than 500 feet. The east slope was little injured by the first explosion, although the mouth of the wrecked west slope is 6,200 feet distant from entry No. 10, while the mouth of the east slope is but 2,000 feet distance.

The roof of the east air-shaft sloping to the fan house was blown off in a manner similar to that at the west side, but neither the fan nor the slope was materially damaged as shown in Figure 6. The shock felt on the east side was slight. As soon as the rescuers congregated about the wrecked west slope, they knew these facts, they rushed across the hill to the east slope, one and one half miles away, where their first efforts were expended in repairing the fan.

Inspector David M. Elias was on train No. 3 going to Rock Springs at the time of the explosion and was handed a telegram announcing the explosion shortly after it occurred. He arrived at Hanna shortly after 4 p.m., hardly an hour after the first disaster. Every person of authority in the camp had been wiped out by the first explosion and up to the time of the arrival of Inspector Elias, there seemed to be no leader. Previous to Elias arriving, however, it seems that Joseph Wood, the sole surviving fire boss, out of six, attempted some organization of the willing excited rescuers. Leaving a man at the first entry to prevent others from following behind until conditions were ascertained, Woods accompanied by several others penetrated as far as the 10th entry. At this point, however, he was overcome by afterdamp and had to be carried out. The guard left by Woods at the first entry, however, was not equal to the occasion, for the guard himself went below and was later killed by the second explosion.

When he arrived at the mouth of the east slope everyone looked to Inspector Elias as the leader of the rescuers. His task was made doubly difficult by the loss of all persons of authority who could have assisted his leadership and compelled the strict carrying out of his orders. Superintendent Briggs, the foremen of the three mines, and five of the six fire bosses were dead, while the sixth had just been carried out raving from the effects of the gas encountered below. Inspector Elias evidently needed a man who would enforce his orders with a club if necessary, but the man he picked not only failed him, but lost his own life through disobedience of orders. After starting the repaired west slope fan, the east slope fan, having been run continuously, Inspector Elias with a party of ten men started down the east slope probably about 5:30 p.m. A guard was left behind at the top of the slope, with strict instructions from Inspector Elias to allow no one else to go below. The party could not have been gone long, however, before the guard yielded to the pressure of excited would-be rescuers and went below with them. After that, it seems that anyone and everyone passed at will, up and down the slope into the mine. It is now apparent that more than 50 men must have followed the inspector's party into the mine streaming down the slope in groups of three or more, without a leader, without organization and without a plan of concerted action. In the ensuing confusion, each group seems to have taken such precautions as seemed best to it, without knowing what others were doing. From what has been thus far said, it will be seen that it is natural to expect conflicting statements from the few who went down the slope and narrowly escaped death in the ensuing second explosion. The statement of an engineer, trained to observe and talk accurately is therefore of special value at this time. (Mines and Minerals, 1908)

In the first party of ten men with Inspector Elias was E. O. Christiansen, the company's mining engineer, who furnished the following statement:

"As this party went down the slope, it bratticed up the entries on both sides. They were engaged in this work on the third entry when joined by me about 6 p.m. Inspector Elias was afraid too much air was coming in and sent me to the west slope fan to slow it down to about 20 revolutions per minute, about half its usual speed. Returning to the slope, I joined the inspector's party at the 8thentry about 8:40 p.m. and proceeded with it to the 10th entry, where the bodies of the three gasmen and the rope runner were found in the parting at g in Figure 4. Owing to the steepness of the slope each body required at least six men to carry it out, so that from 24 to 30 men must have started back from this point with the bodies. With Inspector Elias, we went back to the 8th entry and here rested a few minutes and then went further up to entry No. 5 as the air at the 10th and 8th entry had been bad and weakening." (Mines and Minerals, 1908)

Three miners were found. All three miners were found at point g in Figure 4,

1. Robert Warburton,a boss driver, age 41, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in the Carbon cemetery.

2. Pete Munson [Pete Monson] worked in the No. 1 mine. He was 28 years old. He was buried in Plot 179 in the Hanna cemetery.

3. Ben Perry [Ben Parry], a gas watchman, age 30, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in the Carbon cemetery.

Raimey was one of the four miners found at point  g  in Figure 4. His body was also being brought out of the mine by a rescue team, but the Raimey rescuers were not yet out of the mine when the second explosion occurred.

"Mr. Morgan Griffiths, general foreman of the company, was expected to arrive from Rock Springs at about 8:30 p.m. and take charge of the work. Inspector Elias therefore waited for his arrival at the 5thentry for some time, momentarily expecting to be relieved. Up to this time all the entries except No. 8 had been bratticed up. The air at No. 5 was fast becoming worse and feeling its effects, I tried to persuade the Inspector to accompany me to the surface. Failing in this, I started out. Inspector Elias was last seen at the point marked  h in Figure 4."

"General Foreman Griffiths did not arrive at Hanna until about 2:30 a.m., after the second explosion which occurred shortly after 10 P.M. The party carrying the body of the rope runner, Raimey, was resting at a point near the first entry when I passed it. Just above this point I was met by Mat Huhtala coming down the slope, and I was assisted out by him, when he again turned back. He could have hardly reached the first entry 400 feet down when the terrific second explosion occurred at 10:25 P.M., blowing his body up to a point opposite the knuckle."

Huhtala must have been following close behind Tennant, for the body of Tennant was found at point i in Figure 4, near the mouth of the slope the next morning. These two bodies, in addition to those of the three gas men carried out just before the second explosion, were the only miners recovered from the mine at this time. The second explosion entombed all who were below, and hopelessly caved the east slope.

A house-to-house canvass by the company officials the next morning established the fact that 41 men were missing in addition to the 18 lost in the first explosion, making a total of 59 fatalities.

It is probable that in addition to the four bodies already found at g and the two at i, the 14 bodies of the original party will be found between  g and stopping  d and that 48 more are scattered along the slope.

While the cause of the second explosion cannot be determined until an examination can be made of the workings below, and probably not even then, it seems probable that the statement of a miner, who escaped up the slope before the explosion and immediately after Christiansen, will be found correct. He states that three men were just starting to brattice up entry No. 8 as he started for the surface. As Christiansen left Inspector Elias at the 5thentry, it must remain for evidence carefully collected from witnesses to show whether this brattice was done by orders or not. In any event, it now seems likely that the bratticing of entry No. 8 had the effect of forcing an increased air-current into entry 10 driving a body of gas onto the fire there raging, with sufficient air to provide an explosive mixture. It would take some 15 minutes for a man to walk from entry No. 8 to the surface. Allowing 10 minutes for the placing of the brattice after the witness started for the surface and 5 minutes for the increased air-current in No. 10 to penetrate the fire zone, say 1,000 feet in, it is seen why it is probable that the explosion from this cause took place just after the witness got out of the mine.

The second explosion, even more terrific than the first, caught the entire rescue party. But four men, Alf Campbell, Norris and two others, escaped. They were carrying out the bodies of Warburton, Munson, and Perry and had just reached the mouth of the slope when the gases went off the second time. In the first explosion, two escaped. They were James Case and John Jones, who were leaving the shaft to get some supplies for the men who were fighting the fire in No. 10. Both were unconscious when taken from the mouth of the slope but were revived and will live, the only survivors of the awful holocaust.

All attempts at rescue work were abandoned shortly after the second explosion, which wrecked and caved the east slope.

General Foreman Morgan Griffiths and General Superintendent G.L. Black arrived at Hanna from Rock Springs at 2:30 Sunday morning. Other prominent company officials soon on hand were the following: D.O. Clark, vice-president and general manager, and J.J. Hart, assistant to the vice-president, from Omaha, Assistant General Manager A.E. Bradbury, from Cheyenne, Superintendent James Needham and Foreman John Mates, from Cumberland, Wyo, David G. Jones, Mat. Madill, and John Dykes, foreman at Rock Springs, Wyoming. With these officials was a hand-picked force of nearly 30 men, noted for their skill, nerve and experience in coal mine disasters. Under the supervision of these officials, the men attacked the debris at the mouth of the wrecked east slope and drove a tunnel through the cave-in for a distance of 20 feet. At this point, afterdamp drove them back. Feeling sure that all rescue workers within the mine had met their death; the opening was sealed with timbers overlaid with dirt. (Mines and Minerals, May 1908)

Fire was a problem in the mine. The rescue work had to be delayed.

Sunday March 29, 1908
Day 2

Two miners were found at the mouth of the mine and identified. They were both found at point i in figure 4.

1. Alex Tennant [Alexander Tennant Jr.] was employed as a miner in the No. 1 mine. He was found near the east mine entrance. He was 34 years old. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in Plot 215.

2. Mat Huhtala was employed as a timberman in the No. 1 mine. He was found near the east mine entrance. He was 48 years old. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in Plot 152.

On March 29th all the entrances to the mine were sealed up. (1908 MIR)

Figure 1

CAVED MOUTH OF THE WEST SLOPE AFTER BEING PARTIALLY CLEANED UP (MINES AND MINERALS, 1908)

Figure 2

TIPPLE AND BOILER PLANT ON THE WEST SLOPE AFTER PARTIAL CLEAN UP (MINES AND MINERALS, MAY 1908)

Figure 5

AIR SHAFT OF BRATTICE CLOTH BEING ERECTED AT THE EAST SLOPE AFTER THE EXPLOSION (MINES AND MINERALS, MAY 1908)

Figure 6

DAMAGED FAN HOUSE AT THE EAST SLOPE AFTER THE EXPLOSION (MINES AND MINERALS, MAY 1908)

Monday March 30, 1908
Day 3

On the third day after the explosion, the fire in the mine was still burning. The rescue work had come to a standstill.

After two explosions of firedamp in Union Pacific colliery No. 1 at Hanna Saturday evening, the lives of seventy men [59 men] were snuffed out. Somewhere in the bowels of the long shaft sixty-five [59] of the bodies are now lying, only five having been recovered up to the present time. It will be impossible to recover them until a fire which is raging in the No.10 level has been smothered or flooded and this work may not be accomplished for two or three weeks.

The first explosion, which occurred Saturday afternoon shortly after 3 o’clock, caught and entombed Alexander Briggs, superintendent of the several mines at Hanna, and twenty men.

The work of rescuing the remainder of the bodies will be very slow for volumes of deadly gases are issuing from the airshafts of the mine. The west and east slopes have been blocked, shutting off all air passages in an effort to smother the fire. Until the fire has been stopped and the gases have been fanned from the shaft it will be impossible to enter. The bodies of Tennant and Huhtala, were found yesterday morning several hundred feet from the mouth of the east slope having been blown out of the slope by the second explosion. Tennant’s body was almost unrecognizable, being entirely dismembered. Bits of flesh, pieces of limbs and his hands had been blown away. One of his legs was found nearly five hundred yards from the slope. Huhtala's body was also badly mutilated.

In the improvised morgue in the blacksmith shop at the shaft house, the bodies of Warburton, Munson, Perry, Tennant and Huhtala were yesterday prepared for burial. In the room are sixty-five or more coffins to be used when the dead are recovered. Grief-stricken wives, mothers and families of the victims crowd about the morgue and gaze in at the ghastly sight. The town is in the deepest gloom. The best men in the camp, including all the officers of the several mines, with the exception of three gas watches, perished. Owing to the fact that the fire had been raging in No. 10 since last Sunday there were no miners at work when the explosion occurred. Had the explosion come on a working day the death list would be two hundred for there would have been no escape for any of the men. All of the foremen, fire bosses and gas watches from the three mines were battling with the flames when the first explosion occurred. Joe Woods, a fire boss of the No. 2 mine, was the only fire boss in the camp to escape. He had just been relieved from duty a few minutes before the explosion. Alf Campbell and Tom Wakely, gas watchers, owe their lives to the same cause.

Yesterday afternoon the various lodges and organizations in Hanna held special meetings and made arrangements for burying the dead. The five bodies recovered will be buried this afternoon under the auspices of the mineworkers’ union. As the remainder of the dead is recovered the union will attend to the funerals. There will be burials in Hanna perhaps daily for the next month.

Most of the victims were married men and leave large families. The grief of the wives and children is indescribable. Most of them are left in straitened circumstances and may suffer want. The Union Pacific will care for them for a time at least until matters adjust themselves.

It is thought in Hanna that No. 1 colliery will never be worked again. It was in this colliery that the awful explosion in June 1903 occurred. The mine has never been considered very safe and it will be next to impossible to operate it after this second holocaust. It is probable that after the bodies have been recovered from it, it will be closed down for all time and new shafts will be sunk close by to tap the veins of coal which have added to the output of the Hanna mines more than 700 tons daily.

The explosions in the No. 1 mine Saturday were fully as terrific as that which wrecked the same colliery on June 30, 1903, when the lives of 169 miners were snuffed out in an instant. Not a single man who was in the workings at the time escaped. The interior of the mine was damaged from one end of the miles of workings to the other, and the great main slope caved in at the surface, completely blocking access to the mine at this point. The first bodies of victims were not brought out until three days after the disaster, and weeks passed in the work of uncovering 168 corpses. The body of the 169thvictim was never found, but lies buried in a destroyed entry of the colliery. So extensive was the damage resulting from the explosion that it was November of 1903 before No. 1 was again producing coal.

Some sections of the mine have been abandoned entirely. At the time of the explosion of 1903 a new slope, in reality an upward extension from the lower end of the old, was being driven, and this was completed after the mine resumed operation, providing it with two main exits separated by about two miles. Saturday’s explosions caused both the old and the new entrances to cave inn and access to the mine is completely blocked.

While men were clearing away the debris at the mouth of the east slope of No. 1 mine this morning, a human leg was found under several tons of dirt and timbers. It is now thought that several bodies will be found in the first ten feet of the shaft.

A special train bearing D. O. Clark, general superintendent of the Union Pacific coal company, arrived at noon. He will direct the work of rescuing the bodies from the mine.

Sixty-five coffins have been received from Cheyenne and the work of clearing the mouth of the east slope in search of bodies will be commenced at once. (Laramie Boomerang March 30, 1908)

Governor B. B. Brooks today ordered State Mine Inspector Noah Young of the northern district to proceed to Hanna and make a thorough investigation of the explosions and their cause, and particularly of circumstances incidental to the second and greater catastrophe. Inspector Young reported on the mine after the great explosion of 1903, at which time he was in charge of the southern district.

The announcement that no further effort to open the mine would be made for several days relaxed the strain under which the town has been since the first explosion, and this afternoon business was to an extent resumed.

The funerals of Robert Warburton, Benjamin Perry and Peter Munson were held during the afternoon, and were attended by hundreds. Many who mourn the dead in the mine expect before long to be chief mourners at similar ceremonies. The bodies of Perry and Warburton were taken seven miles to the abandoned camp of Carbon, where they served their apprenticeship in the mines, and where many of their loved ones rest. As the long procession wound up the hill south of town, behind an improvised hearse, the scene was reminiscent of many such processions that traveled the same dreary road in 1903. A majority of the Hanna people formerly resided in Carbon and it is a pathetic circumstance that affection still binds them to the abandoned camp and that they prefer to bury their dead in the city of the dead.

The body of Munson was interred in the bleak little graveyard here, before the funeral of Warburton and Perry, and practically the entire population of the town, with the exception of the men working about the ruined mine, marched in the cortege. There are few vehicles in Hanna and funeral processions walk.

Tomorrow the mangled remains of Alexander Tennant will be given back to the earth. The intention has been to hold this body in the hopes that the missing head might be found in the mine, but the decision to keep the slopes sealed has caused a change of plan, and it is a headless corpse the coffin will contain.

At the east entrance today forces of men, laboring in half-hour shifts, removed much of the debris resulting from the caving of the slope, and tonight this work is still in progress. The entrance will be gotten into the best possible shape without actually opening the mine in order that there may be as little impediment as possible when Thursday’s tests, which will be at this portal, are made.

A force of claim adjusters is already at work among the relatives of the victims of the disaster. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, March 30, 1908)

Tuesday March 31, 1908
Day 4

Today for the first time since the awful holocaust of Saturday when nearly seventy [59] lives were snuffed out in explosions of firedamp, the little town of Hanna awoke to renewed life. Preparations were made for resuming routine life in the stricken camp. Heavy-hearted and palled by indescribable grief, the citizens this morning began preparations to resume work in the collieries No. 2 and No. 3. With the thoughts still fresh in their minds of the sixty-five [59] or more charred bodies of their fellow workmen in the bowels of the ill-fated No. 1, the men tomorrow morning will reopen No. 2 and No. 3 which have been closed down for several weeks.

All hope of rescuing any more of the bodies of the victims of No. 1’s treachery for several days, perhaps weeks, has been abandoned and until the deadly gases have spent themselves, there will be no effort made to enter the mine. It will remain sealed until those in charge of the rescue work are certain that the fire raging in its depths has been smothered and the gases have been forced out.

In preparing to reopen No. 2 and No. 3 the broken forces of officials are being re-organized. Of all the officers of the three mines in Hanna, but three survived the two explosions of Saturday. Joe Woods, the only fire boss who survived is to be made foreman of collier No. 3. Tom Wakely, one of the two gas watches who escaped will be made pit boss of colliery No. 2. Alf Campbell, the other surviving gas watch who proved such a hero in the rescue work at No. 1 will be given an important position at No. 2 or 3. Other bosses and minor officials will have to be picked from the ranks of the common miners, as all were lost in the horror at No.1. Although there is a feeling of dread and horror among the miners there will be no trouble in securing a full complement of workmen to operate the mines, which will be opened tomorrow. The men will cast all feeling aside and return to their work, endeavoring to forget that when they last entered the dark, winding slopes they were in company with many comrades whose bodies now lie molding in the compartments of the ill-fated No. 1.

Business was resumed in the little camp this morning. Stores, workshops, saloons etc., were re-opening and the village for the first time since Saturday took on an appearance of life. The schools will not be reopened before next Monday if they are then. It may be some time before they are re-opened for it would be useless to attempt to resume work in the schools when so many of the children are grieving for their lost fathers and brothers. The wives and families of the victims are becoming reconciled to their grief, but there still hangs over the residence of the little town a heavy pall of doom.

Yesterday the funerals of Peter Munson and Ben Perry were held. The remains of Robert Warburton were taken to his old home at Carbon where burial will be made. The bodies of Tennant and Huhtala will be held in the Finnish hall and will be conducted by the Finnish society and the local lodge of Knights of Pythias.

Workmen are clearing away the debris from the mouth of the east slope so that when the mine is in shape to be entered there will be no delay in getting to rescue the bodies. While working in the debris yesterday workmen found the leg of a human being. There was nothing else to be found. This find has led the workers to believe that there are many bodies within the first few feet of the east slope, the victims having fallen and succumbed to the gases within a few feet of the fresh air which meant life to them. (Laramie Boomerang March 31, 1908)

Wednesday April 1, 1908
Day 5

Tomorrow an attempt will be made to enter the east slope of Union Pacific colliery No. 1, where the sixty [54 still missing] bodies of the victims of the awful explosions of last Saturday are lying.

In anticipation of the opening of the shaft and the recovery of the bodies, the little town of Hanna is breathless for the fate of the bodies unknown. Will there be nothing but heaps of ashes scattered through the winding slope of the ill-fated colliery or will there be charred, unrecognizable corpses, the remains of those brave men who gave their lives in an effort to save their fellow beings?

Workmen have succeeded in clearing away the debris from the mouth of the east slope and everything is in readiness to break the seal of the tomb.

State Coal Mine Inspector Noah Young of the northern district, who will make an investigation for the state, has not yet arrived. The coal company investigation is already advanced as far as is possible at this time, but no information regarding what it has divulged is given out.

Finnish hall, a barn-like building at the summit of a low hill and exposed to the full sweep of the storm, yesterday afternoon was the scene of the funeral of Matthew Huhtala, one of the five victims whose body was recovered, it having been blown out of the mine by the second explosion. The services were in the Finnish tongue. Many of the inhabitants of Finn town, a separate settlement, braved the weather to attend. The body of Alexander Tennant is still unburied. (Laramie Boomerang April 1, 1908)

Thursday April 2, 1908
Day 6

T. H. Butler has been appointed superintendent of the mines at this point, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Alex Briggs who perished in the explosion in No. 1 colliery last Saturday.

An attempt was made to open the east slope of the ill-fated No. 1 mine in which the bodies of sixty [59] men are lying, but on removing the stopping the shaft was found to be reeking with gas.

Experienced gasmen in charge of the work were made deathly sick several times before they abandoned the attempt to enter the slope. They could remain in the slope but a few minutes at a time. A new stopping has been placed across the slope thirty feet below where the first one was placed and work was then stopped. No bodies were found in the mouth of the shaft but it is thought there may be some under the cave-in a few feet farther in the slope. (Laramie Boomerang, April 2, 1908)

Saturday April 11, 1908
Day 15

Joseph Bird was appointed State Mine Inspector to succeed Mr. Elias, who lost his life in the second explosion. (1908 MIR)

Friday April 17, 1908
Day 21

On April 17th, I made my first official visit to Hanna mine No. 1, the property of the Union Pacific Coal Company.

In company with Noah Young, inspector for District No. 2 of the State of Wyoming, General Superintendent George L. Black, and Superintendent Thomas H. Butler, I visited the west slope which was caved and sealed as a result of the explosion of March 28, 1908.

At the east opening the slope is stopped and the fan shaft closed. On investigation I found fire damp leaking at both stoppings. The safety lamp shows the presence of light carbureted hydrogen. In addition, tests made at a standpipe also showed the presence of explosive gases.

I would recommend that great care be exercised in the breaking of the stoppings as the mine is still in a very dangerous condition. There should be no undue haste in the opening of this mine and it should be given plenty of time to cool, and if possible to damp the fires which are burning inside.

There seems to be no suffering for the necessities of life among the families of the unfortunate men who lost their lives in the explosion. The company store, operated by the Union Pacific Coal Company, is open to the needs of the widows and orphans, and very liberal contributions are coming in from the different locales of the United Mine Workers of America, and the generous and sympathetic people of this and neighboring states. (Joseph Bird, 1908 MIR)

Thursday May 14, 1908
Day 48

On May 14th, 1908, I made my second official visit to Hanna Mine No. 1, the property of the Union Pacific Coal Company. The east side stopping is being carefully watched night and day, and any leaks occurring are reported and immediately repaired. Records are being kept of barometer and thermometer readings, which are being made regularly every three hours. An examination of the test hole with a safety lamp still shows the presence of fire damp. The west side of the mine is caved and closed. (Joseph Bird, 1908 MIR)

Wednesday June 24, 1908
Day 89

On June 24th, at the request of A. E. Bradbury, General Manager of the Union Pacific Coal Company, I went to Hanna to attend a conference called for the purpose of devising plans for the re-opening of the mine. Inspector Young, superintendent of the coal company, and members of the miner’s union also attended this conference. A committee was appointed for the purpose of formulating plans for the re-opening of the mine. (Joseph Bird, 1908 MIR)

Wednesday July 8, 1908
Day 103

On July 8tha conference was held at Hanna by the state coal mine inspectors of Wyoming and Utah, the officials of the Union Pacific Coal Company and representatives of the miners union for the purpose of formulating a plan for the re-opening of the mine to rescue the bodies. The following committee was appointed which drafted plans for the opening; John Mates, Noah Young, John McNeil, Morgan Griffiths, M. E. Harvey, Jos Bird and J. E. Pettit.

The east slope was opened the following day, and the slope penetrated to the first crosscut a distance of 100 feet. One body was recovered, but on account of the presence of deadly gases, the slope was then walled up together with the return air course, and the debris in the mouth of the slope removed. The committee was then discharged, but I have learned that since then, on July 17th, the stoppings were forced further down the slope and thirteen bodies were recovered. It was impossible to proceed further and the mine was again sealed up. (Noah Young, 1908 Report to Gov. B.B. Brooks)

Friday July 10, 1908
Day 105

In accordance with the plan proposed by the committee we broke the stopping at the east entrance to the slope. Immediately below the stopping we encountered a very large cave-in about sixty feet in length. (Joseph Bird, MIR)

Saturday July 11, 1908
Day 106

One miner was found.

1. Robert Armstrong, a railroad signalman, age unknown, worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and not the Union Pacific Coal Company. He was buried in Illinois.

On July 11ththe cave was passed over and the body of R. W. Armstrong was found in the cross cut leading from the slope to the air course and about midway between the two. Stoppings were built in the first north cross cut, the main slope and the return air course before the cave was cleaned through. (MIR)

When the Robert Armstrong’s body was found in a horrible condition, State Inspector Young recommended the mine be abandoned.

State Coal Mine Inspector Noah Young arrived Sunday night from Hanna, where he was present when the Union Pacific Coal company unsealed the east entrance to mine No. 1, which was wrecked by two explosions March 29thlast. He states that expert miners imported for the purpose succeeded in penetrating the east slope a short distance before the gas became unbearable, and that they erected a brattice. The debris near the mouth of the slope is now being removed. As soon as the mouth of the slope is clear an effort to push the brattice further down the slope will be made.

Inspector Young states that the effect of the explosion on the mine, as indicated by the small part of the slope now exposed, was terrific, and he is of the opinion that the fifty odd bodies in the workings are in such horrible condition, mangled and putrefying, that the effort to bring them out should be abandoned and the mine left undisturbed and forever be the tomb of the victims of the explosions.

The miners who pushed the brattice a short distance down the east slope discovered one body, that of Robert Armstrong, an electrician, who met death in the second explosion while repairing electric light wires damaged by the first. This body was in such an advanced stage of putrification that it could hardly be handled. Armstrong was killed just inside the east entrance of the mine and did not receive the full force of the explosion; consequently his body was not mangled.

Inspector Young is of the opinion that the fifty odd other bodies will be found headless, limbless and terribly mangled, having been subjected to the full force of the second titanic blast that blew the lining out of the mine. To handle such mangled remains when they are far advanced in decay will be a frightful task, and Inspector Young believes that for this reason the mine should be sealed and abandoned as a tomb for its victims.

The body of Armstrong, although not mangled, was in such condition that identification was possible only through the dead man’s watch. (The Cheyenne Leader, July 14, 1908)

An effort will be made to reach a distance of fifty feet where it is believed the bodies of many of the victims will be found.

The body of Armstrong was found lying face downward. There was a slight bruise on one shoulder; otherwise the corpse was in a splendid state of preservation. The face was slightly bloated by the gases, but was not greatly discolored.

From the position in which the body was lying it is evident that Armstrong survived for several minutes after the awful concussion that shattered the mouth of the slope. He had probably laid down and was trying to crawl out of the hellhole when he was overcome by the deadly gases.

The remains will be prepared for burial and will probably be sent to Armstrong's home in Illinois. Armstrong was employed as a signal maintainer on the Union Pacific and happened to be in Hanna on the afternoon of the first explosion. He volunteered to assist State Inspector Elias in the rescue work by stringing the light wires, which had been broken by the first explosion. He went into the east slope with the inspector and the party of rescuers, all of who perished.

Engaged in the work of attempting to force an entry to the east slope where the majority of the bodies are known to be lying are State Mine Inspector Young, John McNeil, an expert from Pennsylvania coal fields; Inspector Bird of the First district; General Manager Clark of the Union Pacific Coal Company and Joe Woods, foreman of No. 2 and a survivor of the two big explosions.

It is believed that more bodies will be recovered this week. The work of recovering the bodies will be very slow on account of the strong gases that are still issuing from the mouth of the east slope. (Semi Weekly Boomerang July 16, 1908)

Thursday July 16, 1908
Day 111

Thirteen miners were found.

On July 16th, the bodies of thirteen miners were found on the slope above the switch and No. 2 top entry. (MIR)

1. Andrew Birchall, a miner, age 25, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in Plot 254 in the Hanna cemetery.

2. Harry Foster, a laborer, age 27, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

3. John Hoy, a miner, age 33, worked in No. 1 mine. He was buried in Plot 256 in the Hanna cemetery.

4. James Larson, a shot firer, age 46, worked in the No. 2 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

5. Abel Pura [Abel Puro], a miner, age 30, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

6. William Joki, a miner, age 33, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

7. Ensti Karrikka [Ensti Karikka] [ Ensti Karrika], a miner, age 26, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

8. August Lakson [August Laksonen], a miner, age 21, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

9. Elmer Johnson [Yalmer Stalin], a miner, age 24, worked in No. 1 mine. He was buried in Plot 250 in the Hanna cemetery.

10. James Tyner, a miner, age 26, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

11. Charles Harris, a pumper, age 22, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

12. Albert Riley, a rope runner, age 21, worked in No. 1 mine. He was buried in Plot 296 in the Hanna cemetery.

13. Gus Raimey, a rope runner, age 31, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in Plot 296 in the Hanna cemetery.

All of the bodies in the Hanna mine discovered Friday night have been identified and have been buried. They are Abel Pura, Ensti Karrika, James Larson, Albert Riley, John M. Hoy, August Lakson, Elmer Johnson, William Joki, Andrew Birchall, Charles Harris, Gus Raimey, Harry Foster and James Tyner.

The bodies were all found on the main slope, near the second entry and as soon as they were taken out the work of cleaning up the debris in the slope was begun and quickly completed. This morning the workers advanced down the slope where a new stopping will be put in while this section is being cleaned up and put into condition for use. More bodies, it is expected, will be found here. (Wyoming Tribune July 20, 1908)

Saturday July 18, 1908
Day 113

On July 18thsmoke was encountered at No. 1 top entry. (Joseph Bird, MIR)

Monday July 20, 1908
Day 115

On July 20th the mine was again sealed up on account of gas and smoke (Joseph Bird, MIR)

Tuesday July 21, 1908
Day 116

Hanna, Wyo., July 21. On the body of John Larson, which was recovered from wrecked mine No. 1 last Saturday, was found a purse containing $653.05. Larson had little faith in banks and was in the habit of carrying his savings on his person. He was one of the fifty members of the relief parties that met death in the second explosion of March 29th while endeavoring to rescue the victims of the first explosion.

The thirteen bodies recovered from the mine by the searching party, which is pushing past the second entry, were buried as soon after they reached the surface as was possible, this being necessary because of their condition. There have been no further developments of importance resulting from the work of exploring the wrecked workings. (Cheyenne Leader July 21, 1908)

Thursday July 23, 1908
Day 118

After 118 days, the mine was still burning.

Hanna July 23: Driven back from the east slope by great volumes of gas and dense smoke, the men who have been forcing an entry to Union Pacific colliery No. 1 to recover the bodies of the victims of the explosion last March have, for the time being, abandoned the effort to penetrate the shaft further than the mouth of the second entry, 400 feet.

Since last Monday several efforts have been made to push on farther into the mine, but each time the rescuers have been driven back by the dense smoke from the fire, which is still raging in the tenth entry. It was thought that the tenth entry would be flooded and the fire extinguished, but such is not the case.

No bodies have been recovered except the thirteen, which were brought out last week. The rescuers at the mouth of the second entry have seen three bodies but have never been able to reach them on account of the smoke and heat. (Semi Weekly Boomerang, July 23, 1908)

The Union Pacific Coal Company was alerted that another explosion could wreck the entire town of Hanna.

Acting on advice of experts who declare that should Union Pacific colliery No. 1 at Hanna explode again, the whole town will be wrecked, the Union Pacific coal company will seal for all time the ill-fated shaft, once one of the best producing mines in the state of Wyoming, now a veritable death trap, a seething furnace.

For days, experts, men who have for years risked their lives in the pursuit of their dangerous professions, that of gas men in some of the most treacherous mines in the United States and England have attempted to enter the east slope of mine No.1 in which fifty-nine men lost their lives last March. Repeatedly they have been driven back. Roaring flames leaped out in their very faces. Deadly gases polluted the air until it was impossible for man to live. The brave men did their best to bring to the surface the mutilated and blackened corpses of the heroes who perished in the awful explosion but it was of no use. It was impossible for a living object to penetrate the shattered shaft which reeked with foul air and dense smoke.

So all hope of entering the mine farther than the mouth of the second entry has been abandoned. Experts declare that efforts to open the mine may at any time cause another explosion, the terrific force of which is only a matter of conjecture. The expert gas men, judging by the area of the mine now afire and the great strength of the gases, believe the next explosion of the mine will wreck the entire camp of Hanna. Although the mine is nearly a mile from the town, the experts declare the force of such a terrific explosion as the next will probably be, will rent the earth for a much greater distance and will engulf the little village in a rain of fire and chaos.

Little wonder then that the citizens of Hanna by night and day cast furtive glances at the barren hills whose bowels are a roaring furnace which threatens at any time to wipe from the face of the earth one of the most promising little cities in the west. Hanna,the ill-fated, oft-stricken camp is fully aware of her danger. But like those people who dwell in the shadow of death, such people as those whose homes are over towered by a death dealing volcano, the citizens of Hanna will continue to live there trusting in fate to be merciful. (Semi Weekly Boomerang, July 23, 1908)

Saturday July 25, 1908
Day 120

It has been definitely settled here by officials of the Union Pacific coal company that Hanna No. 1 in which fifty-nine miners perished 1st of March will never again be worked. It has been hermetically sealed again and it is not probable another attempt will be made to enter it to recover the bodies of its victims.

It is the plan of the company, it is said here, to sink another mine a short distance from the ill-fated shaft, striking the same vein of coal , which has proven an alluring proposition to the company. The No.1 colliery was the best mine the Union Pacific owned in Wyoming, the production being larger and, for many purposes, the coal being superior to the Rock Springs or Superior products.

But while the mine has been remunerative, it has cost the Union Pacific much grief and the officials will no doubt be glad to hear that the treacherous shaft has been abandoned. In explosions alone the mine has snuffed out about 225 lives. (Laramie Boomerang, July 27, 1908)

Monday July 27, 1908
Day 122

Mine Inspector Noah Young blasted the Union Pacific Coal Company on the way they run the mine.

In accordance with your request of March 29, 1908, to proceed to Hanna, Wyo. and make an investigation and report on the disaster in Mine No.1 of the Union Pacific Coal Company at Hanna, Wyo. in coal inspection district No.1 of David M. Elias, who met his death in said disaster, I herewith submit the following report, setting forth the details of the disaster, the probable causes of the two explosions attending the disaster, which occurred on March 28th, 1908, and such recommendations regarding the regulations of coal mines in Wyoming as will best tend to safeguard not only the property of companies but the lives of employees.

No. 1 mine has been the scene of three separate disasters, the first, a minor one occurring the year it was opened; the second on June 30th, 1903, when the lives of 169 miners were lost, and the third, as described below. The other mines at Hanna so far have had no disasters. (Office Coal Mine Inspector District No. 2. For the State of Wyoming, July 27th, 1908)

The following are excerpts from the report by Noah Young.

Office Coal Mine Inspector District No.2.
For the State of Wyoming,
Glenrock, Wyo., July 27th, 1908

To His Excellency,
Governor Bryant B. Brooks,

The total casualties from the disaster were fifty-nine. Eighteen men met death in the first explosion and forty-one in the second explosion. By the disaster thirty-one widows were created and one hundred and three children were left fatherless. (Office Coal Mine Inspector District No.2. For the State of Wyoming, July 27th, 1908)

That the first explosion could have been avoided by proper care on the part of the officials of the Union Pacific Coal Company is evident in my opinion. It was undoubtedly due to the desire of the officials to open up this entry as speedily as possible. (Office Coal Mine Inspector District No.2. For the State of Wyoming, July 27th, 1908)

It is my belief that the first explosion was caused by the negligence of the mine officials in not waiting a proper time before opening No. 10 entry. The second explosion was the direct result of the conditions created by the first explosion. That is, the blowing out of the stoppings which let out the deadly gases from the abandoned entries, and the creation of a roaring furnace and consequent terrific draft which drew the gases down the in-take course until they came in contact with the flames. It is probable the second explosion could have been avoided by erecting stoppings at the mouth of the entries as the men advanced down into the mine and by erecting a stopping in the west slope. This would have shut off the supply of fresh air rushing toward the fire in No. 10 entry, and an explosion could not have occurred unless this fresh air and gas, in the proportion of 9 to 1, came in contact with the flames. That is, the gas being carried down to the fire would not have exploded unless it had at least nine parts of fresh air in combination with it. (Office Coal Mine Inspector District No.2. For the State of Wyoming, July 27th, 1908)

For several years before the 1903 explosion part of the mine was on fire, which smoldered behind airtight bulkheads. The explosion cost the lives of 169 miners and was probably caused by the breaking out of gas and its ignition by a blown-out shot. These bulkheads or stopings were what is known as single stopings and were constructed of wood. The mine was opened up shortly after this disaster and operated continuously up to the time of the recent catastrophe. (Office Coal Mine Inspector District No.2. For the State of Wyoming, July 27th, 1908)

In my opinion, and I believe in this every experienced coal miner in the state will concur, the only safe method to have adopted was to wall off No. 10 entry with double stone stopings and left it for 30 or 60 days, in which time the fire would have been completely extinguished and the entry could have been re-opened without danger to property or the lives of the miners. The construction of stone stoppings is required by the laws of Wyoming. I state that the fire would have been extinguished from 30 to 60 days by proper stoping because no rooms had been opened along this entry. (Office Coal Mine Inspector District No.2. For the State of Wyoming, July 27th, 1908)

It is generally understood that fire existed, prior to the explosions of March 28th, in entry No. 10 only. My investigations revealed the fact that fire also existed in Nos. 1, 2 and 3 entries and probably in entries on the west slope. The fire in No. 3 entry had been walled off but four days before the explosion while those in Nos. 1 and 2 had been built last September. All of these fires were walled off by wooden stoppings instead of stone in DIRECT VIOLATION of the laws of the state. (Office Coal Mine Inspector District No.2. For the State of Wyoming, July 27th, 1908)

It seems to me, after the experience of the 1903 disaster, that the officials of the mine would have taken proper precautions against the fires in their abandoned entries and walled them off with stone stoppings, with sand between, and a third wall about 30 feet distant, even if they did not construct the legal stoppings. No.1 mine is a highly-gaseous colliery and such mines require double or triple the precautions needed for the ordinary mine. A fire properly walled off, and protected by stone stoppings, ceases to be an element of danger compared with wooden stoppings even in cases of explosions in other parts of the mine. (Office Coal Mine Inspector District No.2. For the State of Wyoming, July 27th, 1908)

Friday July 31, 1908
Day 126

Noah Young called the Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 1 mine a "death trap" and condemned the mining methods used to develop the mine.

Severely condemning the Union Pacific coal company for its responsibility for the terrible explosions in the Hanna mine in which fifty-nine miners lost their lives last March, and denouncing the colliery as a veritable death trap, State Coal Mine Inspector Noah Young has made his report to Gov. Brooks. The report is plain spoken and there is no mincing of words, the inference being from perusing it that the inspector has made a careful and thorough inquiry into the disaster and is not afraid to speak his convictions. (Wyoming Tribune July 31, 1908)

Governor Brooks has received from State Coal Mine Inspector Noah Young a special report covering the recent disasters in the Hanna mine No. 1 and making recommendations and comments upon the cause of the explosions and for the prevention of further disaster.

Mr. Young begins his report by giving details of the two explosions of March 28, in which fifty-nine men were killed.

The report says:

“Entries Nos. 8 and 10, which were connected with the recent disaster, extend south from the east slope about 1,600 feet. No rooms had been started from these entries. On Sunday, March 22, the night fire boss discovered a fire near the upper face of entry No. 10, which had been started probably by a shot. The true cause of this fire will probably never be known as no witnesses are now left.”

“Entry No. 10 was walled off with stoppings placed just inside the first slant near the mouth of the entry. On Saturday, Superintendent Briggs with a picked force of seventeen men proceeded to attack the fire in No. 10 entry. This force constituted the flower of the camp contributed by the three mining companies. Just what method was adopted will never be known.”

Some information received from Mr. E. O. Christiansen, mining engineer who was present when plans were discussed, is quoted in the report as follows:

“The stoppage in the haulage way was probably first taken out and advanced a distance of about 600 feet beyond to permit the second slant when the slant stoppage was removed to permit the air current passing down the entry and through the cross-cuts to carry out the impure air. Possibly while carrying the stopping forward to complete the work of walling off the fire, the men were overcome by white damp, giving time for the air to come in contact with the gas in too great quantity, thus forming an explosive mixture.”

“Some idea of the force of the explosion,” says the report, “and which should have shown to any experienced mining man that no one could possibly have been alive in the mine is gained from the fact that several twelve foot timbers securely wedged in rock were blown against the tipple from 200 to 400 feet from the mouth. It is important to know that most of the stoppings on the east slope were blown out. The blowing out of these stoppings let out into the main entry deadly gases which were carried down the slope and came in contact with the blazing furnace at No. 10 entry, causing the second explosion.”

David M. Elias, inspector of district No. 1 arrived about 4 p. m. Every person of authority had been killed in the first explosion and up to the time of the arrival of Elias there appears to have been no leader. When Elias arrived all looked to him as a leader. He evidently needed a man who would enforce orders but the man he selected failed him. Inspector Elias with a party of ten men started down the east slope about 5:30 p. m. The man left behind on the surface at the head of the slope had strict instructions to allow no one to go below, but later yielded to the pressure of excited would be rescuers and went below with them. After that, apparently, anyone and everyone passed at will up and down the slope and into the mine.

“That the first explosion could have been avoided by proper care on the part of the officials of the Union Pacific Coal Company is evident in my opinion. It was undoubtedly due to the desire of the officials to open up this entry as speedily as possible. This entry, like No. 8, was a new entry and no rooms had been opened in from it. The opening of this entry would permit the working of about thirty-four rooms. Just six days after the fire broken out an effort was made to extinguish the fire by forcing the stoppings backward toward the face of the entry.

In my opinion, and I believe in this every experienced miner in the state will concur, the only safe method to have adopted was to wall off No. 10 entry with double stone stoppings and left it for thirty to sixty days in which time the fire would have been completely extinguished.”

The report then states that this fire and others which are mentioned in detail were walled off by wooden stoppings rather than stone, in direct violation of the state law and the officials of the company are sharply criticized for permitting the walling off of fires with wooden stoppings or partitions, particularly after the disaster of 1903.

The report gives but brief mention to the second explosion, stating that it was the direct result of the conditions produced by the first and that the loss of life was due to the violation of the orders of Mr. Elias who forbade any others than his crew of ten to enter the mine.

The remainder of the report is devoted to the testimony of one of the miners as to the precautions taken to extinguish the fire, which caused the explosion, and a number of recommendations not directly concerned with the explosion. One of these is that the miners should not be permitted to fire shots or blast out coal when the mine is filled with workmen on account of the danger of dust explosions from “windy shots” and the use of flameless powder is urged. The fact that the number of fire bosses in the mine is often reduced in quiet times is also commented upon and the use of stone stoppings, the character of crosscuts and other technicalities of mine practice are also dealt with at length. (Wyoming Tribune July 31, 1908)

Wednesday August 12, 1908
Day 138

Three miners were found.

1. Anthony Dodds, a boss driver, age 44, worked in the No. 2 mine. He was buried in Carbon, Wyoming.

2. A. C. Corley, a miner, age 39, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

3. Aaron Madden, a shot firer, age 52, worked in the No. 2 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

On August 12th General Manager A. M. Bradbury notified me that the mine was again to be opened and the next morning I reached Hanna. After the stoppings were broken through three bodies were found on No. 1 top entry between the slope and the manway. The work of building stoppings in the entries and cross cuts went on as we went down until every entry and cross-cut on both sides of the slope and air-courses were stopped off. (1908 MIR)

Sunday August 16, 1908
Day 142

Six miners were found.

1. Frank G. Burton, a trackman, age 37, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in Almy, Wyoming, in a marked grave.

2. Emil Hendrickson, a driver, age 25, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

3. Jonas A. Lindman [Jonas Lynn], a miner, age 25, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

4. Jalmer Ollila [Jalmer Olila], a miner, age 21, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

5. James Smeaton, a shot firer, age 50, worked in the No. 2 mine. He was buried in Plot 202 in the Hanna cemetery.

6. John Tully, a laborer, age 26, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

On August 16th, four more bodies were found on the slope between No. 4 top and back entries. Another body was found on the slope about 25 feet below No. 4 back entry and another on No. 4 back entry, 35 feet from the slope. (1908 MIR)

Tuesday August 18 1908
Day 144

Two miners were found.

1. Alfred Holliday [Alfred Halliday], a laborer, age 55, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

2. Charles X. Hughes, a miner, age 49, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in Plot 109 in the Hanna cemetery.

On August 18th, two bodies were recovered from No. 6 top entry and on the 21st a third body was found on the slope at the second cross cut to the manway below No. 6 entry. (1908 MIR)

Friday August 21, 1908
Day 147

One miner was found.

1. Sam McCormick, a laborer, age 22, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

It was on this date that water was encountered 320 feet below the No. 8 top entry. (1908 MIR)

Saturday August 22, 1908
Day 148

One more miner was found.

1. John Cookson, a driver, age 22, worked in the No. 1 mine. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery.

On August 22nd, the body of John Cookson was found on the slope opposite the second cross cut leading to the manway below No. 6 entry.

Since then, no further work or rescue has been undertaken. From July 10th, when the first opening occurred, until August 22nd, twenty-seven bodies were taken out, and it is believed there are twenty-seven more bodies in the mine. It is possible they will never be recovered as the water is rising at the rate of four feet per day in the mine. (1908 MIR)

Thursday September 17, 1908
Day 174

An inquisition was held in Hanna to rule on the death of the coal miners.

At Hanna, in Carbon County, on the 17th day of September, A. D., 1908, before me, H. K. Bennett, Coroner of said county, upon the bodies of fifty-nine miners as per list attached, lying dead, by the jurors whole names are hereby subscribed, the said jurors upon their oath do say that under the conditions all the men with direct testimony was killed in the explosion and from evidence produced before us we find that they all came to their deaths in Hanna Mine No. One on the 28th day of March 1908, by an explosion of gas or other combustibles. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, February 23, 1909)

The inquest began on the 17th, the coroner’s jury being composed of Grant Routt, Arson Clavel and E. A. Wallace. Ten witnesses were examined and while much testimony regarding the management and operation of the mine was adduced, all of the witnesses who could give direct testimony had been killed in the disaster. (1908 MIR)

February 23, 1909

State Mine Inspector Noah Young was not re-appointed to his job.

The Union Pacific is to be blamed for not re-appointing Noah Young as state mine inspector. Mr. Young, you know, told the plain truth about the Hanna mine disaster, and the Union Pacific is still suffering from the shock that report gave it. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, March 6, 1909)

March 6, 1908

The governor appointed Noah Young, from Glenrock, on February 18, 1899 as State Coal Mine Inspector. He held the job for over 10 years before he was not re-appointed. Many in the state of Wyoming accused the governor of the political hacking of Noah Young from being influenced by the Union Pacific Railroad to fire him.

Take for instance, the case of Noah Young, ex-State Coal Mine Inspector for the northern district. Because he had become obnoxious to the Union Pacific, he was not re-appointed and an inspired effort to blemish his character was instigated. Whether or not the charges against him were true matters little, the fact exists that they were not made until his usefulness to the Union Pacific had been impaired, and until the useful servant of the Union Pacific, upon whom the people of Wyoming is mistaken confidence, and conferred the appointive power, was given to understand that he had been placed on the corporation’s list of undesirables.

The real reason for the relegation of Young to the political junk pile was that he had the temerity to expose the Union Pacific Coal Company's amazing reckless disregard of even the ordinary precautions for the protection of the lives of its employees. That his report, submitted to the Union Pacific Coal company before it was permitted to become public, which was persistently rumored at the time, and by the corporation's agents was toned down, modified and as nearly as possible emasculated, did not tend to mitigate his offense in daring to discover that the company placed greed above humanity, and the minute he decided to tell the truth regarding the corporation's system that instant he signed his official death warrant. The Union Pacific did not control his job, but it reached to the man that controlled his job, and when the report went into the executive office,it destroyed the good standing of the man who wrote it.

And this is what Young reported:

That the system of the Union Pacific Coal company, in the operation of its No. 1 mine at Hanna, in which the lives of hundreds of men had at various time been sacrificed, did not include precautions necessary for the protection of the miners employed. Young was sent to examine the wrecked mine as an expert and as a representative of the State of Wyoming. He was sent because fifty-nine men, including the only other coal mine inspector employed by the state, had just met death in the colliery, and because it was a subject of general belief that the mine was dangerous and was not properly operated. The fearful toll of life paid for its production shrieked for investigation. Young was employed by the State of Wyoming as an expert, and he was expected to do his duty. He did it, but he menaced the dividends of the Union Pacific Coal Company in doing it, and the Union Pacific Coal Company was not in Wyoming politics for its health. A man that would do his duty once, without regard for whom it affected, might do so twice and was dangerous to those whose success had given them cause to consider themselves more powerful than the state. The instantaneous removal of Young would have smacked too strongly of instigation by jeopardized interests, so he was permitted to serve out his term. (Cheyenne Daily Leader, March 6, 1909)

July 23, 1908

The Hoodoo Mine, as the Casper Press described the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna, was abandoned.

The machinery and tipple at mine No. 1 of the Union Pacific Coal Company here, are being removed in preparation of the complete abandonment of the mine. It has been the scene of more disasters than all other mines in the state combined.

Ex-State Coal Mine Inspector Noah Young last year reported that the mine was a menace to the safety of those who entered it. He recommended that state authorities close the colliery. His recommendation was not acted upon and he was removed as inspector, but his report had the proper effect upon the coal company, even though the state authorities were found wanting. Everyone will rejoice in the final closing of this death trap. (Casper Press, July 23, 1909)

In the spring of 1909 the Union Pacific Coal Company abandoned production of coal at the No. 1 mine.

UNITED MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA CONGREGATED OVER THE MOUTH OF THE EAST ENTRANCE OF THE NO. 1 MINE, WHERE THEIR FELLOW WORKMEN ARE ENTOMBED, COMMEMORATING THE 2ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE EXPLOSION OF MARCH 28, 1908. (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

Summary Of All Men Killed on March 28, 1908

First explosion, Fire Crew:

18 men were killed, 14 bodies remain in the mine today, 4 bodies were recovered.

Second explosion, Rescue Crew:

41 men were killed, 13 bodies remain in the mine today, 28 bodies were recovered.

Totals:

59 men were killed, 27 bodies remain in the mine today, 32 bodies were recovered.

First Explosion, About 3:00 P. M., Killed 18 Men

First Explosion, Fire Crew: 18 miners were killed, 14 of the 18 bodies remain in the mine, they were:

1.   Alexander Briggs, superintendent for all Hanna mines.

2.   Joseph Burton, mine No.1 foreman.

3.   Alfred Dodds, mine No. 2 foreman.

4. James Knox, mine No. 3 foreman.

5.   John B. Evans, gas watchman, worked in No. 1 mine.

6.   W. H. Pascoe [William H. Pascoe], gas watchman, worked in No. 1 mine.

7.   John Rimmer, gas watchman, worked in No. 1 mine.

8.   Harry Lyon, gas watchman, worked in No. 1 mine.

9.   Robert Herrin, gas watchman, worked in No. 1 mine.

10. P. A. Boyd, dumper, worked in the No. 1 mine.

11. John Ikonen, rollerman, worked in No. 1 mine.

12. Gabriel Lahte [Gabe Lahti], timberman, worked in No. 1 mine.

13. Emil Silvast [E. Silfast], timberman helper, worked in No. 1 mine.

14. Thomas Flint - mason, worked in No. 1 mine.

First Explosion, Fire Crew: 18 miners were killed, 4 of the 18 bodies were recovered from the mine, they were:

1. Ben Parry [Ben Perry], gas watchman, worked in No. 1 mine.

2. Gus Raimey, rope runner, worked in No. 1 mine.

3. Robert Warburton, boss driver, worked in No. 1 mine.

4. Peter Monson [Pete Munson], pipeman, worked in No. 1 mine.

Second Explosion, About 10:30 P.M. Killed 41 Men

Second explosion, Rescue Crew: 41 miners were killed, 13 of the 41 bodies remain in the mine, they were:

1.   David M. Elias, State Coal Mine Inspector.

2.   Matt Joki, miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

3.   B. L. Frink, pumper, worked in No. 1 mine.

4.   Peter Travis, trackman , worked in No. 2 mine.

5.   William Johnson, shot firer, worked in No. 1 mine.

6.   George Case, boilerman, worked in No. 1 mine.

7.   Andrew Hoy, miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

8.   H. G. Birchall, miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

9.   John Tate, shot firer, worked in No. 1 mine.

10. F. E. Collins, miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

11. William Bryne [William Burns], laborer, worked in No. 1 mine.

12. T. D. Penn, miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

13. Richard Wilson, ex-employee.

Second Explosion, Rescue Crew: 28 of the 41 bodies found, identified and recovered from the mine, they were:

1.   Alex Tennant [Alexander Tennant Jr.], miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

2.   Aaron Madden, shot firer, worked in No. 1 mine.

3.   James Tyner, miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

4.   Yalmer Stalin [Elmer Johnson], miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

5.   William Joki, miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

6.   A. C. Corley, miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

7.   Charles Harris, dumper, worked in No. 1 mine.

8.   Emil Hendrickson, driver, worked in No. 1 mine.

9.   Jalmer Ollila [Jalmer Olila], miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

10. Jonas Lindman [Jonas Lynn], miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

11. Abel Puro [Abel Pura], miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

12. Anthony Dodds, boss driver, worked in No. 2 mine.

13. Sam McCormick, laborer, worked in No. 1 mine.

14. James Smeaton, shot firer, worked in No. 2 mine.

15. John Tully, laborer, worked in No. 1 mine.

16. C. X. Hughes - miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

17. Harry Foster, laborer, worked in No. 1 mine.

18. John Cookson, driver, worked in No. 1 mine.

19. Alfred Holliday [Alfred Halliday], laborer, worked in No. 1 mine.

20. James Larson, shot firer, worked in No. 2 mine.

21. Albert Riley, driver, worked in No. 1 mine.

22. Mat Huhtala, timberman, worked in No. 1 mine.

23. John Hoy, miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

24. Andrew Birchall, miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

25. August Lakson [August Laksonen], miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

26. Ensti Karrikka [Ensti Karrika], miner, worked in No. 1 mine.

27. F. G. Burton [Frank George Burton], trackman, worked in No. 1 mine.

28. Robert Armstrong, railroad signalman, did not work for the coal company.

Chapter 10
Sampo and Elmo, The Finnish Towns and Mines (1909)

1909

The Sampo Coal Company constructed the town of Sampo in 1908. It started mine development efforts that same year on an eight-foot vein of coal four miles northeast of Hanna. The coal mine was the first large scale, non-Union Pacific Coal Company mine effort in the Hanna area. About twenty men were employed in the first year. The Sampo town and mine were managed and worked primarily by the Finnish population. Joseph Pesola was the superintendent of the mine in 1908. During 1908 and 1909, several openings were made, but good quality coal was not found. The Sampo mine only produced coal in 1910. Coal production was closed by 1911.

The holdings of the Sampo Coal Company are located about five miles north of the town of Hanna. Mr. S. Alawer is in charge as manager. Several openings have been made, but coal has never been found in paying quantities until the present slope was driven, which is now down about four hundred feet with a parallel man way. Two entries have just been broken off, one running to the north and the other to the south. During the past year 7,539 tons of coal were produced and shipped to Colorado and Nebraska. (1910 State Mine Inspector's Report)

FINNISH SAMPO MINERS (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

SAMPO COAL MINE (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

The Sampo mine produced 7,539 tons of coal with 44 employees in 1910. It was the only year coal production was reported to the State of Wyoming. Although no coal was produced in Sampo in 1911, the town site of Sampo was surveyed and a town map produced by the office of Turpin and Eldridge, Civil Engineers, Rawlins, Carbon County, Wyoming in March of 1911.

THE TOWN OF SAMPO MAP (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

The Sampo map identified the following miners as once living in the town of Sampo: House 30 Nikolai Huhtala, House 32 Jack P. Niemi, House 34 William E. Hill, House 37 John O. Nikola, House 58 Wm. Nordwall, House 60 Salu Maki, House 123 Aaron Tanttari, House 142 John Hall, House 143 Arvid Ramstrom, House 148 Peter Airaksinen, House 154 John Isaacson, House 156 Kusti Saari, and House 172 Muna Hirsimaki.

ELMO IN THE EARLY 1900’S. IN THE PICTURE ABOVE, WORKINGMEN’S COMMERCIAL STORE IS LOCATED AT THE FAR LEFT, THE SHAMROCK SOCIAL CLUB IS THE BRIGHT WHITE BUILDING AND THE SAMPO CO-OP STORE IS LOCATED AT THE FAR RIGHT. (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Elmo is located about one mile east of Hanna and was composed, in the beginning, primarily of Finnish people. It had a close relationship with the town of Sampo. With the closing of Sampo, the Finnish miners discovered coal deposits near Elmo. Several of the buildings located at the town of Sampo were moved to Elmo. The town was a place for businesses to exist that were not owned by the Union Pacific Coal Company.

In 1939, Irene Ruskanen wrote A Short History of Elmo, Wyoming for the Pioneer, the student newspaper of the Hanna High School. The author, Irene Ruskanen, and Reino Kuoppala were both killed in a car accident in 1939.

In 1911, coal deposits were found near where Elmo now stands. Inasmuch as there was coal there, workers were needed and as workers came, the town sprang up. In 1912, the deed to Elmo was obtained.

In 1916, it was incorporated, but since there were not enough people, hoboes and ranchers were hired to make up the population. The few people of Elmo were asked to lend bed clothing and other supplies, so that the hired men could stay there while they were needed for the town to become incorporated. They stayed in the attic of an old house there that burned down in the fire of 1917.

The first houses built in Elmo were located near where the Allen Motors now stands. Matt Seppa and Henry Kuoppala built them.

The first child born in Elmo was Harold Siltimaki.

A man, who got a big kick out of wondering who would be the first person in it, built the Elmo jail in 1914. A few days later, he himself was put in and locked up for two days.

Tom Mangan started the first Elmo-Peacock mine in 1913, and then, in 1928, it finally gave way and caved in. In 1932, Henry Kuoppala and Gus Siltimaki started the second Elmo-Peacock mine which is running now.

In 1914, the Workingmen’s Commercial was set upon Elmo. The first manager was Emil Pahti. In 1918, the Sampo Cooperative was brought to Elmo from Evansville and the first manager was Gus Siltimaki. In 1916, A. S. Allen owned the Allen Bakery, but it was sold and he set up the Allen Meat Market which was burned in the fire of 1912.

In 1919, Andrew Ruskanen started the Elmo Garage. The same year Gus Fagerholm started the Service Garage.

In 1932, when the highway was put through, A. S. Allen started the Silver Cabins and John Toumie the Elmo Cabins.

There never has been a church, but there have always have been a great many saloons.

Elmo was settled mostly by the Finnish people and still is 53% Finnish people. The population is 131 people. (Irene Ruskanen, A Short History of Elmo, Wyoming for the Hanna High School Pioneer)

In 1912, the Union Pacific Coal Company did not allow the sale of alcohol in Hanna. Saloons and bars were prohibited. Many of the miners loved their alcohol and entertainment, so the saloons in Elmo filled the void. Thomas Mangan, James Mangan, and William Clark incorporated the infamous “Shamrock Social Club” in Elmo in August of 1914. It was reported that well-traveled paths led from each of the Hanna mines directly to the saloons in Elmo.

One year after incorporation, the Union Pacific Coal Company and Union Pacific Railroad filed complaints against the Elmo saloons. On April 11, 1918, two years before Prohibition, the two saloons in Elmo were forced to close because the Carbon County Commissioners refused to renew their liquor licenses. Support for denial of the licenses went all the way to the governor of the state.

Representatives of the Union Pacific Coal Company today requested acting Governor Frank L. Houx to exert the influence of his office with the board of commissioners of Carbon county against the renewal of licenses for saloons in the town of Elmo, which was incorporated about a year ago, and the site of which is near the great coal mining camp of Hanna. They informed the acting governor that the sale of liquor in Elmo subjected the miners employed at Hanna to temptations and opportunities for dissipation, which they were unable to avoid in their own town, there being no saloons at Hanna. It is stated to the acting governor that the sale of liquor at Elmo had resulted in the depreciation of the efficiency of a sufficient number of the employees of the Hanna mines for the effect to be seriously felt in the operation of the mines. (Rawlins Republican, April 11, 1918, p.1)

In August of 1917, a fire broke out in Elmo during the early morning hours and five business buildings were burned to the ground. The only business buildings left intact were the Workingmen's Commercial Company and the "Shamrock" Saloon, owned by Thomas Mangan. The fire originated in the building occupied by Nick Vouraxis, which was used as a pool room. He and his wife lived on the second floor of the building and barely escaped with their lives.

The kids at Elmo attended school in Hanna. In the early years, the kids caught the school bus at the Workingmen’s store.

I enjoyed waiting for the school bus at the Workingmen’s Store that is now closed. There was a big heater on the floor I could stand on and visit with the others waiting for the bus. Albert Aho, the manager, used to go to the store early in the morning and take care of the coal furnace so there was heat for the Elmo people waiting for the bus.

I remember the old building located on the front street that was owned by Mrs. Sue Mangan, now a resident of Laramie. The building was called the “Shamrock.” It was later the V.F.W. Club. The building has been torn down. West of it stood a small Finn church that does not exist anymore. Henry Kuoppala use to have a Pop Shop on the alley located close to the old Workingmen’s store. West of the old Sampo Store was a bakery. (Elsie Salo, Hanna Herald May 1, 1980)

Chapter 11
Recovering from Tragedy and Heartbreak (1909 – 1922)

1909

In The News

1909: The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine in Hanna was abandoned. It was the first mine opened for coal production in Hanna. The mine was developed in 1889 and 1890. The mine started outside coal production in 1891 when it produced 133,283 tons of coal. It stayed in operation until it was abandoned in 1909 after an explosion in the mine killing 59 workers in 1908. Over the mine’s 17 years of coal production, it produced 4,291,860 tons of coal with a yearly average of 300 workers. The No. 1 mine experienced a series of explosions that severely hampered coal production. The Hanna Basin mines (Hanna, Elmo, Sampo, Carbon, Dana, , and Wagon mines) experienced a total of 371 miner deaths. The No. 1 mine in Hanna was responsible for 249 of the 371 deaths.

1909: An electric plant was installed at the No. 2 mine to haul the coal from the inside workings to the slope by electric locomotives, also called motors. The addition of electricity significantly increased the production and efficiency of the mine.

1909: The Sampo mine, located to the east of Elmo, was opened for coal production.

Hanna Miner

One miner was killed in the mines.

Gus Matson, a Finn miner, aged 17, was killed December 12, 1909 in Union Pacific Coal Company’s Mine No. 3 mine at Hanna by a loaded car on the entry. (1910 MIR) Gus was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Two Union Pacific Coal Company mines in Hanna were producing coal.

1. Hanna No. 2 underground mine, with 356 employees, produced 340,491 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 3 underground mine, with 239 employees, produced 257,522 tons of coal. (1909 MIR)

Thomas H. Butler was superintendent of the Union Pacific Coal Company mines in Hanna. The Hanna No. 1 mine was closed in 1909 due to the March 28, 1908 explosion and would remain permanently closed. Mines No. 2 and No. 3 were producing coal in Hanna.

The Union Pacific Coal Company owns and operates all the mines at Hanna in Carbon County. The Hanna No. 2 mine is ventilated by a ten-foot Stevens' fan, which passes about 190,000 cubic feet of air per minute. The vein is thirty feet in thickness and is of a lignite quality. This mine has a capacity of fifteen hundred tons daily and is worked by a slope. An electric plant has just been installed to haul the coal from the inside workings to the slope by motors. No. 3 mine has an output of twelve hundred tons per day and is ventilated by a twenty foot Robinson fan which passes 86,469 cubic feet of air per minute. The vein is about nineteen feet thick and is worked by a slope. (1910 MIR)

Wyoming Mining
District No. 1

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 598,013 tons of coal with 595 workers. Wyomings's southern district produced a total of 4,993,819 tons of coal with 5,741 workers.

State Mine Inspector Joseph Bird inspected the mines in the southern district.

25 men were killed, 12 wives were left widows and 13 children left fatherless.

1 man was killed for every 199,752 tons of coal produced or 1 miner killed for every 229 men employed.

4,993,819 tons of coal were produced with 5741 employees.

September 30, 1909, marks the closing of the most successful fiscal year in the history of coal mining in district number one of the State of Wyoming. Although many of the mines in the southern part of the state slackened down in February and only worked a little more than half time through the summer months, the total tonnage for the year shows an increase in production of over a million tons as compared with 1908. The output of Carbon, Sweetwater and Uinta Counties will be almost five million tons.

One of the largest producing pits in the state, number one of the Union Pacific Coal Company at Hanna, has been closed since the disaster in March 1908, and at this time the machinery is slowly being moved away. Several of the smaller mines have been closed down, while others have worked but little, but at this time most of the mines in the district are working. The year has seen considerable time lost at some of the several mines on account of the inability of the railroads to furnish equipment, directly chargeable to the unusually heavy traffic moving on all roads in the southern part of the state. The managements of the different roads have done everything possible to keep the mines supplied with railroad cars, but the business has been too heavy, resulting in the time lost, as stated above.

I am pleased to report an improvement in many of the mines, affected by the cleaning up of the road and travel ways by clearing them of the loose coal and debris which has been a source of so much annoyance to the mines' employees particularly the drivers, in past years. The sprinkling law passed by the last legislature has made it possible for this office to secure the watering of dry and dusty places, thereby controlling, so far as in human power lies, the dangers from dust explosions. Too much care cannot be exercised by the different mine managements along this particular line, and it should be the constant care of all those in authority to see that dry and dusty places are watered and continually kept wet, floor, sides and roof.

A source of annoyance and danger to the men employed has been a shortage of pure air in some of the mines. In many instances, the amount of fresh air going into the mines has been sufficient to insure all employees a sufficiency of fresh air, but owing to lack of properly hung brattices or the neglect to close off old cross-cuts, the air has not been kept up and around the working faces, and in consequence has been wasted. This is a question that should be given careful attention. The air going into the mine should be kept up where the men are at work, and this can easily be accomplished by hanging canvas where needed and by closing off the back cross-cuts.

In some of the mines in this district, horses are stabled underground and in several instances the stables are constructed of wood. This is very dangerous. Where it is found necessary to keep the horses in the mines, the stables and feed sheds should be constructed of sheet iron, and the places kept absolutely clear and clean of loose hay or other combustible material. This same recommendation applies to the air bridges, the under and the over-casts. Wherever they are constructed of wood, the danger is constant. All such air bridges, where made of wood, should be replaced by sheet iron immediately, thus reducing to a minimum the danger of spreading fire burning through the under and overcasts. (1909 MIR)

1910

In The News

June 19, 1910 was the beginning of Father’s Day. Mother’s Day would not be celebrated until 1972.

1910: Construction of the Union Pacific Railroad's second main line started through Wyoming.

1910: The underground stables at Hanna were removed from the mines. The livestock was now kept outside at the mule barn. The mules and horses were taken to the mine each morning and returned to the barn each evening. This move eliminated the need for flammable materials in the mine. The underground stables that caught fire during the 1903 and 1908 explosions significantly affected the No. 1 mine, adding to the raging inferno.

1910: Electric locomotives or motors were installed in all the Union Pacific Coal Company Hanna underground mines, doing away with some of the horse and mule power in the mine. The mines were also equipped with water lines throughout for sprinkling purposes to keep everything damp in hopes of preventing coal dust explosions.

1910: The Wyoming population was 145,965 people, with 11,282 of those living in Carbon County.

Hanna Miner

Two men were killed in the Hanna Basin mines.

1. John Kangus [John Kangas], a Finnish miner, aged 30 years, was killed in the No. 2 mine at Hanna by a fall of coal. (1910 MIR) John was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. Ottis Niemie,a Finn miner, aged 25, single, was injured in No. 3 mine at Hanna by being struck on the head by falling coal. He was taken to the Rock Springs hospital where he died two days later. (1910 MIR) It is unknown where Ottis was buried. (BL)

Two mining companies operating three mines were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's
Hanna No. 2 underground mine, with 225 employees, produced 321,795 tons of coal.
Hanna No. 3 underground mine, with 170 employees, produced 326,751 tons of coal.
2. Sampo Coal Company's Sampo underground mine, with 44 employees, produced 5,770 tons of coal. (1910 MIR)

Important improvements were made to the Hanna and Sampo mines.

The mines of the Union Pacific Coal Company in Carbon County are located at Hanna. Mr. Thomas H. Butler is in charge as Mine Superintendent.

Number 2 mine is ventilated by an exhaust fan, which passes 88,532 cubic feet of air per minute. The coal is lignite and is thirty feet in thickness. I inspected this property November 23 and 24, 1909, February 22 and 23, May 16 and 17, and September 14, 15, and 16, 1910. During the past year, escape ways have been driven from entry to entry and from number two level to the surface. There is also an escape way now being driven to connect all the entries directly to the surface; the work is nearing completion. The mine is equipped with water lines throughout for sprinkling purposes and everything is kept damp. Electric motors have been installed, doing away with animal power in the mine. The mine has a daily production of fourteen hundred tons and during the past year produced a total of 321,795 tons. Mr. William Ray is the foreman of the mine.

The Number 3 mine is ventilated by an exhaust fan passing 95,739 cubic feet of air per minute. The coal is lignite and nineteen feet in thickness. The mine has a daily capacity of eleven hundred tons, producing last year 326,751 tons. Improvements during the fiscal year consist of an escape way driven from number thirteen room on the third entry connecting with number one level. The main slope is being driven out to the surface on the east side to provide an escape way. The mine is equipped with water pipelines for sprinkling purposes, which can also be used in case of fire. All the stables have been moved to the outside of the mine and the stock is no longer stabled inside. Mr. Charles Higgins is the foreman of the mine.

The holdings of the Sampo Coal Company are located at Sampo, about five miles north of the town of Hanna. Mr. S. Alawer is incharge as Manager. Several openings have been made, but coal has never been found in paying quantities until the present slope was driven, which is now down about four hundred feet with a parallel man-way. Two entries have just been broken off, one running to the north and the other to the south. During the past year 7,539 tons of coal were produced and shipped to Colorado and Nebraska. (1910 MIR)

The coal from the Union Pacific Coal Company mines was shipped primarily to Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and South Dakota.

MULE AND COAL TRIP INSIDE THE MINE. (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES)

THE HANNA MINE OFFICE AND MULE BARN WAS LOCATED BETWEEN THE NO. 1 AND NO. 2 MINES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS. (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 656,085 tons of coal with 439 workers. Wyoming's District No. 1 produced 5,485,533 tons of coal with 5,770 workers.

Wyoming's southern district coal mines were inspected by Joseph Bird in 1910.

The thirtieth day of September, nineteen hundred and ten (1910) marks the closing of a banner year in the history of the coal mining in district number one of the State of Wyoming.

There has been a shortage of railroad cars that has fallen almost entirely on the coal mines in the counties of Sweetwater and Carbon. The mines in the Uinta County field have been fairly well supplied at nearly all times.

It is a fact that some of the smaller mines have been closed during the months of May, June, July and August, but the large mines have worked steadily all the year, even including the summer months, usually considered the dull season in and around the mines.

Throughout the year, there has been a total of thirty-three (33) fatal and one hundred (100) non-fatal accidents reported by the several mines of this district which is in the ratio of one fatal accident for each 166,228 tons of coal produced.

Five thousand seven hundred and seventy men have been employed, against five thousand seven hundred and forty-one men for the fiscal year ending September thirtieth, nineteen hundred and nine (1909). I would call special attention to this fact, showing, as it does, how much more coal can be produced when the miner does not have to lose time on account of shortage of railroad cars. A shortage of equipment entails the holding of the mine cars under load and out of service, meaning the miner at the face must wait until they are unloaded, a serious loss of time both to the men and the management.

I am particularly pleased to report the several improvements made at the mines looking to the safety of the men employed and it is also a matter of some gratification to observe the improved methods of stabling the livestock underground. Some of the mines are so far from the surface that it is a matter of impossibility to bring the horses to the outside every night and in consequence they have to be stabled at some convenient place inside the workings. In the past these stables have been a most prolific source of danger to those employed in the mines, for the timbers with which they were constructed and the loose hay scattered about have always been dangerous on account of fire. At the beginning of this fiscal year, this office started a campaign against the wooden stable underground, and I am pleased to say efforts along this line were in most cases met with ready and hearty response on the part of the different mine managements. Today there are practically no mines where naked lights are allowed in or around the stables, electricity being generally used. The old wood stalls have been covered with sheet iron, making them as nearly impervious to fire as possible and even the props which are set to the roof at the stables are covered with tin or sheet iron. The hay and oats are sent into the mine in limited quantities and kept in specially prepared sheds built for the purpose of sheet iron, or cut out of the solid coal. The mines at both Hanna and Superior have abandoned the stables inside the mines, the horses at those camps being taken to the surface every night after the day's work is completed.

It is also a matter of gratification to be able to state that all new air bridges, such as over and under-casts, now being put in, are either driven over in the solid overlying strata or else built with some incombustible material. The old wooden air bridges are rapidly becoming obsolete, and the few I have found in my inspections of the different mines of this district are covered with a layer of sheet iron to make them as nearly fireproof as possible.

Generally speaking, the mines are being kept very clean, with the exception of a few of the smaller ones, where occasionally this work has been allowed to fall behind. This is a matter that should be given constant attention by all concerned, for where mines are kept clear and clean, there is always less chance of fire, in addition to the cost of sprinkling being reduced to a minimum.

The greatest cause of complaint in this district is the distribution of the air current, as it goes into the mines. I found such neglect along this line that I have been forced to threaten to close the affected part of the mine, and on different occasions I have found it necessary to order a suspension of work where there was a dangerous shortage of air, until such time as it could be taken up and around the working faces where the men were employed. I have found men at work in an atmosphere where it was impossible to see them at a distance of ten feet. The Wyoming statue provides for one hundred and fifty cubic feet of air per man per minute and as much more as the circumstances may require, and this is reasonable. The trouble has been, in the majority of cases, that canvas has not been hung to keep the air traveling to the proper place and crosscuts have not been stopped off as work progressed. As mines get older and of greater magnitude, great care should be constantly exercised to keep all the airways clean and free from foreign materials that could interfere with the free circulation of the air current. The air current should be carefully balanced in order to insure to the men employed the amount of air required by law, and it should be so subdivided by means of "splits" that each district may have its own quota of fresh air at all times. It is not the amount of air that goes into a mine, but the amount that reaches the miner that is to be considered. Mine foremen should be constantly on the watch for leaky or defective stoppings, as this has always been a source of great loss of fresh air in coal mines. The question has been raised if it is possible to take too much fresh air into a coal mine. I would answer unequivocally, no. Where there was too much powder in a mine, or where gas or dust was allowed to accumulate, an abundance of air might precipitate the danger, but these are conditions that should never be allowed to exist.
Water pipes should be installed in all coal mines, regardless whether the mine is wet or dry, to be used for sprinkling. They are very valuable in case of fires. They should be frequently tested and kept in first-class condition at all times.

The use of explosives is increasing, both in quantity and variety of purposes to which they are applied. While powder is being made in not less than a hundred and fifty different places in the United States and the annual production will approximate five hundred million pounds, there is at this time no such thing as an absolutely safe powder or explosive. We have at the present time a new type of quick explosive designated as permissible explosives by the Department of the Interior of the United States Geological Survey; they can be used with more safety in coal mines than the ordinary black powder. In a great many mines, no explosives of any kind are permitted to be used. The subject is one for legislative inquiry, as it is a matter concerning the lives of all the men engaged in underground work in the coal mines of this state. I would earnestly recommend the enactment of a statute prohibiting the use of black powder in the coal mines of this state, for the reason there is a constant danger from fire in the use of that class of explosives.

During the fiscal year just closed, I have made the regular visits of inspection required by law, with the exception of a few of the smaller mines, they not being in operation the entire twelve months. In addition, I have made additional inspections to mines where conditions required it. Reports of these inspections have been mailed to the mines to be posted at the pit head as required by law, copies have been sent to such local unions as desired them, and the Chief Executive of the State has been furnished copies for his information.

There have been no extensive calamities in the coal mines during the year and the work has not been interrupted by labor troubles.

There are, at the present time, thirty-three collieries in active operation, three have been closed as stated in the opening paragraphs of this report, and four have been temporarily closed for some months. These are -A- mine of the Gunn-Quealy Coal Company at Gunn in Sweetwater County, the number two vein of the Rock Springs-Gibraltar Coal Mining Company at Black Buttes, number three slope of the Bear River Coal Company at Almy, and number six prospect of the Diamond Coal & Coke Company near Glencoe in Uinta County. This will make a total of thirty-seven mines in district number one. (1910 MIR)

1911

In The News

The Hanna No. 3.5 underground mine was opened for development October 1, 1911 and started coal production in 1912. The mine opened with a 125 H.P. Allis and Chalmer electric hoist on the slope with a 1.25" rope. Mules were used for haulage from the entries to the slope. The track gauge was 42" with 3 ton pit cars.

1911: The first airplane flight in Wyoming took place in Gillette.

1911: The Virginian Hotel in Medicine Bow opened for business. The hotel was named after Owen Wister's book The Virginian.

1911: Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 4 mine in Hanna was being developed.

1911: The United Mine Workers of America organized a Hospital Commission in Hanna. The Commission obtained the old school, which had been turned into a boarding house, and created the Hanna hospital to take care of the Hanna miners and their families. The hospital was in operation until the Union Pacific Coal Company mines were closed in February of 1954.

THE BUILDING PICTURED ABOVE WAS, IN THE BEGINNING, THE FIRST HANNA SCHOOL. IT WAS LATER CONVERTED INTO A COTTAGE HOME FOR HOUSING MINERS. THEN, IN 1911, THE UNITED MINE WORKERS PURCHASED THE BUILDING AND REMODELED IT INTO THE HANNA HOSPITAL. (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Hanna Miner

One miner was killed in the mines.

1. S. A. Cuzzin, an Italian miner, age 27, died from a premature blast in Hanna Mine No. 2 in 1911. No wife or children were reported. (1911 MIR) It is unknown where he was buried. (BL)

The Hanna Basin mines with 528 workers produced a total of 608,575 tons of coal.

Two Union Pacific Coal Company mines in Hanna were producing coal.

1. Hanna No. 2 underground mine, with 331 workers, produced 316,067 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 3 underground mine, with 197 workers, produced 292,806 tons of coal. (1911 MIR)

Thomas Butler was the superintendent of the Hanna mines. The foreman of the No. 2 mine was William Ray and foreman of the No. 3 mine was Charles Higgins.

The coal seam in the No. 2 mine was 30 foot thick on average and the No. 3 seam was 24 foot thick. Both the No. 2 and No. 3 mines were equipped with first class mining machinery and modern equipment for rescue efforts. At the Hanna mines, first aid teams were organized and supplied with modern equipment. The men were trained to encounter accidents in the mines and handle large scale mine disasters. (1911 MIR)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

22 men were killed, 11 wives were left widows and 29 children left fatherless.

97 serious non-fatal accidents were reported.

1 killed by gas explosion, 14 killed from falls of roof, 3 killed by mine cars and haulage motors, 3 killed by explosives, 1 killed by being burned with powder.

1 man was killed for every 221,170 tons of coal produced or 1 miner killed for every 248 men employed.

4,865,761 tons of coal was produced.

Labor. District No. 1 has been free from labor troubles the past year. During the past six months, the demand for labor has not been great, owing to the market condition in the states west of us, and the fact that our railroads were not operated to their full capacity. Still there is a scarcity of skilled miners in this district of men who thoroughly understand the method of extracting the coal at a minimum of waste. Many foreigners are employed who are unacquainted with the principles of coal mining, their ignorance often bringing on themselves injury and death, and, at the same time, endangering the lives of those depending on them for safety. This class of miners should on no account be permitted to labor in a coal mine without expert supervision during each and every hour of their employment, until such time as they have become proficient in the methods of handling powder, drilling and tamping holes and the exercise of such cautionary methods as are necessary in all well-regulated coal mines for the safety and security of all concerned.

Accidents. A majority of the accidents, fatal and otherwise, have happened to those whose employment dated back less than eighteen months, and upon visiting the scene where death occurred, I have invariably found that the accident was caused by the negligence of the deceased in violating the simple rules of the company which are promulgated for his safety. A failure to timber the working face or to take down all loose rock and coal overhead, results sooner or later in the injury or death of the careless or indifferent workman.

Printed Rules. I would suggest that the various companies comply with section 3515 of the law, which provides that the rules and regulations governing employees be printed in the language or languages used by the miners therein. The law is plain but, thus far, no effort has been made to give it effect.

Explosives. The various companies have been quick to take advantage of every expedient recommended for greater security in the mines, the adoption of "Permissible Explosives" being the most important of these. The difference in the coals require a different powder and the explosive that might be satisfactory in one mine, may not be so in another.

Blasting. A number of fatalities have occurred in mines where indiscriminate blasting is unrestricted, the miner being permitted to fire as many shots at one time as suits his purpose and inclination. That this method is dangerous and wrong is established by the many injuries and deaths recorded in the mines resulting from the promiscuous blasting of two or more shots. It often happens that the miner imagining that all his shots have exploded, or believing that one has failed, goes back to his working face to check the cause, and in so doing is caught in the explosion of the delayed shot, and either killed or seriously injured. One shot or blast at a time would prevent any uncertainties in this respect and would be safer.

The practice of firing at noon is not to be commended, because no matter how much air might be circulating through the mine, when forty or fifty heavy blasts are exploded in the current, the same becomes charged with the hot smoke and is in itself a great source of danger, for if a blow-out shot hurls its fire into this mixture, serious consequences might ensue, as such a mixture is highly explosive; besides, the workmen in the return air must suffer in breathing the noxious gases generated by the combustion of the powder.

Another source of danger requiring attention is the very careless manner indulged by the miners allowing their powder to lie in the open where it is exposed to naked lamps and sparks that fly from the same.

Safety Methods: The underground stables are a source of danger, by reason of the combustible materials used in their construction, and the quantity of hay necessary for the forage of the animals. No one should be allowed to enter the premises with open or naked lights, and every precaution is taken to guard against accidental fire.

Water pipes have been laid in many of the mines, and at regular intervals of time, a force of men are employed to see to it that sprinkling is done in such a manner as to keep the dust in a moistened or wet condition. In my judgment, all mines should be installed with a system of water pipes, whether they be wet or dry, so that in the event of a sudden fire a remedy is immediately available, and consequent loss and damage prevented. All stables, pip rooms and hoisting stations should be equipped with water pipes, as these are the most likely places for fires to originate, and little forethought in this respect might be the means of averting a calamity and much damage.

Old Methods. It is high time that the antiquated methods employed in the building of stoppings with common boards, wooden blocks, bone, brick and stone, or any material that will burn or be blown out, be abandoned, and modern methods applied that are free from any of these objections. An explosion rarely extends to all sections of the mine; then why is it that the miners working in that portion of the mine not affected by the force of the explosion must suffocate? Is it because the stoppings are too frail to withstand the force of the explosion and are therefore blown out, and before they can be rebuilt, even temporarily, and the current partially restored, the deadly after-damp, like an assassin, waylays and destroys them. This being true, as all must admit who are familiar with scenes in the mine after an explosion, then what is to be thought of the management of those directly in charge of such a mine who seeing the stoppings blown out like paper by an explosion, and the death of scores of men far away from the point where it originated or extended, will immediately rebuild those stoppings in the same manner as formerly. Would not this look like criminality?

The varied uses to which concrete is applied demonstrates its adaptability to stoppings in coal mines. When we remember that it is used for forts, railroad bridges and canals, that cement is comparatively cheap, and that sand and gravel, or suitable stone are usually conveniently near the mine, we should not hesitate a moment in adopting this indestructible material for the purpose of stoppings. In a few mines in District No. 1, such stoppings have been tried and in every instance with success.

Hazardous Occupation. Coal mining has always been a hazardous occupation and in its very nature always will be. We cannot hope to eliminate all the danger, but it is in our power to reduce them to a minimum and prevent the repetition of those awful holocausts that have shocked the civilized world. The government has tested various powders and recommend those least dangerous; it has inaugurated a first aid to the injured movement, which must result in benefit in case of accident; it has established rescue stations at different points in mining centers; it has cars equipped with modern appliances for rescuing parties to enter a mine where a fire is raging or after an explosion. The principal appliance is the oxygen helmet, designed to enable a person to live in smoke or gas, and bring to the surface those overcome by the fumes of either, where they can be treated medically in the car. These may in themselves prove to be good investments in the absence of assured methods of prevention. (1911 MIR)

1912

In The News

April 14, 1912: The passenger ship, the Titantic, hit an iceberg, ruptured its hull and sank.

1912: The last residents of Carbon left for other places for housing and employment. The town was now abandoned.

1912: Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 3.5 and No. 4 mines were opened in 1911 and completed their first year of production in 1912.

1912: The Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna mines moved from the room and pillar system of mining to the panel system of mining. Modern mining equipment started taking over the mining process.

MODERN MINING EQUIPMENT: HANNA COAL MINING UNDERCUTTING MACHINE (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

Hanna Miner

One man was killed in the mines. One widow and no children were left behind.

Tally Evans was killed December 18, 1912. He was an American, employed three years, age 18, a driver, and married. He was killed in the No. 4 mine at Hanna. He was switching mining machines from one working place to another, and was riding the chain between the machine and a loaded car, when for some unknown reason he was caught between the rib and a loaded car and was crushed to death. (1912 MIR) Tally was buried in Plot 72 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Four Union Pacific Coal Company mines in Hanna were producing coal.

1. Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 345,271 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 3 underground mine produced 256,933 tons of coal.
3. Hanna No. 3.5 underground mine produced 3,193 tons of coal.
4. Hanna No. 4 underground mine produced 29,583 tons of coal. (1912 MIR)

To better deal with serious injury and death in the Hanna mines, the Union Pacific Coal Company established a Board of Inquiry, whose duties were to examine and investigate all accidents or deaths. Two foremen from different mines, together with the superintendent or his assistant, made up the review board, but not the foreman of the mine in which the accident occurred. The hope was to examine what happened and put the necessary corrections in place to cut down on future accidents and deaths.

In addition to the Board of Inquiry, the position of boss driver was eliminated. The boss driver was turned into an assistant mine foreman. The reason for the change was to allow all the working sections of the mine to be patrolled during the day in order to cut down on serious and fatal accidents.

The Hanna mines in 1912 were fully complying with the law and providing printed rules and regulations to all employees in the language or languages of the persons working in and around the mines.

The old style black powder was still the explosive of choice by the Hanna miners. Each miner had to buy his own powder and the new kinds of powder were expensive.

The first aid men significantly changed the operation of the Hanna mines. When a man was injured, miner or otherwise, first aid men were notified and they immediately attended to the injured man. Previously, in large mines like Hanna, getting an injured man to the surface was a serious problem. Injured men were normally transported in coal cars to the surface and then to the hospital without anything being done to help the miner's suffering or attend to the injury. Many miners arrived at the hospital in serious condition, bleeding or suffering from shock. It was not the fault of the men in the mine trying to help the injured miner; it was the lack of knowledge on how to attend to the worker's injuries at the time the injury occurred. First aid boxes were placed throughout the mine in first aid stations. Some of the miners were highly trained to administer the first aide. Company doctors were highly supportive of the first aide teams. The mine management also accepted the first aid teams. Mine management supplied high quality supplies, along with meeting and training rooms.

The Draeger and Westphalia oxygen helmets were introduced in the mines. The helmets were designed to use for fighting fire at close range. In the event of an explosion, miners could use the helmets to immediately start rescue work without being overcome by after damp.

HANNA MINE RESCUE CREW WEARING DRAEGER AND WESTPHALIA OXYGEN GEAR (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

In 1912, the Hanna mines converted to the panel system of mining coal. A few pieces of modern undercutting machinery were introduced as early as 1910. With the panel system, modern mining equipment took over.

IN 1912, NEW AND MODERN COAL MINING EQUIPMENT LIKE THIS COAL UNDERCUTTING MACHINE WAS INTRODUCED IN THE HANNA COAL MINES. (HERITAGE CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING)

Decoration Day in Hanna was a time for the citizens to honor all the deceased soldiers with a parade and decorate their graves with flowers, flags and wreaths. It was one of the most important celebrations in Hanna. After the June 30, 1903 and March 28, 1908 mine explosions in Hanna, the day also included honoring the men that died in the coal mines. Decoration Day and Memorial Day were the same celebration in the early years. The holiday was legally changed to Memorial Day in 1967.

MEMORIAL DAY 1912 AT NO. 3 TOWN. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 634,980 tons of coal with 714 workers. The state produced a total of 7,341,141 tons of coal.

35 men were killed, 18 wives were left widows, and 41 children left fatherless.

120 serious non-fatal accidents were reported.

7 men were killed by dust explosions, 18 killed by falls of roof, 6 killed from falls of coal other than roof, 3 killed from mine cars and haulage motors, and 1 killed from falls of timber.

1 man was killed for every 157,150 tons of coal produced or 1 miner killed for every 162 men employed.

5,500,252 tons of coal was processed by 5,672 men employed.

I regret to report that the percentage of fatal accidents in District 1 for the period ending September 30, 1912 is considerably in excess of the prior year.

It has been a pleasure to note the permanent improvements established in many of the mines during my official career; the sinking of shafts, the installation of modern and up-to-date fans operated by the best machinery human genius could devise, for the purpose of causing an air current to circulate in the mines sufficiently for all requirements. If for any reason the air does not penetrate all the working faces, the fault lies not wholly with the company, but too often with the official known as the "Mining Boss," or mine foreman. It is common repute that there are still upon the payroll of some companies, mine foremen who have outlived their usefulness, so far as ability is concerned. They belong to a past age, an era of coal mining darkness, when men, like fungus on a rotting prop, lived on bad air; but now that the management's best interest demands safer and healthier conditions for their workers these old fogies, by reason of inability, laziness or both, are unable to deliver the "goods," and as Modern Progress comes marching along, they find fault, and wheeze and prate about the "good old times."
Fortunately for us and for the world, this type of man is fast being superseded by the active intelligent man able to see better things and who will not be satisfied until he gets them. He is up to date and spends all his time in the mine among his men, as he ought to do. He keeps his eye on his work, his track, the roof, and the men working under him. He causes crosscuts or breakthroughs to be driven at regular distances, of sufficient size to admit an abundance of air into the working faces. He closes up the old breakthrough with stoppings of suitable material immediately after a new one is opened, thus keeping his air upon the miners. He believes in the doctrine of fresh air and lots of it. He knows that good air preserves the health of his men; he also knows that the same agency is good for his roof and timber. He knows the drivers can haul more coal with good fresh air than otherwise, and that his mules are less tired at night. He knows that every argument capable of being uttered is in favor of good air and that none can be advanced against it. He knows that the gas, that great boggy of the mines, cannot accumulate in the face of a current of good strong fresh air, and he also knows that when he neglects to do his duty, as too often is the case, he is not a fit man for the place he occupies and ought to be fired. He realizes that to be up to date and progressive, he must keep abreast with current thought by reading the best coal mining literature obtainable, and he well knows that what was good practice twenty years ago is not good practice now, because coal mining, like all other enterprises, is demanding and getting greater consideration from thinking men than ever before in its history. I believe that every mine foreman in my district will read this report; that is why I speak plainly. I want him to know that unless he is capable of doing things, he must step down and make way for one who can. The ratio of fatal and non-fatal accidents has increased this year in spite of every possible effort to keep them down. The results show that nearly 75 percent of the fatalities in the mine occur by reason of negligence of the deceased. So many lives are lost because the workmen do not stop to weigh carefully the conditions they are laboring under.

The evidence at the coroner's inquests show the mine foreman or his assistants in every case gave due and timely warning of the danger confronting the workman, that timber was ordered set in places where the roof rock was bad but in all cases the orders were not obeyed, thus proving the futility of simply warning men and directing measures of safety. I believe the rule should be in all cases where danger exists, to not only warn, but see that safety methods are at once employed, and the man or men forbidden to load a car until his working place was free from all danger from fallen coal or rock. In my judgment, the present large number of accidents would be reduced if the last suggestion was put in effect and maintained as a fundamental policy of operation and management.

I regret to say that the practice of firing more than one shot at a time is still allowable in some of the mines; this practice wherever generally followed, leads to disastrous results, as has been demonstrated in times gone by. When two, three, and four shots are fired at one time in one room, and there are fifteen to twenty rooms in each entry ready to fire at the same time, it does not take much figuring to show that the atmosphere in that particular entry is charged to the explosive point; add to this the possibility of a blown-out shot, and you have an explosion resulting directly from this dangerous practice. A windy shot is liable to occur at any time to stir up the latent dust; this then, with the hot atmosphere made by the excessive firing when penetrated by a blown-out shot, will tell a story too horrible to contemplate. The shooting should be carefully regulated so as to not violate the conditions of safety in all our mines. The law should make it mandatory that all mines be equipped with a water system of some kind; that inside stables should be lighted with electric light only, and provide a heavy fine for anyone entering the same with an open light; provision for extinguishing a fire in its incipiency should be compulsory and finally no combustible material should be permitted in the construction of any inside stable. (1912 MIR)

1913

In The News

October 14, 1913: A massive coal mine explosion at the Sengenhydd mine in Wales killed 439 miners.

October 22, 1913: The Phelps, Dodge and Company coal mine in Dawson, New Mexico exploded killing 250 miners.

November 16, 1913: The school at the No. 3 mine in Hanna burned to the ground. The school caught fire from the new furnace recently installed.

1913: Hanna Mines No. 2, No. 3.5 and No. 4 installed concrete for all stoppings. The powder boxes in the mines were converted to concrete. The boxes were designed for the miners to store their explosive powder and squibs.

Hanna Miner

Two men were killed in the mines. No widows and no children were reported left behind.

1. Mike Ripoli,an Italian, employed two weeks, age 29 years, miner, single, was killed at the Hanna No. 2 mine. He was trying to pull down a loose piece of coal with a pick, when it fell breaking his left leg and injuring his foot. He died in the Rock Springs hospital on April 17, 1913. Death was due to septic poison infection through wounds on his leg. (1913 MIR) Mike’s burial place is unknown. (BL)

2. Joseph Angwin, was injured in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 underground mine in Hanna, he was taken to the Rawlins, Wyoming hospital where he died from his injuries. He was about 60 years old at the time of his death. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in plot 176. (BL) Joseph Angwin was employed in the Hanna mines was seriously injured last week by a car running over him and crushing him. He was brought to the Rawlins hospital in a dying condition and died there Monday afternoon. His body was taken back to Hanna where Reverand McCallum of the city transacted funeral services today. (Rawlins Republican, Sept. 4, 1913)

Four Union Pacific Coal Company mines in Hanna were producing coal.

1. Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 267,274 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 3 underground mine produced 213,234 tons of coal.
3. Hanna No. 3.5 underground mine produced 39,245 tons of coal.
4. Hanna No. 4 underground mine produced 85,800 tons of coal. (1913 MIR)

There are two seams of lignite coal being worked in the Hanna basin. These seams are known as the upper and lower seams, respectively. In the upper seam are located mines No. 3 and 3 1/2. This seam has an average height of 24 feet and an inclination of the west slope to the basin of approximately 10 degrees, and on the east slope an inclination of about 14 degrees. The distance from the west outcrop to the basin is approximately 3,000 feet and on the east slope to the basin of 2,500 feet. (1913 MIR)

No. 3 mine is a slope mine being developed with three parallel slopes driven on the pitch of the seam, with level entries turned right and left from the main slope at intervals of 450 feet. The rooms from these entries are driven up the pitch on 50-foot centers. All rooms are driven 20 feet wide. Cars from these rooms are handled with ropes and along the entries by mules and horses, and are taken to the surface on the main slope by a steam-hoisting engine. This mine is ventilated by a 20-foot Guibal fan, driven by a 16x24 steam engine. There are 140 men employed in this mine and the mine has an average daily output of 700 tons.

No. 3 1/2 mine is in the same seam as No. 3 and the physical conditions are identical. This mine is being driven as a panel slope, rooms being turned off the main slope on both sides at intervals of 60 feet, and are driven level for a distance of 50 feet, where cross-cuts are turned up the hill parallel to the main slope, making the manway and return air course. No further development work will be done in these rooms during the advance work until the main slope has reached the east out-crop, when these rooms will be developed in blocks of 20, starting from the east crop and retreating toward the slope mouth. The mining in this mine is all being done with machines and in the blasting nothing but permissible powder is used. Cars are handled to and from the room faces by the loaders and are taken to the surface by an electric hoist. A 10-foot Cole fan, driven by an electric motor, ventilates this mine. There are at present 45 men employed and the average daily output is 160 tons.

No. 2 mine is situated in the lower seam. This seam has an average height of 36 feet and an inclination of 16 degrees to the southeast. The opening is on the northwest out-crop. This mine is being developed by three parallel slopes driven on the pitch, with level entries driven right and left off the main hoisting slope at intervals of 450 feet, and rooms are driven up the pitch from these entries. This method was carried down to the seventh lift and the method then changed to panel work. Level entries are now being driven at intervals of 800 feet, right and left from the main slope, and the panel slopes every 600 feet off these level entries, and level rooms on 60-foot centers, right and left from the panel slopes. In the development of these panels, rooms are driven 20 feet wide and eight feet high. The intention is to recover the rest of the coal on the retreat. All work above the seventh lift is solid shooting. All work below the seventh lift is machine mining. Sullivan under-cutting machines of the short-wall type are being used, and all coal above the seventh lift is handled down the rooms with chutes and McGintys, and along the entries with electric motors to the slope. All coal below the seventh lift on the panels is handled to the panel slopes by the loaders, on the panel slopes by electric hoists, along the level entries with electric motors, and taken to the surface on the main slope with a steam hoist. All coal below the seventh lift is being shot down with permissible powder. A 20-foot Guibal fan, driven by a 16x24 steam engine, ventilates this mine and there is an auxiliary installation of a 10-foot Stevens fan, driven by a 13x12 steam engine. At present there are 210 men employed in this mine and the average daily output is 1,200 tons. (1913 MIR)

HANNA NO. 2 MINE, LOOKING FROM NO. 2 TOWN WEST TOWARD THE MINE. (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES)

POWDER HOUSE, HANNA MINE NO. 2 STILL STANDING. JUNE 2014. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

No. 4 mine is situated in the same seam as No. 2 mine and has the same system of development and working as No. 2 mine below No. 7 entry, and the conditions are in all aspects similar to those in No. 2 mine. There is the same system of haulage throughout. A 20-foot Guibal fan driven by an 18x36 steam engine ventilates this mine. At present there are 70 men employed in this mine and it has an average daily output of 300 tons. Concrete is now being used for stoppings in Nos. 2, 3.5, and 4 mines. The powder boxes in the mines belonging to the Company are made of concrete. William Hartman is the superintendent. The foremen are: Charles Higgins - No. 2 mine; G. W. Hughes - No. 3 mine; Edward Brooks - No. 3.5 mine. (1913 MIR)

AMBULANCES ON RAILS, LIKE THE ONE PICTURED ABOVE, WERE USED BY THE UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY TO STORE FIRST AID SUPPLIES AND TO EVACUATE INJURED MINERS FROM THE MINE. THE AMBULANCE TOOK THE PLACE OF OPEN COAL CARS. (LOCATION UNKNOWN) (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

Hanna Basin mines produced 605,553 tons of coal with 577 employees. District No. 1 produced 5,229,817 tons. The state produced a total of 7,095,652 tons.

21 men were killed in the mines, 6 wives were left widows and 9 children were left fatherless.

9 killed from falls of roof, 2 killed from falls of coal other than roof, 7 killed from mine cars and haulage motors, 2 killed from electrocution and 1 killed by other means.

1 life was lost for every 249,038 tons of coal produced or 1 miner killed for every 270 men employed.

65 men were seriously injured.

There were no labor troubles this year to mar the pleasant and peaceful relations existing between the owners and managers of the mines and their employees; and during the greater part of this period, labor has been in constant and steady demand, thus affording it the opportunity of earning a wage sufficiently large to purchase the necessaries of life and many of its comforts. No great disaster such as too often shocks the civilized world when an explosion occurs, has happened in any of our mines, due, I take it, to the everlasting vigilance and care of the men, whose duties require them to look after the welfare of the mines under their charge. There have been fatalities; too many of them, but a glance at the figures compiled for this report, will reveal the gratifying fact that the percentage of fatal accidents has decreased to a point lower than at any time during my official term as Inspector of Coal Mines. So long as coal mines are operated, injuries and fatalities must occur, and all we can do, is to throw every means of safety around the workmen, so far as in our power lies. This we are doing and I must state that I am receiving the active co-operation of the management in all I undertake and recommend in this respect. Not only do they co-operate with me, but many of them go farther and take the initiative in devising means for reducing injuries and fatalities to a minimum. This is notably so with some of the larger companies, who are sparing no expense to bring about conditions of safety in their mines that are decidedly worthy of emulation.

Concrete Stoppings: The life and well being of a coal mine might be truly said to depend upon the character of its stoppings. If they are built improperly, if they are frail and leaky, then they cannot answer the purpose for which they were intended. The ventilation and therefore the safety of the mine, can only be maintained by seeing to it that the stoppings are built in accordance with the very best methods, and that the material used in their construction be such as will, when completed, require no more attention during the life of the mine. This can be accomplished easily and cheaply by means of concrete poured into a form made of props and boards in the cross-cut and removed after the mixture has had time to set. I am glad to state that these stoppings are being introduced into some of the mines and are proving to be the right thing in the right place, and I would therefore recommend that they be used in all new work requiring dependability and permanency.

First Aid and Rescue Work: The First Aid Movement has taken a firm and permanent hold in the coal mines of this state. Wherever classes have been organized and fostered by the company, they have thrived and proven to be of great benefit to those receiving serious or minor injuries in the mine. The classes, under the supervision of a physician of good repute, soon become adept in the art of rendering First Aid treatment in case of broken bones or deep contusion. The members of these classes are scattered in all parts of the mine, and "American Red Cross" boxes are located in convenient places, so that should a workman be injured, he receives prompt attention and ready treatment from some member of the First Aid Team. The First Aid boxes are furnished freely by the company operating the mine, and all they ask in return is that the miners learn to make good use of them in time of need.

Rescue Work: The Rescue Work goes hand in hand with the First Aid. Those most proficient in one are usually proficient in the other. The object of the Rescue Crew is, by means of an oxygen helmet, to enter the mine in case of fire or an explosion - in the first place to fight the fire, and in the second, to explore the mine in search of those who might be entombed and alive, to restore ventilation, and rescue and bring out the bodies of the dead. For the purpose of making this work practical in all that the term implies, the Union Pacific Coal Company has purchased a car, which is being equipped in the same manner as the Rescue Cars belonging to the government. Should an accident occur in any of the mines along the Union Pacific Railroad, this car would at once be available, together with a splendid team of trained workers, under the direction of a capable man in charge of the work.

Explosives: Much experimenting has been done with permissible powder, an explosive recommended by the Government Bureau of Mines, with varying results. When the coal is fragile or brittle, the force of the blast has the effect of shattering it into slack and thereby rendering it unfit for commercial purposes. On the other hand, a hard, tough coal is best mined with permissible powder, because more blasting is required and this together with the safety element contained in the explosive makes it desirable that the same be used in preference to the dangerous black powder.
I regret to observe in this connection, that certain companies are very lax in their manner of handling powder. I have seen many kegs of black powder and fully twenty sticks of giant powder together with a box of caps lying in a cross-cut, unprotected. This practice is reprehensible and calls for condemnation. I called the attention of the management to this violation of the ordinary rules of safety and threatened that unless the situation was corrected at once, to invoke the law for that purpose. I do not believe that I shall have cause to complain of the matter again for those primarily responsible have given me the assurance that the offense will not be repeated.

Manways: Here, perhaps, I ought to mention the fact that it is a good system to keep the manway abreast of the slope, so that the workingman will have no excuse for traveling on the latter where great danger always exists from the trips of coal. On one occasion it became necessary for me to threaten to close a part of a mine because the manway was not advanced proportionately with the slope. I hope I shall never be compelled to resort to such measures and compliance with the law on the part of those in charge will make such a step impossible.

Ventilation: The ventilation of all the mines in this District is highly satisfactory; the long extensive entries receiving a requisite amount of fresh air equally with the shorter ones, the idea being to always furnish an abundant supply to all the working faces, and this much is now being done to the best ability of those in charge. (1913 MIR)

1914

In The News

April 20, 1914: The Ludlow Massacre occurred near Aguilar, Colorado.

July 28, 1914: World War I started. The United States was neutral at this time.

Hanna Miner

Four men were killed in the mines. Three wives were left widows and nine children were left fatherless.

1. Bruno Stebner, a German miner, age 34, employed 18 years, married with 3 children, was killed in Hanna No. 4 on May 21, 1914. Stebner was cleaning out No. 5 boiler. Before going into the boiler, he neglected to close the blow-off valve. Pipe men who were repairing No. 3 boiler's water feed line, opened the blow-off valve on No. 3 and the steam backed into No. 5 through the open blow-off valve. (1914 MIR) Bruno was buried in Plot 109 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. John Kallas [John Kalla], a Greek miner, age 25, employed 18 months, married with 3 children was killed in Hanna No. 3 on September 2, 1914. A piece of coal between two slips fell on him. (1914 MIR) His burial place is unknown. (BL)

3. Y. Nomasa [Y. Nomasha] [Yasutarou Nodachi] [Y. Nodate], a Japanese miner, age 48, employed 7 years, married with 3 children, was killed in Hanna No. 2 on September 18, 1914. Nomasa was shoveling coal into the chute when a large piece of coal fell from the face, causing his death. (1914 MIR) He was buried in Plot 303.14 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

4. R. Kido [Rikitarou Kido], a Japanese miner, age 43, employed 3 years, was killed in Hanna No. 2 on September 30, 1914. Kido was pushing a car out of his room when a large piece of coal fell off the rib in the room neck killing him. (1914 MIR) He was buried in Plot 303.13 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Four Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal in Hanna.

1. Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 264,168 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 3 underground mine produced 195,548 tons of coal.
3. Hanna No. 3.5 underground mine produced 48,556 tons of coal.
4. Hanna No. 4 underground mine produced 133,410 tons of coal. (1914 MIR)

CHECKING FOR GAS IN THE NO. 2 MINE (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

HANNA MINE NO. 2 DUMP AND POWER PLANT IN 1914 (STIMSON COLLECTION, WYOMING ARCHIVES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES)

HANNA COAL CHUTES LOOKING WEST, ABOUT 1914. (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

The Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 264,168 tons of coal with 495 workers. District No. 1 produced 5,137,843 tons of coal. The state as a whole produced a total of 7,221,992 tons of coal.

43 men were killed in the mines, 18 wives were left widows and 52 children were left fatherless.

100 men were seriously injured.

18 men were killed from falls of roof, 7 killed from falls of coal other than roof, 10 were killed by mine cars and haulage motors, 3 killed by explosion, 2 killed by electrocution and 3 killed by other means.

1 miner was killed for every 123,670 tons of coal produced or 1 miner killed for every 141 men employed.

Accidents. There was a decrease in the output of the mines during the year, due to the depression in business, which was general in the coal mining industry. As a result of this depression, many men have been thrown out of employment entirely, while those retained have been reduced to half time, or less, a condition which has brought hardships to families and individuals alike. With a decreased output, it would seem that we should naturally look for a corresponding decrease in the list of fatalities resulting from a diminished operation of the mines, but I regret to report that such is not the case in this district, due I take it, to the fact that the miners are influenced more or less by the general depression prevailing in the industrial world, and on that account, they become indifferent or neglect to exercise that degree of caution so essential to their preservation. At any rate, the percentage of fatal accidents has doubled from what it was a year ago. A glance at the tabulated list of fatalities will show that eighteen suffered death from falls of coal and rock, and this, despite the fact that greater precautions are being taken today in all our mines to safeguard the lives and limbs of employees, than ever before.

For the purpose of emphasizing the necessity of greater care in the mines, the workmen are every day reminded of the dangers surrounding them; rules governing their employment are posted in conspicuous places. Printed in their language, or languages, notices in black letters on a white background, containing legends, which are intended to remind them sharply of danger or of a dangerous vicinity, are placed where men usually congregate, or travel, to warn them away from electric wires, motor roads and other unsafe places. During the hours of labor, the mine foreman, their assistants, timber men and blasters are unremitting in their efforts to minimize dangers from falls of rock or coal, visiting the workings faces for the purpose of directing the workmen along the lines of safety. The first above mentioned are not required to affiliate with the miners' union and on that account are in a position to enforce their orders, but with the latter it is different. They must belong to the craft, and it too often happens that when they undertake to call attention to a flagrant violation of a well-known safety rule, they are hauled before their Local and roundly abused for exercising the functions of the mine foreman, or his assistant, this too, in face of the fact that in all probability the conduct of the timberman or blaster was the means of saving life or limb. This should not be permitted for a moment, by any Local in any coal camp, as such procedure engenders a spirit of timidity on the one hand, and defiance on the other, a fact which ultimately must lead to direful consequences. Take the position of fire boss, a man who above all others, must exercise considerable authority in maintaining safety in his district; he is a union man, necessarily, and if he is called "on the carpet," as is often the case, and by the very men he is attempting to safeguard, it is plain to see why this man is timid, and therefore why accidents such as explosions, happen in mines. The Union should encourage such men in their laudable endeavor to make conditions safe, and failing in this, the law should provide that all men in authority in a coal mine, should be exempt from union influence.

Timber is furnished freely and abundantly to the miner on his order, and delivered in proximity to his working face, cut square at both ends and of suitable length, or lengths, to meet every requirement. That the operators, are not niggardly in the matter of timber furnished the miners, is evidenced by the amount used annually; the Union Pacific Coal Company in its Rock Springs mines, alone, used last year, more than three million lineal feet, made into props for the working faces. In addition to furnishing a plentiful supply of timber, they have a safety inspector whose duties require him to visit all the mines and see to it that the company's rules and regulations are given effect.

At all mines a Board of Inquiry is established to investigate all serious and fatal accidents occurring, and to recommend such action by the authorities as will prevent the recurrence of such in the news, while the mine foreman is ordered to carry out the recommendation of the board to the fullest extent.
These are only a few of the many efforts being made to eliminate accidents in the mines, and yet they recur with alarming frequency, so much so that upon investigation, in many cases, the evidence disclosed of the gross carelessness, is so apparent as to almost justify the conclusion that suicide was the motive, which actuated the conduct of the person killed.

The accomplishment of a task along the lines of least resistance is responsible for many serious and occasionally fatal accidents; men will take chances and the easiest way, while not the safest, is too often resorted to and the resultant injury is charged to "bad luck" and not to "violation of rules of safety." If we could only bar the element of chance from the mind of the individual and teach him to know that in most cases, the longest way round is the surest way to safety, we will have solved the problem of the elimination of accidents to a very large extent. We fence off all the dangerous machinery, as required by law, but if a man deliberately thrusts his hand through the meshes of the grating in order to feel the bearings, or to do something unnecessary, who is to blame for the resulting damage?

By far the most important factor in coal mining is ventilation, so that those engaged in such work shall be supplied during their hours of labor, with sufficient air to maintain health and safety. In all parallel workings, break-troughs should be driven regularly and in accordance with the provisions of the law; the means should be provided by a fan of capacity large enough to furnish double the quantity required, so that should the current become lax, the fan could be speeded up and in this manner maintain the regulation amount of air throughout the mine. This applies to gaseous and non-gaseous mines alike, for in the latter; much black damp is encountered, which in the long run kills many of those, who unfortunately must work in it from day to day. I must say, however, that the spirit of progress dominates the minds of some of the operators, to an extent that continues to rank them, as pioneers along the lines of ventilation; when it is considered that many of the mines in this district are fully five miles in a straight line in length, with laterals more than a mile on either side, the question of adequate ventilation becomes a problem quite difficult and expensive to solve. Still it is being solved, a fact which is demonstrated every day by means of high power, electrically driven fans, forcing along the intricate channels of the underground workings, anywhere from 75,000 to 150,000 cubic feet of air per minute of each twenty-four hours.

That there are some violations of the strict letter of the law goes without saying, among the smaller companies this fact is more apparent than elsewhere. It often happens that to affect a savings they undertake to advance an entry as much as three hundred feet beyond the current air, making said place an unhealthful one to labor in. In all such cases, I am compelled to stop further progress until the matter of ventilation has been adjusted satisfactorily and in accordance with the requirements of the law. Again, by reason of deficient power or other causes, the ventilation apparatus is stopped during working hours and the men are allowed to continue their labors; a dangerous practice, and in my opinion one that should be corrected without delay, because where shots are fired, smoke and gas is generated and these with the resultant black damp are liable to overcome and cause death to some of the workmen.

The gaseous mines in this district are in good condition, the old workings are walled off, and an abundance of fresh air is circulated along the entries and working face of the mines, to carry away and render harmless any dangerous gas that might be encountered. (1914 MIR)

All mines in the district have adopted regular boxes in which the individual miner stores his powder and squibs, and the old practice of allowing this dangerous material to lie around exposed to lights has been discontinued.

The Union Pacific Coal Company, in addition to the above, has provided concrete powder houses, one for each mine, and the miner's powder is stored therein; to this building, the little powder jacks, holding six to eight pounds, are brought, and filled by a competent man and taken to a convenient place in the mine, where each morning they are handed out to the workmen; this is a good practice and I strongly recommend it to all the coal companies in this district.

For the better purpose of securing life and limb, in many of the mines, a safety first corps has been organized with this end in view. It is manifest that where there are from one to three hundred men employed, it is impossible for the mine foreman and his assistant to look after the safety of all, on this account the foreman has enlisted the services of the timbermen, blasters and other such employees as are competent to help out. That this organization will accomplish much good is apparent from the character of the men composing it.

First aid to the injured miner is increasingly important. This movement had its inception a few years ago, and is demonstrating its usefulness and beneficial effects every day. Practice meetings are held twice a week and no one is barred from their deliberations; on the contrary young men, especially, are urged to participate and become proficient in the art of binding up the wounds of those injured in or about the mines. Red Cross boxes are distributed in and about the mines, provided with the necessary appliances in case of injury; these are furnished by the company for use of their employees, and with each of the boxes is a stretcher and bedding for the more serious cases.

Recommendations, which were made in my first Annual Report, are hereby renewed as follows: That the Legislature empower the Governor to appoint a committee of an equal number of operators and miners, giving them authority to select some disinterested man, as the odd member. The committee is to draft a bill, which shall be enacted into law by the said Legislature, retaining such parts of the present law, as to present requirements, and adding thereto such amendments as should be adopted for safety.

It must be remembered, that our principal laws on coal mining were enacted about twenty-six years ago; at that time they were in line with progressive mining, and in all respects commendable, but we are advancing steadily in our methods and we are learning more as to the dangers in the mines and the manner of avoiding them; but it is difficult to compel some persons to heed a recommendation for safety in the absence of a mandatory law on that particular subject.

I deem it of the utmost importance that our laws be made to conform with mining in its advancing stages. In the interest of better discipline, measures should be enacted providing punishment of a drastic nature, to keep those doing or allowing things to be done, which are inimical to the safety of human life. That there is much room for improvements in our laws, is evident to those who are posted in such matters, and by the adoption of a method similar to the one outlined, a measure could be formulated to meet present exigencies, and prove beneficial to the business of coal mining, and a credit to our state.

That Section Six, Chapter Twenty-three, Session Laws of 1903, shall be amended and re-enacted to read as follows: The owner, lessees, or agent of any coal mine, whether shaft, slope, or drift, shall provide and maintain for every such mine, ample means of ventilation, affording not less that 150 cubic feet of pure air per minute for each and every person employed in said mine, and as much more as the circumstances may require, which shall be circulated around the main headings, cross-headings and working places to an extent that will dilute, carry off, and render harmless, dangerous and noxious gases that generate therein; the main air current shall be so split or sub-divided as to give a separate current or reasonably pure air to every fifty men at work, and the air current for ventilating the mine stables shall not pass into the intake air current. In mines generating fire damp, all abandoned places on any split of air, where there are no men employed, shall be carefully examined every alternate day and kept free of standing gas or properly walled off, and all places on any split of air, where men are employed, shall be carefully examined by the fire boss within two hours immediately before each shift, with a safety lamp, and in making said examination, it shall be the duty of the fire boss at each examination, to leave at the face of every place examined, evidence of his presence; and if any gas is found all entrances to said place shall be fenced off. After examination is made, the fire boss must go to the surface, and have all men employed in said mine, report to him and thus learn the condition of their working places before they enter the mine, and it shall not be lawful for any miner to enter any mine or a part of a mine generating fire damp until it has been examined by the fire boss afore said and by him reported to be safe. It shall be the duty of the fire boss, after each examination to record the findings of any gas, and the condition of his district in general, in a report book, which shall be furnished by the operator, said report to be open for inspection at any time by any employee of the mine. It shall be unlawful for an accumulation of gas to be removed while men are working on the return side of said gas, and it shall be unlawful for a fire boss to carry an open light.

That no miner or other employee shall take into any mine in this state a larger quantity of powder or other explosive than he may reasonably expect to use in any one shift, and all powder shall be carried into the mine in cans of a capacity not to exceed ten pounds, and all powder in the mine must be kept in boxes, which must be kept locked.

That it shall be unlawful for anyone to fire a blast until a competent man known as Shot Firer has examined the hole and powder, and all blasts must be tamped to the mouth of the hole with clay, or some non-combustible material.

That, in all mines where explosive gas, or other gas of a dangerous or poisonous nature is known to generate, the workmen shall be immediately instructed to withdraw from the mine, in case of the stoppage of the fan. And it shall be unlawful in all mines, where there is explosive gas, or other gas of a dangerous or poisonous nature, to use any other mechanical power for ventilating purposes, except fan power, and the fan shall be kept in operation night and day; but no mine operator shall be required to keep such fan going where it is necessary to shut down for the purpose of repairing machinery or doing some work in the mine which may make it necessary. And it shall be unlawful for any person to shut down the fan while the men are in the mine, unless the Mine Foreman is first notified.

That at any time any person, company, or corporation operating a coal mine, shall transfer the ownership of any mine to another person, company or corporation, the person, company, or corporations transferring such ownership, shall within thirty days make a report to the Mine Inspector of such change, and a statement of the tons of coal produced, number of men employed since the first of October last, previous to the date of such sale or transfer of such mine or mines.

That all underground stables, overcasts, and undercasts, shall be built with fireproof materials, and it shall be unlawful to have any more hay in the mine than is necessary for one day's feeding. All hay going into the mine, and the refuse coming out of the mine shall be completely covered to protect it from open lights, and no open light shall be allowed in any underground stable. All underground stables must be equipped with a water system, said water system to be placed on the intake airside.

That the District Mine Inspector shall be paid an annual salary of twenty-seven hundred dollars, making it about the same as our Mine Superintendent's salary. I also favor a miner's compensation bill. (1914 MIR)

Ludlow Massacre

One of the most horrific events in Wyoming mining history was the Ludlow Massacre. The massacre occurred in Colorado on April 20, 1914. It happened in Colorado, but the event directly and profoundly affected the citizens of the coal mining towns in Wyoming, including Hanna.

The Ludlow Massacre was an attack by the Colorado National Guard and the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, owned by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., on a tent camp of approximately 1,200 striking coal miners and their families. The massacre killed many men, women and children. Rockefeller was nationally blamed for the incident.

Over 100 years ago, the Rocky Mountains were the source of a vast supply of coal. At the peak, 16,000 people were employed and that accounted for 10 percent of all employed workers in the state of Colorado. It was dangerous work; in just 1913 alone, the mines claimed the lives of over 100 people. There were laws in place that were supposed to protect workers, but, largely, management ignored those, which led to Colorado having double the on-the-job fatality rate of any other mining state.

It was a time of company towns, when the coal companies owned all real estate, housing, doctors and grocery stores themselves. This led to the suppression of dissent, as well as overinflated prices and an extreme dependence on the coal companies for everything that made life livable. In some cases, workers couldn't even leave town, and armed guards made sure they didn't. Also, if any miner or his family began to air grievances, they might find themselves evicted and run out of town. (Unworthy.com 2015)

In the early 1900s, it was the United Mine Workers of American that organized the workers in Hanna as well as many other Rocky Mountain coal mining towns. In 1913, the coal miners went on strike in southern Colorado in an effort to improve their desperate conditions. The strike culminated in the April 20, 1914 Ludlow Massacre.

The miners went on strike for:

Recognition of the United Mine Workers of America as the workers' bargaining agent.
An increase in tonnage rates of coal mined by each miner, equivalent to a 10% wage increase.
Enforcement of the "eight-hour day."
Wages for mandatory "dead work” that usually wasn't compensated for, such as laying coal car track, timbering the entry, roof and walls, rock and slate removal, entry and walk way cleanup, and other such jobs assigned by the company.
The job known as "Weight Check Men” to be elected by workers. This was to keep company weight men honest so the workers got paid for their true work.
The right to use any store rather than just the company store and choose their own houses and doctors.
Elimination of company script.
Elimination of the company guard system.
Strict enforcement of mine safety laws.

In response to the strike, the various coal companies took severe action against the coal miners and their families.

The coal company evicted all the miners from their company homes, and they moved to tent villages on leased land set up by the UMWA. Company-hired guards (aka "goons") and members of the Colorado National Guard would drive by the tent villages and randomly shoot into the tents, leading the strikers to dig holes under their tents and the wooden beams that supported them.

No one knows who fired first. But by midmorning, it was war. Finding shelter in creek beds, foxholes and railroad cuts, the strikers sniped at the soldiers with hunting rifles and shotguns. Many of the union men had combat experience from European conflicts; maneuvering expertly, they sought to outflank the enemy position. State troopers were fewer at first, with less training and discipline, yet they dominated the battlefield. “The militia might have been outnumbered,” writes Scott Martelle in Blood Passion: The Ludlow Massacre and Class War in the American West, “but they were not outgunned.” Their machine guns fired thousands of rounds over the course of the day.

A soldier was shot in the neck and bled out. A striker “cried and cried” after being hit in the temple. A young man watching the battle had the top half of his skull blown off. An 11-year-old boy hiding in one of the tents fell dead with a bullet lodged in his brain. Wounded men and animals lay twisted across the field.

Militia reinforcements arrived throughout the afternoon. The strikers gradually fell back under the heightened assault by hundreds of soldiers. By 7 pm, the army pushed into Ludlow itself. The first tent began to blister and burn just as the sun was setting. (The Nation.com, 2015)

Scores of people were killed during the strike days. Unfortunately, most of those killed were women and children.

It was almost midday when rescue workers finally searched the maternity ward. Beneath the charred remains of the tent, they discovered the bodies of two young mothers and their eleven children, all of whom had suffocated. (The Nation.com, 2015)

It was an awful event, but it did bring about some positive changes to the local, state and national coal mining industry. The event forced important changes in child labor laws. It also brought about newly negotiated labor contracts, between the coal companies and the United Mine Workers of America, which enforced and clarified the eight-hour day, and it established improvements in many other important coal mine working conditions.

About three weeks prior to the Ludlow Massacre, the Rock Springs Miner, on April 4, 1914, reported the Hanna miners’ union voted to send $4000.00 to the striking miners in Ludlow, Colorado. The Hanna miners put their support, as well as their money, behind the strike.

1915

In The News

February 18, 1915: The famous outlaw Frank James died in Clay County, Missouri at age 72. He was thought to have operated in bad deeds in southern Wyoming.

September 17, 1915: Hanna No. 3 mine caught fire.

1915: St. Joseph's Catholic Church was built and located originally across from the coal chute on the east end of the Hanna.

1915: The Workmen's Compensation Act was passed and implemented in the Hanna Basin mines.

Hanna Miner

There was one fatality in the Hanna Basin mines. No widows or fatherless children were reported.

1. Don Woolsey, an American, age 20, employed two and one half years, single, was killed in Hanna No. 2 on July 24, 1915. He was a Rope Rider. Woolsey was riding up the slope on an empty trip and struck the roof of the slope with his head, he was knocked off the trip and under the cars. (1915 MIR) Don was buried in Plot 107 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Four Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal.

1. Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 209,119 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 3 underground mine produced 186,661 tons of coal
3. Hanna No. 4 underground mine produced 190,630 tons of coal. (1915 MIR)

The Hanna Mines were all slope mines. They were mined using the room, pillar and panel methods. The mine ventilation was from a steam driven fan, except for mine No. 3.5, which had an electric fan for ventilation.

Abandoned and smoking workings of the Hanna No. 3 mine caught fire.

Hanna Mine Burning. Old Hanna mine No. 3 which has even burning for about a year, has broken into a blaze reaching forty to fifty feet high. The miners are using dynamite in an effort to blow up some of the workings and smoother the fire. Large holes, some of them as large as two story building, have occurred in the surface about the mine, and the whole region is shunned. The fire is not endangering any of the working mines. (Laramie Republican, 1917)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 586,410 tons of coal with 605 employees. District No. 1 produced 4,460,169 tons of coal with 5,363 total employees. The state produced a total of 6,268,990 tons of coal.

18 men were killed in the mines, 10 wives were left widows and 37 children were left fatherless.

107 men were seriously injured.

7 men were killed from falls of roof, 4 killed from falls of coal other than roof, 1 was killed by mine cars and haulage motors, 1 killed by explosives and 5 killed by other means.

1 miner was killed for every 247,787 tons of coal produced or 1 miner killed for every 298 men employed.

Our laws make it incumbent on the mine foreman or his assistant to visit each working place every alternate day. In my opinion, this is not enough. The mine foreman should not be satisfied with simply complying with the letter of the law, but should devote his entire time to visiting the working places and seeing to it that everything possible is being done to safeguard the lives of the men. Further, I am sorry to state, the foreman and his assistant, as a rule, have so many other duties to perform that it is impossible for them to do more than they are doing at the present time. The practical miner knows that it is his duty to examine the working face at the beginning of each shift to see that it is in a safe condition, but judging from the time of day the majority of accidents occur, he does not always do his duty in this respect, as the practical miner often becomes the victim of a serious or fatal accident, due to carelessness and indifference to his surroundings.

Some of the mines have roof inspectors whose duty requires them to visit the working places and see that they are kept safe, if on such visits, the inspector finds a condition that is dangerous, he at once calls the attention of the workmen to it and at the same time shows them what is necessary to be done. If he sees that the men are not liable to obey his instructions, he threatens to stop their cars, so as to bring about punishment by reducing their earnings and then continue on his rounds. In some cases this threat has the desired effect, but in the majority of cases it is entirely ignored and when the roof inspector returns to this particular place, which might be the afternoon of the same or the following day and finds that his recommendations have not been attended to, he notifies the mine foreman, who in turn goes to that particular pale and compels the miners to correct the fault.

Where the mines are large, it is impossible for the roof inspector to see the working faces more than once a day, and should an accident occur in the meantime, the inspector is called to account, and the answer given him is that by reason of so much work to do he can only find time to suggest remedies as he goes along, depending upon the workmen to carry out his suggestions. This manner of inspection, in my opinion, is a farce and will not accomplish the purpose it is intended, namely of eliminating accidents at the working face. The inspector should be required, upon finding an unsafe place, to remain there to see to it that the danger is removed before he leaves. Closer inspection of the working faces means a reduction in fatal and non-fatal accidents. Closer inspection of the working faces means fewer widows, fatherless children and fewer cripples.

The majority of accidents in this district are due to falls of the roof. Out of 32 deaths occurring in 1911, 14 were due to this cause alone. Out of 35 deaths in 1912, 18 were due to falls of roof and 6 to falls of coal other than roof coal. Out of 21 accidents in 1913, 9 were due to falls of roof and 2 to falls of coal other than roof coal. Out of 43 deaths in 1914, 18 were due to falls of roof and 7 to falls of coal other than roof coal. Out of 17 in 1915, 8 were due to falls of roof and 3 to falls of coal other than roof coal. I believe that the majority of these accidents were preventable, had the working faces been properly inspected during working hours by competent roof inspectors.

The majority of men employed in the mines are foreigners, many of them come directly from their own country and are not familiar with our language nor our ways, and it is impossible to make them understand the dangers they encounter in the work. Their ignorance brings to themselves injury and death, and at the same time they endanger the lives of others, for it often happens that the ignorance of one causes the death of many.

Interested observers often ask the question: "Why are there so many accidents in coal mines?" This is easily answered when it is understood that many of our mines have miles of underground workings, wherein are employed from 200 to 250 men, the majority of them ignorant of the methods employed for protecting themselves, save such instructions as are given them by the mine foreman or his assistant. It is true that the rules governing the workmen are printed in the languages of the employees, and the same are posted in conspicuous places in and around the mines, yet it is also true that when the miners go to work in the morning, they are in a hurry and returning at night are the same, for that reason they do not take time to read and post themselves in relation to the duties imposed upon them for their safety and protection. Hence, the necessity for roof inspectors or competent men to visit them during their working hours each and every day, to remain with them and teach them the methods of mining coal and the simple rules of safety.

Everyone knows that coal mining is one of the most hazardous of occupations, but I firmly believe there is less supervision in this industry, considering the number of men employed, than any other. For every thirty men employed as miners or loaders, there should be one roof inspector that, like the mine foreman and his assistant, should have authority to enforce discipline in the mine. They should have the power to order out of the mine, and if necessary discharge any men who refuse to set props for their own safety.

The inspector could fire the shots, examine the drill holes and the amount of powder used, see that they are tamped properly and that no shot be fired, if, in their judgment the same is unsafe. This would put the shot firing into the hands of practical miners. The objection of the operators to the employing of roof inspectors for every thirty men at the face, might not be the additional expense incurred, due to the wages of these men, which must come out of the cost of coal, but when we consider that this expense would ultimately be the means of a greater output, saving of timber, less delay in repairing track, less waste of coal and safer working places, which is the noblest of all considerations, the protection of human life then, in this case, it would seem that the employment of such would be highly beneficial to all concerned.

Those who claim that the employment of inspectors for every thirty men would be an additional expense, now in full operation, should consider the Workmen’s Compensation Act. For every man killed, the operator pays one thousand dollars, with the loss of the day's output when he was killed and the day of his burial, which all means additional dollars to the operator.

If by careful supervision, the percentage of fatal accidents could be reduced one half, the operator’s savings would more than compensate the expense of employing roof inspectors in the mines.
I am pleased to note that the Superior Coal Company mined more than one million tons of coal without one fatal accident during the fiscal year of 1915. This is a record I would like to see emulated in all the mines in the State of Wyoming.

The gaseous mines in this district are in good condition, an abundance of fresh air is created along the entries and working faces of the mines to array away and render harmless any dangerous gas that might be encountered. The old abandoned workings, not sealed off, are the most dangerous places in any gaseous mine for the redo that they are not examined daily, but two or three times a week. In some mines the abandoned entries are sealed off, while in others they are open. There seems to be a difference of opinion regarding the sealing off of old abandoned workings among mining men. In my opinion, whenever it becomes impossible to make a daily examination of all workings, then the old abandoned places should be sealed off.

During the past year the mines have been working about half the time, and in making my visits, I found that the mining law regarding the examinations of gaseous mines was not being complied with. In some gaseous mines, a portion of the gas watchmen were laid off on idle days, making it impossible for the one retaining to make the examination as required by law. I am forced to admit that during the times the mines are working poorly, the same precaution is not exercised as when they are working full time, and I have had to threaten prosecution to those not obeying the law. It should be remembered by all concerned that the accidents, which destroyed some of the best mining men in the state, occurred when the mines were working about half time.

The Mining Law is very plain in the matter of examination of gaseous mines, so plain that no one can err in the meaning of the law, it reads as follows: "In mines generating fire-damp a worked out or abandoned part thereof shall be kept free of standing gas, or properly walled off and the entrance thereto closed, and cautionary notice posted on the stopping to warn persons from danger, and every working place and all other places where gas is known to, or supposed to exist, shall be carefully examined by the fire-boss, within two hours immediately before each shift, with a safety lamp, and in making said examination it shall be the duty of the fire-boss at each examination, to leave at the face of every place examined, evidence of his presence. It shall be unlawful for any miner to enter any mine or part of a mine generating fire-damp until it has been examined by the fire-boss aforesaid and by him reported to be safe."

Safety can only be guaranteed in knowledge applied without stint on the part of the management; knowing what ought to be done and refusing or neglecting to do it on account of the expense involved, thereby inviting disaster and loss of life, is criminal and should be so regarded.

Our state for a number of years has been spared mine disasters such as have occurred in this country in recent years, but freedom from them for a few years cannot, and should not, be taken as a guarantee of immunity in the future. The ventilation in some of the mines, which are called non-gaseous, is not up to the standard. I have, on several occasions, been forced to have the men withdraw from their working places on account of black damp, these men have generally been working on entry stumps.

About 90 percent of the workmen working in the mines in this district are using acetylene lamps, otherwise known as carbide lamps. On some occasions, I have found men in places using this lamp when it was impossible to burn an ordinary oil lamp. The use of carbide lamps in places containing black damp has been condemned by this office, for the reason that it is an illuminant that will burn in an atmosphere dangerous to life, and since it is being retained in place of the oil lamp, the men being deprived of the only light that will enable them to realize they are working in deadly black damp. Many of the miners favor the carbide lamp, because of its brilliance and clean light, but the old saying is: "All that glitters is not gold."

I am pleased to note that many improvements in the handling of explosives have been made during the year, in all the mines in this district. All powder is taken into the mine in powder jacks, and no one is allowed to take any more than is necessary for one day's work. All men using powder are compelled to have a box in which to keep the same. Permissible powder is being used exclusively in some of the mines, and in the near future the majority of coal mined in this district will be shot with this kind. Clay is used, and a wooden tamping bar. Any miner found using other than clay tamping is sent out of the mine, and every other precaution possible is taken in the handling of explosives in a majority of the mines. In mines where the coal is undercut by machinery, but little powder is required to blast it down, and for that reason it is not necessary to fire any shots during working hours, but in mines where the vein is from 5 to 6 feet thick, and must be shot from the solid, it necessarily follows that frequent blasting must be done during the hours of labor, in some cases the miner being restricted to two shots a day, at noon and at quitting time. The firing at noon is not to be commended, because a number of shots are fired within a few minutes of each other, thus filling the entry with hot smoke, which is in itself a great source of danger, however, should a blowout shot hurl itself into the mixture, it might be with serious results to the men in the mine. Whenever it is necessary for men to fire during the noon hour, every shot or blast should be examined and a competent person should carefully judge the amount of powder that is to be used, because our experience in the past has demonstrated to us the advisability of all preparations for a blast, in the interest of safety.

Manways throughout the district are in good condition, but in many of the mines the workmen have to travel the haulage road a considerable distance before they get to the manway, which is running parallel with the slope, or the main haulage road to the surface. Entries, which used to be mule roads, are now power haulage roads to the surface. These roads are a mile and over in length. The workmen have to travel these roads to and from their work. Along some, the timber is very close to the track, also, dirt is gobbled along the roadway. Haulage roads that men travel to and from their work should be kept clear of refuse and materials of all kinds except timbering. Said timbering should be at least two and a half feet from the rail. Trolley wires or other exposed electrical wires should be on the contrary side from that which is traveled by the men. Refuge holes should be made every thirty yards and kept white washed.

The watchword of today in coal mining is Safety First, Last and Always. The time is rapidly approaching when the company that surrounds its employees with the necessary safeguards to life and limb, and practices and instills this safety motto into its employees all down the line, will be rewarded by the perfectly natural result of securing voluntarily the services of the best and most careful men. Remember: Accident prevention is First Aid to the Uninjured.

Safety and Efficiency: The superintendent who spends two-thirds of his time outside the mine and does not know what is happening inside the mine will never be general manager. DON'T DEPEND ON HEARSAY. GO SEE FOR YOURSELF.

With the exception of honesty, timbers should be the most plentiful thing around a coal mine.
Square dealing and proper treatment will get more coal at less cost than sharp practices.

A leaky stopping is a silent partner to the undertaker.
Coal dust will explode: Do not allow it to accumulate.
Clean it up and load it out, and until it is removed, keep it wet.
Wet the dust so that it will not float in the air. Coal dust once wet should never be allowed to dry.
Put the water (moisture) to it. In the early Fall turn the exhaust from your fan into the Intake and warm and humidify the air current.
A dry mine is a dangerous mine: The best and simplest test is to pick up a handful of dust and squeeze it. If it sticks together it is wet enough, if does not stick, turn more steam in to the air-current and sprinkle the dust. This test should be made frequently and should begin at the intake and end at the face of the furthermost split. (1915 MIR)

1916

In The News

April 21, 1916: Bill Carlisle, the infamous “last train robber,” robbed the passengers on the Union Pacific San Francisco Limited near Hanna, Wyoming.

August 19, 1916: The first annual First Aid competition was held at Rock Springs, Wyoming at the baseball park.

1916: The first binding contract between the United Mine Workers of America and the Southern Wyoming Coal Operators was reached and became effective in the Hanna mines.

Hanna Miner

There were three fatalities in the Hanna Basin mines. Two wives were left widows and six children were left fatherless.

1. Thomas Ukola, Finlander, miner, age 55, employed five years, married with three children, was killed in Hanna No. 3 on March 14, 1916. Thomas was killed while working for the Union Pacific Coal Company. Ukola’s partner had pulled some loose top coal down. Within a minute after this coal was pulled down, the top coal fell back for about a distance of 40 feet and struck Ukola on the head. Ukola was standing about 30 or 40 feet back from the place where his partner pulled the loose coal down. Ukola was killed by a fall of coal from the roof. (1916 MIR) Thomas was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. Haris Barouxakis, Greek, miner, age 25, single, employed for 12 months, was killed in No. 2 on August 3, 1916. He was killed in No. 2 mine in Hanna owned by the Union Pacific Coal Company. The motorman left Barouxakis an empty car. He and his partner pushed their loaded car out of the room but did not put it far enough out on the entry for the empty car to clear the switch. Instead of pushing the loaded car farther down, Barouxakis got between the empty car and lower rib of the entry to lift the empty car into the room switch, and while lifting the empty car he came in contact with the trolley wire and was electrocuted. (1916 MIR) His burial town or place is unknown. (BL)

3. Mat Ukkola, Finlander, age 46, employed 8 years, wife and 3 children, killed in No. 3 1/2 on October 14, 1916. Mat was killed in the employment of the Union Pacific Coal Company in Hanna. He was lowering a car down the Main Air Course with a rope around a prop. He was standing on the lower side of the prop. The prop pulled out and struck him on the head. He walked out of the mine with his partner and was taken to the hospital. He did not seem to be hurt very badly and was conscious all the time and apparently improving. He became unconscious at 6:30 P.M. and died at 7:00 P.M. (1916 MIR) Mat was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Four Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal.

1. Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 330,332 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 3 underground mine produced 15,618 tons of coal.
3. Hanna No. 3.5 underground mine produced 144,363 tons of coal.
4. Hanna No. 4 underground mine produced 236,409 tons of coal. (1916 MIR)

William Hartman was superintendent of all the Hanna mines.

Mechanical Loading in the Mines

Starting in 1916, the Thew shovel, Joy Loader and other mechanical loading machines were used for loading coal in the No. 2 and No. 4 mines. In addition, electric locomotives called Motors partially replaced horses and mules for moving the coal on rails to the surface. Entries, which used to be mule roads, were slowly being converted to power haulage roads. The underground roads were miles in length. The miners had to travel the roads to and from their work place and they proved to be deadly if extreme caution was not taken.

Mechanical loading in the Hanna No. 4 mine dates from January, 1916, at which time the first Thew shovel was put into operation. The Thew shovel is an electric driven machine of the swinging boom type, similar to those used in strip pit mining or railroad grading work. Since these shovels require a minimum of 15 ft. overhead clearance, their use in under ground mining is prohibitive in ordinary mining operations. Only in the very unusual conditions of roof and height of coal prevailing in the Hanna mines, when the seam is 32 ft. thick, makes their use possible. (The Union Pacific Coal Company, Feb. 1930)

The first successful loading with Thews [in Hanna] started in the latter part of 1916 and the various difficulties of blasting, car service, and maintenance were gradually eliminated. The hardest problem to solve for Thew loading was the proper blasting of the top coal so that the coal would not come down in lumps which the Thew could not handle. This still presents some difficulty, but a careful study of placing of holes and different kinds of powder has cut this source of delay to a negligible factor. (The Union Pacific Coal Company, Feb. 1930)

THE FIRST THEW ELECTRIC SHOVELS WERE USED IN THE UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY’S NO. 2 AND NO. 4 MINES IN HANNA (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

When the Thews got underway it was soon found that rooms could not be advanced rapidly enough by hand methods to keep the Thews in continuous operation and a search was started for a machine that would advance the rooms in the bottom bench rapidly enough to keep the Thew shovel in continuous operation. The Joy 5-BU has proved to be the answer to the room driving question and since their installation the Thew shovels have had a continuous supply of coal. (The Union Pacific Coal Company, Feb. 1930)

5-BU SELF-PROPELLED JOY LOADER IN HANNA NO. 2 MINE (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Mining in rooms is two distinct operations. The room is advanced to the fault in the bottom coal by means of Joy loaders, and the top bench is then removed by Thews, Joys, or scraper loaders. In the recovery of top coal by means of Thew shovels or Joys the coal is shot down ahead of the machine for a distance of 75 feet. Care must be taken not to have more than this amount of broken coal on account of the pile firing before being loaded out. The advance of a loading machine in these piles averages approximately 10 ft. per day. After the top coal has been removed the Thew shovels are moved back under their own power to a cross-cut near the neck of the room which has been driven that it is on the regular pitch of the seam. When the shovel reaches this cross-cut it is snubbed down the pitch to the room below by means of an ordinary block and tackle.

After the Joy loader has cleaned up a room in the bottom coal it is moved to a position over the track by mans of the caterpillar tractor upon which it operates while loading. It is then run up on wooden blocks to allow the wheels to be replaced for travel along the room track to the panel. After reaching the room neck the machine is moved to a new location by the panel hoist. Connection between the loading machine and the panel trip is made with a short piece of hoisting cable. The length of time required for this move varies with the length of the rooms. (The Union Pacific Coal Company, Feb. 1930)

Scrapers were used by the Union Pacific Coal Company to help eliminated loading coal by hand. The scrapers were used to scoop up the loose coal and move it to a point were the Joy machines could load the coal.

COAL SCRAPER (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

First Aid Teams

Competitive First Aid teams were established. It was now generally accepted that men injured in the mine had a better chance of recovery or even survival if immediate medical attention was given while the injured worker was still in the mine, or at least administered prior to arriving at the hospital. The First Aid competition held in Rock Springs for the first time in 1916 between the mines in District 1 gave the Fist Aid movement a new level of importance. Just like the fierce baseball competition between the mines generated a town following and established a tremendous level of pride among the citizens, so did the First Aid competition. It was now “our town against your town” for the championship. The first year there were fourteen First Aid teams in the competition, with six men on each team. Dr. J.H. Young of Rock Springs was the official judge.

The competition was a big deal to the Hanna miners. The men pictured below made up the 1916 Hanna team. In the one-man event, the problem to deal with was four fingers on the left hand severely crushed, and a profusely bleeding, lacerated wound on the palm of the hand. The men had to treat and carry the victim twenty feet by a shoulder lift. Four teams scored one hundred points, including Hanna. Straws were pulled for the prizes. Thomas Foster, Assistant Mine Foreman of the No. 10 mine in Rock Springs, pulled the lucky straw, winning first prize, which was a suit of clothes. In the two-man event, the problem was an unconscious man found lying on an electric wire across his abdomen. There was also a simple fracture of the right forearm. The men had to rescue the victim, then treat the injuries. Artificial respiration had to be performed for two minutes. Five teams, which included the team from Hanna, scored 100 points. Straws were pulled for the prizes. Thomas Town of Hanna pulled the lucky straw, winning the first prize of fifteen dollars.

FIRST AID AND MINE RESCUE CONTEST IN ROCK SPRINGS (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

HANNA'S FIRST AID TEAM. THOMAS HUGHES IS SEATED IN THE MIDDLE AND JOE WOODS IS SEATED ON THE FAR LEFT. THE OTHER MEN ARE UNKNOWN, BUT ONE OF THEM IS THOMAS TOWN. (BONNE AMAON COLLECTION)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 726,722 tons of coal, with 625 workers. District No. 1 produced 5,526,832 tons of coal, with 4,838 workers. The state produced a total of 7,696,344 tons.

22 men were killed in the mines, 10 wives were left widows and 33 children were left fatherless.

220 men were seriously injured.

12 men were killed from falls of roof, 3 killed from falls of coal other than roof, 3 were killed by mine cars and haulage motors, 1 killed by explosives, 2 killed by electrocution and 1 killed by other means.

1 miner was killed for every 251,220 tons of coal produced or 1 miner killed for every 220 people employed.

September thirtieth, 1916, marks the closing of the most successful fiscal year in the history of coal mining in district number one of the State of Wyoming. Although in the majority of the mines in district number one during the past year there has been a scarcity of men, still the year shows a greater production than any year in the history of Wyoming. I wish to state that the relations existing between the United Mine Workers of America and the operators have been cordial and mutually pleasant during the year drawing to a close, and both parties signed a contract for a period of two years. Improvements were made in many of the mines, affected by the cleaning up of the road and traveling ways, by clearing them of loose coal debris which has been a source of much annoyance and very dangerous, particularly to the drivers. Our law is not plain on this point and technically is being taken advantage of.
In a great number of our mines in this district, stock are stabled underground and in some of the stables a great deal of combustible material is used in their construction. Hay is taken into some of the mines without being covered, and after it is unloaded from the cars it is sometimes left lying along the entry or slope for a considerable length of time before it is removed. Wherever there are stables with a great deal of combustible material, hay coming into the mine uncovered and left lying around, we have a constant danger. We have no law in regard to the building of underground stables, and recommendations to some, unless you have the power to enforce them, I am sorry to say are of no avail.

The mining laws need to be overhauled and amended and made to conform to present day needs, and that the same be done in the following manner: That the legislature empower the governor to appoint a committee of an equal number of operators and miners, giving the committee authority to select the odd member. The committee to draft a bill which shall be enacted into a law by the coming legislature, retaining such parts of the present law as apply to present requirements, and adding thereto such amendments as ought to be adopted for safety. It must be remembered that our principal laws on coal mining were enacted twenty-five years ago. At the time they were in line with progressive mining, and in all respects commendable. But we are advancing steadily in our methods and we are learning more as to the dangers in the mines and the manner of avoiding them; but it is difficult to compel some persons to heed a recommendation for safety in the absence of a mandatory law on that particular subject. I deem it of the utmost importance that our laws be made to keep step with mining in its advancing stages. In the interest of better discipline, measures should be enacted providing punishment of a drastic nature to those doing or allowing things to be done that are inimical to the safety of human life. That there is much room for improvement in our laws is evident to those who are posted on such matters, and by the adoption of a method similar to the one above outlined, a measure could be formulated to meet present exigencies and prove beneficial to the business of coal mining and be a credit to our state. (1916 MIR)

1917

In The News

April 6, 1917: The United States, under the leadership of President Woodrow Wilson, set aside neutrality and declared war against Germany.

1917: Schools were closed and public events canceled due to Scarlet Fever.

1917: Sixty-four young men from Hanna were drafted into World War I. This seemed like a large number of men for such a small population.

1917: A new agreement was reached with the Union Mine Workers and the Southern Wyoming Coal Operators.

1917: The Indian paintbrush was adopted as the state flower of Wyoming.

1917: The town of Elmo was incorporated. Thomas Mangan was the first mayor.

Hanna Miner

Six men were killed in the mines. One wife was left a widow and three children left fatherless.

1. Y. Ousmi, [Yoshiya Oosumi], Japanese miner, age 34, employed 6 months by the Union Pacific Coal Company, single, was killed in Hanna No. 2 on Jan. 23, 1917. The deceased was engaged in drawing a pillar in Room No. 30. He was cleaning up some loose coal that had fallen on the entry track below the mouth of his room in order to push his empty car to the chute to load it. While he was thus engaged, a large chunk of coal fell from the rib, carrying some of the roof coal with it, falling on the deceased's back, injuring him internally. He was taken to the hospital where he died at about 8:30 the same day. He died from a fall of coal. (1917 MIR) Yoshiya was buried in Plot 303.12 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. Mike Debakis, Greek miner, age 38, employed 3 years by the Union Pacific Coal Company, wife and 3 children, was killed in Hanna No. 2 on Feb. 22, 1917. When Mike Debakis and his partners went to work in the morning they sounded their roof and found it in good condition. They then sounded their ribs and found a place on the right rib that sounded loose. They tried to pull it down, but failed. Mike Debakis then started to undermine it and, while doing so, it fell, killing him instantly. He died from a fall of coal. (1917 MIR) It is not known where Mike was buried. (BL)

3. William Pelton, American miner, age 48, employed 6 months by the Union Pacific Coal Company, single, was killed in Hanna No. 2 on Mar. 22, 1917. Pelton and his partners were cleaning out a room that had caved. The partners of Pelton left the face and went down, and were loading a car when they heard a fall. Rushing back to their work place, they found that some of the pillar and the roof had fallen, but they could not see Pelton. It took several hours before Pelton's body was recovered. (1917 MIR)  William Pelton was buried in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. (Kinnaman)

4. George Hnaras, Greek miner, age 27, employed 1 year by the Union Pacific Coal Company, single, was killed in Hanna No. 2 on April 23, 1917. Hnaras and his partner fired a shot at 10:30 a.m. in the bottom coal; this left the top coal standing; they loaded five cars out of this shot and were loading the sixth, but did not have enough coal to finish it. Hnaras then took a pick to pull down some of the top coal that was left from the bottom shot. While he was doing this, the top coal fell, killing him instantly. He had been warned by the shot-firer to pull his coal down before he started to load his cars. His death was classified as a fall of coal. (1917 MIR)  George’s burial place is unknown.  BL)

5. S. Nakayama, [Satoru Nakayama] [Satoshi Nakayama], Japanese miner, age 27, employed 30 days by the Union Pacific Coal Company, no wife or children reported, was killed in Hanna No. 2 on August 16, 1917. Deceased was working along with his partner in No. 24 Room on No. 5 Entry, and was loading coal into the chute when some rock fell, killing him. His death was classified as a fall of rock. (1917 MIR) He was buried in Plot 303.12 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

6. Mike Corsifakis, [M. Coreifakis], Greek miner, age 35, employed 4 years by the Union Pacific Coal Company, no wife or children reported, killed in Hanna No. 2 on Nov. 28, 1917. The deceased and two partners were loading a car, when they thought they heard a shot or a bump.  After listening for a few minutes, they again started to load the car, when the place caved, killing him. It was found that it was a bump they heard instead of a shot. The death was classified as a fall of top coal. (1917 MIR)  His place of burial is unknown. (BL)

Four Union Pacific Coal Company mines in Hanna were producing coal.

1. Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 436,732 tons of coal.
2. Hanna No. 3 underground mine produced 72,338 tons of coal.
3. Hanna No. 3.5 underground mine produced 59,107 tons of coal.
4. Hanna No. 4 underground mine produced 276,154 tons of coal. (1917 MIR)

W. L. Cowdrey was superintendent of all the Hanna mines.

In the Hanna Basin, 1 miner was killed for every 140,721 tons of coal produced or 1 miner killed for every 105 people employed.

Wyoming Miner

The Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 844,331 tons of coal, with 630 workers. District No. 1 produced 6,047,748 tons of coal, with 5176 total employees. The state produced a total of 8,789,514 tons of coal.

36 men were killed in the mines, 11 wives were left widows and 33 children were left fatherless.

194 men were seriously injured.

14 men were killed from falls of roof, 11 killed from falls of coal other than roof, 5 were killed by mine cars and haulage motors, 1 killed by railroad cars, 2 killed by explosives, 1 killed by electrocution and 2 killed by other means.

1 miner was killed for every 167,993 tons of coal produced or 1 miner killed for every 144 miners employed. (1917 MIR)

1918

In The News

October 13, 1918: William D. Jones, Hanna resident: (World War I Casualty) PRIVATE, COMPANY E, 30th INFANTRY, died October 13, 1918 from wounds received in action. He was buried in the Hanna cemetery in plot 72. He was 26 years old.

August 6, 1918: Peter Arthurs, Hanna resident: (World War I Casualty) PRIVATE, U. S. ARMY 58th INFANTRY REGIMENT, 4th DIVISION, was killed in action August 6, 1918 and buried at Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois, France in Plot B, Row 7, Grave 6. No monument is located in the Hanna Wyoming cemetery. He was 23 years old.

1918: November 11: World War I ended at at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The First World War left nine million soldiers dead and 21 million wounded. In addition, at least five million civilians died.

1918: A flu pandemic hit the United States. It hit the Hanna area especially hard causing as many as 40 deaths.

1918: The Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 5 mine was opened in 1918, but the coal was of poor quality resulting in no coal production.. The No. 5 mine was closed within a year and never reopened. There were no miners killed in the No. 5 mine.

1918: A two story Hanna school building was approved with construction to start soon.

Hanna Miner

Two men were killed in the mines. No widows or fatherless children were left behind.

1. Nic Hautala, a Finnish miner, age 38, employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company, no wife or children, was killed in Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 mine in Hanna on May 15, 1918. Nic Hautala and his partners were loading coal into a chute. The men were about 5 feet apart, and about 6 feet from the face, when, without warning, about one-half ton of coal bumped off the face, falling on Hautala, killing him. His death was classified as a fall of face coal. (1918 MIR) His burial place is unknown. (BL)

2. C. Namba, [Chuutarou Namba], a Japanese miner, age 36, employed 2 and one-half years by the Union Pacific Coal Company, no wife and children, was killed in Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 mine in Hanna on October 30, 1918. A loaded trip of six mine cars and motor got out of control of the motorman. The deceased had turned a switch for No. 2 Entry for the motor to go and then follow it out. While following this Second Entry Motor, the One Entry Motor trip came behind him and squeezed him against the rib, severely damaging his body and legs. He died that night. His death was classified as death by mine cars. (1918 MIR) He was buried in Plot 303.8 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Three Union Pacific Coal Company mines were producing coal.

Union Pacific Coal Company’s
1. Mine No. 2 produced 355,129 tons of coal.
2. Mine No. 3 produced 68,538 tons. Mine No. 3.5 produced 56,383 tons.
3. Mine No. 4 produced 332,848 tons. In total, the Hanna mines produced 812,899 tons of coal. (1918 MIR)

W. L. Cowdrey was superintendent of the Union Pacific Coal Company mines; C. W. Hughes, Ed. Brooks and W. M. Moorhead were foremen.

There are two seams of lignite coal being worked in the Hanna basin. These seams are known as the upper and lower seams, respectfully. In the upper seam are located Mines No. 3 and 3.5. This seam has an average height of 24 feet, and an inclination on the west slope to the basin of approximately 10 degrees. The distance from the west outcrop to the basin is approximately 3,000 feet, and on the east slope to the basin of 2,500 feet.

No. 3 Mine is a slope mine being developed with three parallel slopes driven on the pitch of the seam, with level entries turned right and left from the main slope at intervals of 450 feet. The rooms from these entries are driven up the pitch on 50-foot centers. All rooms are driven 20 foot wide, cars from these rooms are handled with ropes, and along the entries by mules and horse, and are taken to the surface on the main slope by a steam-hoisting engine. A 5 foot Stine Fan, driven by a 5 h. p. electric motor, ventilates this mine. There are 20 miners and 3 mules working in this mine. Pillars are all out to the second entry; the average daily tonnage is 200 tons.

No. 3.5 Mine is in the same seam as No. 3, and the physical conditions are identical. This mine is being driven as a panel slope, rooms being turned off the main slope on both sides at intervals of 60 feet, and are driven level for a distance of 50 feet, where crosscuts are turned up the hill parallel to the main slope, making the manway and return air-course. Development work in this mine is completed, rooms developing in blocks of 20, pillars are being drawn below 34 room. There are 22 men and 2 mules employed; the average daily tonnage is 200 tons.

No. 2 Mine is situated in the lower seam. This seam has an average height of 35 feet, and an inclination of 16 degrees to the southeast. The opening is on the northwest outcrop. This mine is being developed by three parallel slopes driven on the pitch, with level entries driven right and left off the main slope at intervals of 450 feet, and rooms are driven up the pitch from these entries. This method was carried down to the seventh entry and the method then changed to panel work. Level entries are now being turned at intervals of 800 feet, right and left from the main slope, and the panel slopes every 600 feet of these level entries and level rooms on 60 foot centers right and left from the panel slopes. In the development of these panels, rooms are driven 20 feet wide and 8 feet high. The intention is to recover the rest of the coal on the retreat. All work below the seventh entry is machine mining. All work above the seventh is solid shooting. Four Sullivan Undercutting Machines of the short wall type are being used, and one air puncher, all the coal above the seventh entry is handled down the room with chutes, and along the entries with motors to the main slope.

All coal below the seventh entries on the panels is handled to the panel slopes by the loaders, on the
panel slopes by electric hoists, along the main entries with electric motors, and taken to the surface on main slope with a steam hoist. All coal is being shut down with permissible powder. A 20-foot Guibal Fan, driven by a 16x24 steam engine, ventilates this mine and there is an auxiliary installation of a 10-foot Stevens Fan driven by a 13x12 steam engine. At present there are 104 miners and loaders employed in this mine, and the average daily output is 900 tons.

No. 4 Mine is situated in the same seam as No. 2 Mine, and has the same system of development and working as No. 2 Mine below No. 7 entry, and the conditions are in all respects similar to those in No. 2 Mine. The same system of haulage exists throughout. A 20-foot Guibal Fan, driven by an 18x36 steam engine, ventilates this mine. At present there are 60 loaders employed in this mine, and it has an average daily output of 1,000 tons; coal is being cut with Sullivan Short Wall Machines, and two Thew Automatic Electric Driven Shovels are being used for loading coal. (1918 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

30 men were killed in the mines, 10 wives were left widows and 36 children were left fatherless.

190 men were seriously injured.

13 men were killed from falls of roof, 7 killed from falls of coal other than roof, 3 were killed by mine cars and haulage motors, 1 killed by railroad cars, 1 killed by explosives, 1 killed by electrocution, 1 killed by suffocation and 3 killed by other means.

1 miner was killed for every 208,158 tons of coal produced or 1 miner killed for every 172 men employed.

5,165 men employed produced 6,244,731 tons of coal. (1918 MIR)

The coal production for the year 1918 was the largest in the history of District No. 1. The mines have been working full time, with a scarcity of men. The demand for coal has never been greater than it has been during the past year; each mine was taxed to their utmost, with each striving to meet the demand that was so necessary to bring the war to a victorious conclusion. Relations between the operators and miners have been pleasant, with only one object in view, winning the war.

Thousands of dollars’ worth of liberty bonds were purchased by the different locals throughout the district, every wage earner man or women understood that they were expected to purchase at least one fifty dollar bond. Permission was given the operator by the miners to collect fifty cents per man per month as long as the war lasted, that to be given to the Red Cross. I am indeed very pleased to be able to report that our operators and miners have proved themselves, during our national crises, patriots of the truest type.

The tonnage for 1918 was 6,244,731 tons, as compared with 6,047,748 tons in 1917, an increase of 196,983 tons. The number of fatal accidents for 1918 was 30, as compared with 36 killed in 1917, a decrease of 6. Many new mines were opened, but their development has been very slow because of the great scarcity of men. (1918 MIR)

1919

In The News

January 16, 1919: Prohibition took effect.

October 8, 1919: The first transcontinental air race took place in the United States.

1919: Extensive upgrading and repairs were done to the Hanna streets, ditches and roads.

JOHN MILLIKEN’S TWELVE-HORSE HITCH GRADING THE STREETS IN HANNA. (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Hanna Miner

No fatalities were reported in the Hanna Basin mines.

The Hanna production numbers are split this year because the fiscal year was moved form September 30 to December 31 of each year.

Union Pacific Coal Company, W. L. Cowdrey was superintendent of all mines in Hanna.

Oct. 1, 1918 - Sept. 30, 1919 Oct. 1, 1919 - Dec. 31, 1919
Mine No. 2 217,621 tons 46,178 tons
Mine No. 3 52,523 tons 9,932 tons
Mine No. 3.5 62,155 tons 13,966 tons
Mine No. 4 259,420 tons 63,073 tons
Mine Total 591,709 tons 133,149 tons (1919 MIR)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

25 men were killed in the mines, 8 wives were made widows and 9 children were made fatherless.

146 men were seriously injured.

10 men were killed from falls of roof, 4 killed from falls of coal other than roof, 6 were killed by mine cars and haulage motors, 1 killed by explosives, 2 killed by suffocation and 2 killed by other means.

1 miner was killed for every 2,077,791 tons of coal produced or 1 miner killed for every 196 men employed. 4,902 people employed produced 5,194,926 tons of coal. (1919 MIR)

1920

In The News

January 29, 1920: Prohibition of alcohol in the United States started.

May 28, 1920: The first 12th grade graduation in Hanna took place. Up to this date, the community only experienced 8th grade graduations. The school adopted orange and blue as school colors.

July 4, 1920: The Soldiers' Monument at the Hanna school was dedicated to the Hanna Basin's World War I Veterans.

September 8, 1920: The first transcontinental airmail flight across southern Wyoming occurred. The DeHavilland biplane, piloted by Buck Heffron, carried 400 pounds of mail on its westward flight from the east coast.

1920: August 18, 1920: The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified giving women the right to vote.

1920: Wyoming's population was 194,402 people with 9,525 of those living in Carbon County.

1920: Jackson, Wyoming was the first town in the United States to be governed entirely by women; they had a woman mayor, town council and town marshal.

1920: Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 3 mine in Hanna was closed because the mine was worked out. The No. 3 mine opened coal production in 1906. The mine was open for 15 years and produced a total of 2,130,342 tons of coal over that time. The mine’s peak production was 326,751 tons of coal produced with 170 workers in 1910. Over time the Hanna Basin mines (Hanna, Elmo, Sampo, Carbon, Dana, and Wagon mines) experienced a total of 372 miner deaths. The No. 3 mine in Hanna was responsible for 6 of the 371 deaths.

Hanna Miner

Three miners were killed in the mines. No widows or fatherless children were left behind.

1. Emel A. Anderson, aFinlander, age 34, employed 8 months, no family reported, was injured January 10, 1920 in the Hanna No. 4 mine. He died from his injuries on January 15, 1920. He was employed as a Shovel Operator. He was operating an electric shovel and was in the act of breaking a large chunk of coal when he heard the rib of the pillar working. He made an effort to get out of the way by getting on the opposite side of the shovel, but before he could reach a place of safety the coal fell and caught him, inflicting injuries, which resulted in his death five days afterward. (1920 MIR) Emel was buried in Plot 4 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. George Lexas, a Greek miner, age 40, no family reported, was killed at Hanna No. 4 on May 17, 1920. He was employed as a Car Dropper. He was injured May 9, 1920 and died from the effects of the accident. On the date mentioned above, the deceased was working on the railroad track below the chute, shoveling coal. Meanwhile men were working in the chute cutting a piece of sheet iron. The piece of iron that was cut off slipped down the chute, striking George Lexas as it fell, causing injuries to his head from which he died eight days later. (1920 MIR) His burial place is unknown. (BL)

3. John Simonson, a Finlander, age 59, no family reported, was killed at Hanna No. 3 on December 31, 1920. He was employed as a Miner. He lost his life at No. 3 Mine, on the surface. Deceased was employed on the date of the accident, along with his partner, filling in cave holes. This was being done for the purpose of making the surface air tight so that the mine fires might be more easily controlled. They had fired a shot to loosen the earth. Deceased took his pick to release the overhanging soil, when it gave way, covering him up as it fell. He was dead when extracted. (1920 MIR) John was buried in Lyons, Colorado. (BL)

Four Union Pacific Coal Company mines and several Wagon mines were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 257,899 tons of coal.
Hanna No. 3 produced 17,674 tons. Hanna No. 3.5 underground mine produced 64,813 tons of coal.
Hanna No. 4 underground mine produced 332,608 tons.
2. Wagon Mines produced an estimated 4,000 tons of coal. (1920 MIR)

Thomas H. Butler was Superintendent of all of the Union Pacific Coal Company mines in Hanna.

Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 3.5 mine in Hanna was leased to John W. Hay of Rock Springs. The name of the new company was the John W. Hay Coal Company or the Hanna Coal Company; both names were used to identify the mine. They started operations on the Oct. 1, 1920. The mine operated the same vein as the old No. 3 and was being driven as a panel slope on both sides at intervals of 60 feet and were driven for a distance of 50 feet, where crosscuts were turned uphill parallel to the main slope, making the man way and the return air-course. Development work is completed. The principal work done was the driving of rooms and the extraction of pillars. The average daily output was 500 tons per day. The John Hay mine superintendent was R.B. Ober and the mine foreman was William Hughes.

HANNA HOTEL AS SEEN IN 1940 (JACK HEARNE FAMILY COLLECTION)

Not everyone thought that the Hanna Hotel was the greatest. Some of the temporary residents complained that it was too close to the railroad tracks. Osea Nelson told me that he couldn't sleep because of the rumbling and the pounding of the passing freight cars and the piercing whistles of the locomotives as they approached the nearby railroad crossing, not to mention the bright light that hung over his window outside. Paul Tarkington, who went to work for the railroad when he was 19 - that was back in 1929 - said that he was scared to death living in the hotel. Doors and locks were few and far between. There was no door on his room. He might awake in the middle of the night and find someone wandering around near his bed.

As for the hotel, our experiences were far different. The food was great and the one who presided over it was one of those rare people you do not often have a chance to meet. That was Mary Ford. Born in England in 1890, she came over to the United States at 14, married at 18, widowed at 23, and left with three small children, ages 5, 3 and 6 months. She had run a local boarding house during World War I and had been cook, house mother, and bottle washer to a bunch of rowdy coal miners. Mary became a community leader, social organizer, a committed caregiver who ministered to "all sorts and conditions of men." She was, in short, a kind of Methodist Mother Teresa. When I think of the Hanna Hotel I think of her. (Hanna Field, Story of a Fledgling Episcopal Priest and his Six Wyoming Missions by Harv Wilbur)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 2

The Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 704,035 tons of coal, with 612 workers. District No. 2 produced a total of 6,528,813 tons of coal, with 5,460 men employed. The state produced a total of 9,589,274 tons of coal, with 8,166 workers.

42 men were killed in the mines, 12 wives were left widows and 22 children were left fatherless.

251 men were seriously injured.

15 men were killed from falls of rock, 7 killed from falls of coal, 4 were killed by mine cars and haulage motors, 8 killed by explosives, 2 killed by electrocution, 1 killed by suffocation, 2 from mining machines and 3 killed by other means.

1 miner was killed for every 155,448 tons of coal produced or 1 miner killed for every 130 men employed. (1920 MIR)

1921

In The News

August 17, 1921: The foundation for a new two story Hanna school building was completed. Alfred Nelson had the sub-contract for the foundation and finished the project in 1921. Scott-Craig lumber company had carpenters working on the building and reported they would finish the superstructure by the time school was scheduled to open next month. The high school classes were held on the top floor and the elementary school on the ground floor. The gym would not be completed until 1924.

1921: Black Powder was eliminated from the Hanna mines. All coal was now shot with permissible powder.

Two story HANNA K-12 SCHOOL, UTILITY building AND GYM. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Hanna Miner

Five men were killed in the Hanna Basin mines in 1921. Four wives were left widows and fifteen children left fatherless.

1. James While, an English miner, a coal loader, age 40, married, widow and seven children, six of them under the age of sixteen, was killed in No. 4 on January 19, 1921. He was employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company at their No. 4 mine, Hanna, Carbon County. Deceased and his son were working as partners loading coal in No. 4 room, north "E" plane. They had worked all day in the room and were in the act of connecting wires, making preparations for shooting, when a large slab of coal fell from the face, part of which struck him inflicting injuries from which he died two hours afterwards. Deceased was credited with being a very practical mining man. (1921 MIR) James was buried in Plot 234 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. Jack Spencer [John Spencer], an American, age 37, married with no reported children, was killed in the mule barn on March 2, 1921. Deceased was a Miner, but on the date of the accident, February 28, 1921, he was employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company, driving a team on the outside. He had finished his day's work and was unharnessing the team and ongoing into the stall to take off the collar, he was kicked by a horse in the abdomen receiving injuries from which he died two days afterward. (1921 MIR) He was buried in Plot 24 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

3. Mike Mamanakis [Mike Momanakis] [Mike Mamounakis], a Greek miner, age 35, married with six children, was killed in Hanna No. 4 on April 15, 1921. A Loader, employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company, the deceased, along with his two partners, was working in the No. 7 room, shoveling the slope and loading coal. During the day, or previous to the accident, they were aware of a slab of coal on the low rib of the room which was loose. They made an attempt to take it down, but were only successful in removing a portion of the loose side, still leaving a quantity hanging which, according to their statement, they were unable to bring down. They continued to work loading coal until about 3:15 p.m. when the loose coal gave way and struck Mike. He was loading a pit car at the time. The accident caused injuries from which he died 4 hours later. (1921 MIR) Mike was buried in Plot 137 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

4. Andrew Matson, an American miner, age 24, married with a wife and two children, was killed in the John W. Hay Coal Company 3.5 mine in Hanna, Carbon County on July 11, 1921. Deceased was working in No. 2 Room, 18 Entry when a piece of top coal which measured 20 feet long, 18 feet wide and 19 inches thick fell and struck Matson, killing him instantly. A slip run on each side of the room where the coal fell and broke 5 feet from the working face where his partner was drilling a hole. At the time of the accident, deceased was loading a pit car. (1921 MIR) Andrew was buried in Plot 161 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

5. J. Parkko [John Parkko] was killed in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 3 mine in Hanna in 1921. (MM) It is not known where John was buried. (BL)

Two coal companies, plus several wagon mines, were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company, with 531 workers, Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 208,571 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 underground mine produced 278,569 tons of coal.
2. Hanna Coal Company [John W. Hay Coal Company's] No. 3.5 underground mine produced 66,511 tons of coal.
3. Wagon mines produced an estimated 3,000 tons of coal. (1921 MIR)

The Hanna mines were in the process of improving the production and safety of the mines.

For a number of years, the practice of a sprinkling system for the mining machines has been in force in the Hanna district and has produced wonderful results. The arrangement is simply an extension of the sprinkling lines into all rooms and entries and attached to the mining machine by a hose. While the machine is at work, a continuous stream of water runs on to the cutter bar, and when properly regulated, causes the dust to be saturated and all dry dust, thus eliminated. (1921 MIR)

HANNA No. 4 MINE, ROOM SHOWING A 20 FT. COAL PILE WITH A JOY MACHINE LOADING THE COAL. WATER LINES WERE RUN INTO ALL THE ROOMS AND ENTRIES. THE WATER WAS CONNECTED TO THE MINING MACHINES TO ALLOW THE CUTTING BAR AND SURROUNDING COAL TO STAY WET AND CUT DOWN DUST. (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

In Hanna, there are two seams of lignite coal being worked in this basin. These seams are known as the upper and lower seams. In the upper seam are located Mines No. 3 and No. 3 1/2. This seam has an average height of twenty-four feet and an inclination on the west slope to the basin of approximately ten degrees. The distance from the west outcrop to the basin is approximately 3,000 feet and the east slope to the basin 2,500 feet.

No. 3 Mine has been abandoned on account of having been worked out.

No. 3.5 Mine was leased to John W. Hay of Rock Springs. The name of the new company is the John W. Hay Coal Company. This mine operates the same vein as the old No. 3 and is being driven as a panel slope on both sides at intervals of 60 feet and are being driven level for a distance of 50 feet, where cross-cuts are turned uphill parallel to the main slope, making the manway and the return air-course. Development work is completed. The principal work being done is driving of rooms and the extraction of pillars. The average daily output is 500 tons. The following improvements have been made during the year: A new shaker was installed during the months of May and June, which was furnished by the Card Iron Works Company of Denver, Colorado. The screen is 6 feet wide and is of two sections about 24 feet in length and is intended for making three sizes of coal; is of the suspended type with eccentric drive and the lower section counterbalanced to permit raising or lowering. The two sections are balanced to within 200 pounds and the screen operates very smoothly with very little vibration. A feeder with eccentric drive was also installed in connection with the screen, both feeder and screen being driven by electric motor of 20 H.P. The screen screens the coal thoroughly and the machinery has not required any repairs since installed. R.B. Ober, Superintendent, and William Hughes, Mine Foreman

No. 2 Mine is situated in the lower seam. This seam has an average height of 36 feet and an inclination of 16 degrees to the southeast. The opening is on the northwest outcrop. This mine is being developed by three parallel slopes driven on the pitch, with level entries driven right and left off the main slope at intervals of 450 feet and rooms are driven up the pitch from these entries. This method was carried down to the 7thentry and the method then changed to panel work. Level entries are now being turned at intervals of 800 feet right and left from the main slope, and the panel slopes every 600 feet off these level entries, and level rooms on 60 foot centers right and left from the panel slopes. In the development of these panels, rooms are driven 20 feet wide and 8 feet high. The intention is to recover the rest of the coal on the retreat. All work below the 7thentry is machine mining. All work above the 7thentry is solid shooting. Four Sullivan undercutting machines of the short wall type and one air puncher are being used. All coal above the 7thentry is handled down the room with chutes and along the entries with motors to the main slope. All coal below the 7thentry on the panels is handled to the panel slopes by the loaders, on the panel slopes by electric hoists, along the main entries with electric motors and taken to the surface on main slope with a steam hoist. All coal is being shot down with permissible powder. The mine is ventilated by a 20 foot Guibal Fan driven by a 100 K.W. Synchronous Motor, and there is an auxiliary installation of a 10 foot Stevens Fan, steam driven. At present, there are 104 miners and loaders employed in this mine. The average daily output is 1,000 tons. Chain coal cutting machines are being used for developing entries and air machines on planes to do away with pick mining and the tendency to shoot off the solid. The following improvements have been made during the year at the mine: installation of a small shaker screen and the cleaning and enlarging of the main return airway to improve the ventilation, and the pushing of development of airways and manway. Thomas H. Butler, Superintendent, John Kinghorn, Mine Foreman and Joseph Woods, Assistant Mine Foreman. (1921 MIR)

SULLIVAN UNDERCUTTING MACHINE WITH SWIVAL CHAIN BLADE (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

No. 4 Mine is situated in the same seam as No. 2 Mine and has the same system of development and working as No. 2 Mine below the 7thentry and the conditions are in all respects similar to those in No. 2 Mine. The same system of haulage is used throughout. A 20-foot Guibal fan driven by an 18x36 steam engine ventilates this mine. At present there are 80 loaders employed in this mine and it has an average daily output of 1,600 tons. Coal is being cut with a Sullivan Short Wall type machines and two Thew Automatic Electric Driven Shovels are being used for loading coal. A new 200 H.P. electric hoist has been installed during the year, also an all-steel conveyor construction at the boiler house to replace the old one, which was burned down. The outside improvements at No. 2 and No. 4 Mines during the year consist of one-room additions to nine three-room tenements and the building of 10 new 5-room tenements and of the construction of a new five-room schoolhouse at a cost of $15,000.00. Thomas H. Butler, Superintendent, Gust Collins, Mine Foreman and Jack Crawford, Assistant Mine Foreman (1921 MIR)

THE THEW LOADER WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE NO. 2 MINE IN 1921. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

The Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 556,650 tons of coal, with 531 employees. District No. 1 produced a total of 5,436,576 tons of coal, with 5,566 workers. The state produced a total of 8,303,479 tons of coal, with 8,037 workers.

23 men were killed in the mines, 12 wives were left widows and 33 children left fatherless.

332 men were seriously injured.

11 men were killed from falls of rock, 4 killed from falls of coal, 5 were killed by mine cars and haulage motors, 2 killed by electrocution, and 1 killed by other means.

2,466,759 tons of coal undercut by mining machines.
142 mining machines were in use.

2,968,817 tons of coal pick mining and blasting off the solid.

District No.1 has been practically free from labor disputes. Plenty of workmen were available at all times, while no inconvenience was caused through lack of railroad cars.

First aid and mine rescue contests were held in Rock Springs under the auspices of the Union Pacific Coal Company. The interest displayed in these contests has resulted in a number of classes being organized throughout the district. Work of this kind should be taken up and encouraged by all operating companies.

The coal production of District No. 1, State of Wyoming, for the year ending December 31, 1921, amounted to 5,436,576 tons, which shows a decrease of 1,092,237 tons, a year that showed a remarkably low output. Earlier in the year a poor demand for coal set in, which resulted in a number of mines being shut down entirely, while the others only worked an average of two and one half days per week. This condition continued until October, the month, which proved to be the largest producing period during the whole year. The extra rush for coal at that time might be attributed to the possibility of a threatened railroad strike, which was to have taken effect on the 1stof November, but did not mature. The months of November and December were expected to bring a spurt in the coal business, but unfortunately, the mines working four days per week were able to fill all orders with a surplus of coal to spare.

Anticipating a repetition of the enormous demand for coal experienced in 1920, nearly all of the coal operators of this district made extensive preparations for the purpose of increasing their output and in order to cope with the expected demands, with this end in view, larger hoisting machines were installed, heavier rails laid in haulage-ways, ventilation increased and development work kept working steadily, and by so doing extra work was provided for a large number of men on days when coal was not being hoisted.

As a result of visits made by request to wagon mines, which unfortunately do not come under the scope of the State of Wyoming Coal Mining Laws, the health and safety conditions were found very unfavorable for workmen and a law be should be enacted whereby all coal mines should come under the supervision of the State Coal Mine Inspector; also a law to improve the health conditions of mining machine men should be enacted compelling the application of a sprinkling system to all mining machines. (1921 MIR)

1922

In The News

February 27, 1922: The United States Supreme Court unanimously declared that the 19thAmendment allowing women the right to vote was constitutional.

1922: The Union Pacific Coal Company miners in Hanna went on strike. The strike lasted four months and twenty days, and strange to say, when operations were resumed the demand for coal was not good. The poor conditions were the direct result of Utah and Colorado miners working during the strike and making new customers for them. This weakened the market for Wyoming coal. Both Utah and Colorado showed substantial increases in their production over the previous year.

1922: A new dump was built for the No. 2 mine. The original burned down in June 1922. The new dump was equipped with modern shakers and an advanced crusher. Due to the dump not being operational and to the miners' strike 1922, the coal production numbers were way down.

1922: The Union Pacific Coal Company's boiler house located just behind or west of the No. 4 mine on the north side of the railroad tracks was modernized. A large concrete addition was built onto the boiler house. An 8" steam line was constructed from the No. 4 mine to the No. 2 mine for hoist and heating purposes at No. 2 mine. The No. 2 mine was able to abandon the boiler plant at No. 2 mine. Also a new power line was constructed from the No. 4 mine to the No. 2 mine by constructing a tunnel under the main line tracks and the old power line, which crossed the track overhead, was abandoned.

1922: The Union Pacific Coal Company introduced the position of Safety Inspector to all their mines including the No. 2 and No. 4 mines in Hanna. The position was to be recognized as important as that the mine foreman, fire boss or driver boss, and should be valued as such.

1922: The St. Mark’s Episcopal Church was opened.

ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN HANNA. NOTE: THE TWO BELL TOWERS (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN HANNA (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

INTERIOR OF THE ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN HANNA (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Hanna Miner

No deaths were reported in the mines.

Two mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 95,319 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 produced 254,087 tons of coal.
2. Hanna Coal Company's [John Hay] No. 3.5 mine produced 51,153 tons of coal.
3. Wagon Mines produced approximately 4,500 tons of coal. (1922 MIR)

The Hay Coal Company leasing the No. 3.5 mine from the Union Pacific Coal Company was renamed the Hanna Coal Company.

No. 3.5 mine. There are two seams of lignite coal worked in this basin. These seams are known as the upper and lower seams. In the upper seam is located Mine No. 3 1/2. This seam has an average height of twenty-four feet and an inclination on the west slope to the basin of approximately ten degrees. The distance from the west outcrop to the basin is approximately 3,000 feet, and on the east slope to the basin 2,500 feet. This mine is leased to John W. Hay of Rock Springs. The name of the company is the Hanna Coal Company. This mine operates the same vein as the old No. 3 and is being driven as a panel slope on both sides at interval of 60 feet and are being driven level for a distance of 50 feet, where cross-cuts are turned uphill to the main slope, making the manway and a return air course. Development work is completed. The principal work being done is the driving of rooms and the extraction of pillars. The average daily output is 500 tons. R. B. Ober, Superintendent. William Hughes, Mine Foreman.

No. 2 mine is situated in the lower seam. This seam has an average height of 36 feet and an inclination of 16 degrees to the southeast. The opening is on the northwest outcrop. This mine is being developed by three parallel slopes driven on the pitch with level entries driven right and left off the main slope at intervals of 450 feet and rooms are driven up the pitch from these entries. This method was carried down to the 7thentry and the method then changed to panel work. Level entries are now being turned at intervals of 800 feet right and left from the main slope, and the panel slopes every 600 feet off these level entries, and level rooms on 60 ft. centers right and left from the panel slopes. In the development of these panels, rooms are driven 20 feet wide and 8 feet high. The intention is to recover the rest of the coal on the retreat. All work below the 7thentry is machine mining. All work above the 7thentry is solid shooting. Four Sullivan under cutting machines of the short wall type and one air punter are being used. All the coal above the 7thentry is handled down the room with chutes and along the entries with motors to the main slope. All coal below the 7thentry on the panels is handled to the panels slopes by the loaders, on the panel slopes by electric hoist, along the main entries with electric motors and taken to the surface on main slope with a stem hoist. All coal is being shot down with permissible powder.

Usually, when the pitch of the slope exceeded fifteen degrees, metal chutes were use to move the coal from one level to another. The coal was shoveled into the chutes and gravity moved the coal to a lower level where it was loaded into coal cars, then moved to the surface. (1922 MIR)

IN THE NO. 2 MINE, ALL THE COAL ABOVE THE SEVENTH ENTRY WAS SLID DOWN FROM THE ROOMS ABOVE BY CHUTES PICTURED ABOVE. (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

THE COAL ABOVE THE SEVENTH ENTRY WAS PUSHED DOWN FROM THE ROOMS ABOVE BY CHUTES AND LOADED INTO COAL CARS HEADED UP THE SLOPE. (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

This mine is ventilated by a 20 ft. Guibal Fan driven by a 100 K. W. Synchronous Motor, and there is an auxiliary installation of a 10 ft. Stevens Fan steam driven. At present there are 104 miners and loaders employed in this mine. The average daily output is 1,000 tons. Chain coal cutting machines are being used for developing entries and air machines on planes to do away with pick mining and the tendency to shoot off the solid. The following improvements have been made at this mine during the year: New dump constructed and equipped with modern shaker screens and crusher, to replace the dump destroyed by fire in June, 1922. Installed booster fan in the main return air course, between 16 and 18 entries, to improve ventilation in the lower workings. Thomas H. Butler, Superintendent. John Kinghorn, Mine Foreman. Joseph Woods, Assistant Mine Foreman.

No. 4 mine is situated in the same seam as No. 2 mine and has the same system of development and workings as No. 2 mine below the 7th entry and the conditions are in all respects similar to those in the No. 2 mine. It has the same system of haulage throughout. This mine is ventilated by a 20 ft. Guibal fan driven by an 18x36 steam engine. At present there are 80 loaders employed in this mine and it has an average daily output of 1,600 tons. Coal is being cut with the Sullivan Short Wall type machines. Two Thew Automatic Electric Driven Shovel are being used for loading coal. The following improvements have been made during 1922: A concrete addition to the boiler house has been built and two 300 H. P. Babecock & Wilcox boilers, with chain grate stokers, have been installed. An 8" steam line has been constructed from the No. 4 mine to the No. 2 mine for hoist and heating purposes. The new line allowed the No. 2 mine to abandon the boiler plant at the No. 2 mine. Also a new power line was constructed from the No. 4 mine to the No. 2 mine. The new power line was put in a tunnel under the main line tracks, and the old line, which crossed the track overhead, was abandoned. Thomas H. Butler, Superintendent, Gust Collins, Mine Foreman. Jack Crawford, Assistant Mine Foreman. (1922 MIR)

In 1922, the Union Pacific Coal Company's boiler house, located just behind or west of the No. 4 mine on the north side of the railroad tracks, was modernized. A large concrete addition, shown below, was built onto the boiler house. An 8" steam line was constructed from the No. 4 mine to the No. 2 mine for hoist and heating purposes at the No. 2 mine. The No. 2 mine was able to abandon the boiler plant at No. 2 mine. Also a new power line was constructed from the No. 4 mine to the No. 2 mine by putting in a tunnel under the main line tracks and the old power line, which crossed the track overhead, was abandoned.

HANNA'S UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY POWER PLANT LOOKING NORTH TO SOUTH. THE NO. 4 MINE CAN BE SEEN BEHIND OR SOUTH OF THE POWER PLANT. (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 405,059 tons of coal, with 366 workers. The state produced a total of 5,976,474 tons of coal, with 9,192 tons of coal.

Seventeen fatal and two hundred and seventy-six non-fatal accidents have occurred during the year. While these figures show a reduction from the previous year it must be kept in mind that the stoppage was responsible of the difference. As in previous years, falls of coal and rock are accountable for the majority of accidents.

With a view to reduce the accidents in their mines, the Union Pacific Coal Company has introduced a system of safety inspectors. Each mine has its safety inspector and while he is under the supervision the mine foreman, he is allowed plenty of latitude to exercise his judgment when safety is concerned. There is no doubt as to the benefits, which will accrue from this system.

There is nothing new in the hiring of the safety or roof inspector in this district, only with the above mentioned exception. Heretofore, when the mine foreman was short a man he would usually instruct the inspector to fill the gap. The position of safety inspector is being recognized and considered as important as that of mine foreman, fire boss or driver boss, and should be valued as such.

As a result of a miners' strike, which lasted nearly five months, the coal production of District No. 1, State of Wyoming, for the year ending December 31st, 1922 was 4,453,000 short tons. This was a reduction of 983,576 tons from the prior year, or the lowest output in thirteen years.

The possibility of a coal miners' strike on April 1stof this year was not evident; both operators and miner started off in the beginning of the year at a brisk pace. Railroads and other consumers were storing all the coal the miners could produce. The month of March showed a fall in production. The miners began leaving the district and by the first of April, it would be safe to say that fifty percent of the people had left the mining camps. The strike lasted four months and twenty days, and strange to say, when operations were resumed the demand for coal was not good. The poor conditions were the direct result of Utah and Colorado miners working during the strike and making new customers for themselves, this weakened the market for Wyoming coal. Both Utah and Colorado showed substantial increases in their production over the previous year. A scarcity of railroad cars in the fall of the year was very pronounced, but to those in the coal business it mattered little because even had the railroad cars been plentiful the mines would have been working on short time just the same.

More men were employed in and around the coal mines in District No. 1 during the year 1922 than at any other time in the history of the state. (1922 MIR)

Chapter 12
The Mining Modernization Years (1923 – 1953)

1923

Eugene McAuliffe, President of the Union Pacific Coal Company, Championed the Modernization of the Hanna Basin Mines.

Eugene McAuliffe started a mine modernization program in 1923. Through his efforts, better labor relations were established, paternalism was avoided, mechanization resulted in increased yearly earnings, and wage scales were designed to equalize different classes of labor.

As Wyoming coal properties go, the rather old one produced its first coal in 1868. The mines then were all developed by slopes driven in from the crop line, the tipples of wood construction, the mine equipment throughout, except as to an extension of the use of electric power, not much changed during the preceding generation. Unfortunately, the previous managements, perhaps because of limitations placed upon them, continuously perpetuated small mines, narrow track gages (much 30 and 36-in. used), together with correspondingly small pit cars (3,000 to 4,000 pounds capacity). The only material alterations made in the underground mining methods were those of changing from rooms driven from strike entries to the rise, to a panel system with rooms driven on the strike. This change was merely begun in 1923, and while representing a definite improvement in hand loading methods, only added new complications when the work of introducing mechanical loading was begun. This double method of operation within individual mines offered in certain instance a rather spotted situation into which the loading machines were necessarily introduced. While definite progress has been made toward clearing the pillars out of the former hand loading territory, an examination of certain recent mine maps evidences the fact that the process of "mopping up" old territory, will continue to drag along for some years. (Eugene McAuliffe, 1923)

Modernization of the mines also brought modernization of the town. Front Street was home to many vibrant businesses.

HANNA FRONT STREET (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

HANNA CITIZENS VISITED THE NO. 4 MINE ON JUNE 24, 1923. (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

Hanna Miner

One man was killed in the Hanna Basin mines.

1. Joe Norris [Joseph Norris, Jr.], July 26, 1923, was employed as a rope runner. He was killed when he was run over by a loaded car in the No. 2 mine, Hanna, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company. Deceased was a single man 20 years of age. (1923 MIR) Joe was buried in Plot 74 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Two mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 219,559 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 underground mine produced 324,183 tons of coal.
2. Hanna Coal Company's [Hay mine] No. 3.5 underground mine produced 53,398 tons of coal. (1923 MIR)

MINERS AT THE HANNA COAL COMPANY'S NO. 3.5 MINE IN 1923. EARLIER, THE NO. 3.5 MINE BELONGED TO THE UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

There are two seams of lignite coal worked in this basin, and they are known as the upper and lower seams. John W. Hay of Rock Springs leases this mine, and the name of the company is the Hanna Coal Company. It is operated on the old No. 3 vein. It is all retreating work, no new improvements were made in this mine during the year 1923. The coal is delivered to the tipple through the slope by means of an electric host. All haulage in the mine is by mule. The daily output is 350 tons. R. B. Ober is the Superintendent and William Hughes the Foreman.

Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna Mine No. 2 is in the lower seam and has an average thickness of about 36 feet, the opening being on the northwest outcrop. This mine has been worked on the room and pillar system down to the 7thlevel, but beyond that they are working it on the panel system. All machine mining, and permissible powder is used, also electric cap lamps are used. Electric and mule haulage is used in the mine and the coal is pulled to the tipple by means of a steam hoist. Daily output is about 1000 tons. Thos. Butler is the Superintendent and W. Glanville the Foreman.

Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna Mine No. 4 is located in the same seam as No. 2 mine and has the same system of development. It is worked on the same plan as No. 2 below the 7thlevel. The conditions
are in all respects the same as those in No. 2. They are using mechanical loaders in this mine and also have adopted the use of permissible powder and electric cap lamps. The daily output is 1,550 tons. (1923 MIR)

HANNA NO. 4 MINE (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

TRIP OF MEN GOING INTO THE HANNA NO. 4 MINE, JULY 15, 1923. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 597,140 tons of coal, the Wyoming District No. 1 produced a total of 5,810,616 tons and the state produced 7,587,676 tons.

The coal production of District No. One, State of Wyoming, for the year ending December 31, 1923 was 5, 810,616 short tons, an increase of 1,357,616 tons over the year 1922. This increase is due to the five months' strike in 1922. No labor difficulties were experienced during this year.

One hundred and twenty-four (124) fatal accidents occurred in the mines during the year 1923. Ninety-nine of the lives were lost in the explosion of the Kemmerer Coal Company's No. One mine at Frontier, Wyoming, leaving twenty-five caused from general causes. Four hundred eleven (411) non-fatal accidents occurred in and around the mines during 1923.

Of the twenty five fatal accidents that occurred from general causes, as above stated, the majority of them were caused by the fall of roof rock or coal at the miner's working face and generally occurred at the beginning of the shift. Accidents from this cause could be greatly reduced by a more carful inspection by the miner before beginning work.

The Union Pacific Coal Company has employed during the last year a safety engineer who has jurisdiction over all safety inspectors in all of their mines. They have abandoned the use of black powder entirely, and are using nothing but permissible explosives. (1923 MIR)

HANNA USED A NEW AND IMPROVED MODEL OF THE THEW AUTOMATIC SHOVEL. THE TYPE 0 WAS INTRODUCED IN THE HANNA NO. 4A MINE IN 1923. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HANNA, FOUNDED AUGUST 30, 1915. PAINTING BY MARIA O’CONNOR IN 1980. THE PAINTING WAS WON IN A RAFFLE BY LEO AND DOROTHY LEATHERS AND DONATED TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN 1981. THE PAINTING IS NOW LOCATED IN THE NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

1924

In The News

January 25, 1924: The first winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France. The United States participated.

November 4, 1924: Nellie T. Ross of Wyoming was elected the nation's first woman governor. She served the remaining term of William B. Ross, her husband who died in office.

Hanna Miner

Two miners were killed in the Hanna Basin mines in 1924.

1. John B. Holma, [John Burke Holma] January 7, 1924, was killed by a fall of top coal at the No. 4 mine, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company located in Hanna. He was a married man, 53 years of age, and leaves a widow, but no dependent children. (1924 MIR) John was buried in Plot 23 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

A fatal accident occurred at the Hanna Mine. John Burke Holma was instantly killed in the No. 4 Mine, Monday morning, January 7th, when part of the entrance where he was working fell and crushed him to death. Mr. Holma was born in Finland, fifty-three years ago, and has been in America for the past twenty-two years. He leaves a wife and two daughters in Finland, and a son, Antone, and a daughter, Mandy, in Hanna. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon. The body was laid to rest in the Hanna cemetery. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1924)

2. Tony Poitikas, June 9, 1924, was killed by a fall of coal in the No. 2 mine property of the Union Pacific Coal Company located at Hanna. He was a single man, 32 years old. (1924 MIR) It is unknown where Tony was buried. (BL)

Two coal companies were producing coal in the Hanna Basin.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 underground mine produced 182,861 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 underground mine produced 288,105 tons of coal.
2. Hanna Coal Company's No. 3.5 underground mine produced 47,034 tons of coal. (1924 MIR)

Union Pacific Coal Company’s Hanna No. 2, No. 4 and No. 3.5 mines were producing coal.

No. 2 and 4 mines, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company, located in Hanna are worked on the room and pillar system. No. 2 mine is retreating with all the pillars being mined. No. 4 mine is using mechanical loaders. Both mines are electrically equipped. Permissible powder and electric cap lamps are used in both mines and they have also installed rock-dust barriers. Electric and animal haulage exists in both mines. T. H. Butler is the Superintendent, J. H. Crawford the Foreman and Gus Collins is a Foreman.

No. 3.5 mine, property of the Hanna Coal Company, located in Hanna, is worked on the room and pillar system. The coal is shot off the solid. Animal haulage in the mine and an electric hoist on the slope is used. The daily production is about 350 tons. R. B. Ober is the Superintendent, G. W. Hughes the Foreman. (1924 MIR)

Wyoming Miner
District No. 1

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 518,000 tons of coal with 366 workers. The state produced 6,715,544 tons of coal with 7,210 workers.

HANNA MINE NO. 4 RESCUE TEAM, 1926. (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

1925

In The News

January 5, 1925: Nellie Taylor Ross, in Cheyenne, Wyoming was sworn in as the first woman governor in the United States. She was elected to complete the term of her husband who died in office. She served from 1925 to 1927. In 1933, President Roosevelt appointed her the first woman to head the U. S. Mint, a position she held until 1953.

June 13, 1925: The first reunion of the Union Pacific Coal Company’s Old Timers’ Association took place in Rock Springs.

1925: The first interscholastic football game to be played under artificial light took place in Midwest, Wyoming in 1925.

1925: The Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 3.5 mine in Hanna was abandoned because the mine had been worked out and placed with mine fires and cave problems. The mine opened for development October 1, in 1911. The Union Pacific Coal Company intended to close the mine in 1920, but later decided to lease the mine to John W. Hay of Rock Springs to complete the cleanup work. The name of the new company was the John W. Hay Coal Company and they started operations on Oct. 1, 1920. The John Hay Coal Company was also known as the Hanna Coal Company. The mine operated the same vein of coal as the old No. 3 mine and was driven as a panel slope mine. The primary work in the mine was driving the rooms and extracting the remaining pillars. The average daily output was about 500 tons per day. The John Hay mine superintendent was R. B. Ober and the mine foreman was William Hughes. The mine ended coal production in 1925. The mine produced coal for 14 years, and over that time produced a total of 726,901 tons of coal. The Union Pacific Coal Company produced 491,781 tons of coal from 1912 to 1920 and The Hanna Coal Company produced 262,161 tons of coal from 1920 to 1925. The Hanna Basin mines (Hanna, Elmo, Sampo, Carbon, Dana, and Wagon mines) experienced a total of 371 miner deaths. The No. 3.5 mine in Hanna was responsible for 2 of the 371 deaths.

HANNA METHODIST CHURCH AND PARSONAGE, REMODELED IN 1925. (WYOMING STATE ARCHIVES AND CULTURAL CENTER)

Hanna Miner

There were three fatalities in the mines.

1. Charles Anderton was injured in Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 4 mine in December 19, 1921. He died in December 1925. After being injured, it was necessary to amputate his left leg. During 1925 an effort was made to reset the right leg. Mr. Anderton died from the results of this operation. He did not work any during the interim of being injured and his death. (1925 MIR) It is unknown where Charles was buried. (BL)

2. Frank Klobas, December 9, 1925, was employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company in No. 2 mine, in Hanna. There had been a cave on the slope. Klobas and his partner were sent to fix it. They took out two timbers and let some top coal down, leaving a good roof. While loading coal on a car, the rib came over and caught Klobas, causing injuries which resulted in his death on December 30th, 1925. (1925 MIR) Frank was buried in Plot 231 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

3. Andrew Ruskanen, April 4, 1925, age 34 years, employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company in the No. 4 mine, Hanna, Wyoming was killed by a shot. Ruskanen and his partner were driving thru a rock fault. They had fired four shots in the center of the place and were getting ready to fire three more when the top shot went off, killing Ruskanen instantly. The cause of the shot going off could not be ascertained. The wire was lying on the ground with no connections made. (1925 MIR) Andy was buried in Plot 337 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Two mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 underground mine with 130 employees produced 150,368 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 mine with 183 employees produced 294,098 tons of coal.
2. Hanna Coal Company's 3.5 mine with 53 employees produced 17,024 tons of coal. (1925 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 461,509 tons of coal with 366 employees while the state produced a total of 6,557,576 tons with 6,364 employees.

1926

In The News

May 1, 1926: Ford Motor Company became the first company to adopt a five-day, 40 hour work week for worker in its auto factories at a minimum wage of $5 a day.

October 6, 1926: Babe Ruth hit a record three home runs in game four of the World Series, but in the end, the Yankees lost the World Series to the Cardinals.

December 24, 1926: The Hanna Opera House burned down. Strong winds created a huge blaze and the building burned to the ground in a short period of time. Community and school activities, such as movies and graduation held at the Opera House, were moved to the Community Hall.

HANNA OPERA HOUSE (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Hanna Miner

There were no fatalities in the mines.

The Union Pacific Coal Company was the only company producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 underground mine with 105 employees produced 157,403 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 mine with 191 employees produced 336,044 tons of coal. (1926 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 493,447 tons of coal with 296 employees. The state of Wyoming produced a total of 6,495,815 tons of coal with 5,912 employees.

1927

In The News

October 4, 1927: The sculptures of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt on Mount Rushmore began. It would take 12 years to complete the project.

1927: Charles Lindbergh was the first man to fly nonstop from New York to Paris, France.

1927: The Meadowlark was designated as the Wyoming State Bird.

1927: Music and baseball were summer entertainment for the Hanna miners and their families. A town park, complete with a music stand and a baseball field, were developed over a period of years.

HANNA NO. 1 TOWN AND HANNA TOWN PARK (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

In the picture above, the small white structure on the front left with a fence around it was the town of Hanna bandstand, which was located in the town park. No. 1 town is located above the white house. The large dark colored structures are the coal chutes and the water towers to fuel and water the trains. No. 3 town and the No. 3 and 3.5 mines are located at the top of the picture about a mile away. The baseball field, which is not shown in this picture, is located to the left, or west, of the bandstand.

HANNA BAND AND BANDSTAND, 1927 (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

HANNA BALLPARK ON LABOR DAY, 1927. GERT MILLIKEN AND SYLVIA KOSKI ARE PICTURED. (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

HANNA BASEBALL TEAM (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Hanna Miner

There were no fatalities in the mines.

The Union Pacific Coal Company was the only mining company producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 underground mine with 85 employees produced 145,354 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 underground mine with 200 employees produced 338,593 tons of coal. (1927 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna mines produced a total of 483,947 tons of coal with 285 employees while the state produced a total of 5,738,561 tons of coal with 5,081 employees.

1928

In The News

March 15, 1928: The coal mining town of Cambria, Wyoming ended coal production and was abandoned. Some of the unemployed coal miners from Cabria moved to Hanna in search of work. The first shipment of coal from Cambria took place in 1899.

Hanna Miner

Two men were killed in the mines.

1. Gitsuji Ikegami was killed September 21, 1928. The investigation of the accident, which occurred in the No. 2 mine, Hanna, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company, and resulted in the death of G. Ikegami, Japanese. We found that G. Ikegami was employed in the 11th Entry in Room 4 as a miner. He was working close to the face of the room shoveling and throwing coal into the chute when a large piece of rock, 8 feet by 5 feet, by 13 inches fell from the roof and caught him squarely causing instant death. (1928 MIR) He was buried in Plot 303.1 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. Heber Morris, May 9, 1928. Findings of the investigation into the fatal accident at No. 4 Mine, Hanna, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company, which resulted in the death of Heber Morris. He was employed as a laborer on the 5 B U Joy Loading Machine and was working in the No. 5 Room on "E" Plane. At the time of the accident the Joy machine was not in operation. Two men with Mr. Morris were standing alongside the machine, Mr. Morris being on the inside, when the trimmer, Walter Rokla, warned them to look out. They started to run, but the coal that fell from the high rib caught Herber Morris causing injuries from which he died in the Hanna hospital a few hours later. (1928 MIR) Heber was buried in Plot 111 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

The Union Pacific Coal Company was the only company producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 underground mine with 70 employees produced 111,026 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 mine with 197 employees produced 402,173 tons of coal. (1928 MIR)

Improvements were made to the Union Pacific Coal Company's mines in Hanna.

Five Joy Loading Machines were purchased, one lathe was installed in machine shop, and a new hoist house was erected at “G” Plane.

100 tenement houses were painted. (1928 MIR)

Wyoming Miners

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 513,199 tons of coal with 267 employees. The state of Wyoming produced a total of 6,553,174 tons of coal with 5,639 employees.

1929

In The News

February 14, 1929: Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.

February 26, 1929: President Calvin Coolidge established the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

1929: The Stock Market crashed. It was the beginning of the Great Depression. Twenty-five Wyoming banks failed. The Great Depression was deep and hard felt in Hanna Basin.

1929: Earp died in Los Angeles, California.

1929: Union Pacific Coal Company opened the Hanna No. 6 mine. It operated for a little over three years and closed in 1933 because the No. 4 mine was producing enough coal to meet the railroad's needs.

1929: Colorado Coal Corporation opened the Red Mountain mine.

Hanna Miner

There were four fatalities in the Hanna Basin mines.

1. Sam Crawshaw, an English miner, age 42, married, with two dependent children was killed. Findings of the investigation into the accident, which occurred in the No. 2 Mine, Hanna, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company, in which Samuel Crawshaw and John Mazane were killed by a fall of coal. The accident occurred at the first right hand crosscut below 13th Entry, where Samuel Crawshaw and John Mazane had been employed in taking down top coal. This place had that morning been examined at different times by the fire boss, mine foreman and assistant foreman, the last visit being made by the assistant foreman at 11:15 a.m. and all three men reported the place as being in first class condition at the time of their respective examinations. While the assistant foreman was in the place, Crawshaw asked him to send the shot-firer down as he had two shots ready to fire; this the assistant foreman did and Shot-firer Erickson went down and fired the shots at about 11:30. After shooting, he made the customary examination of the place and called Crawshaw's attention to the high side of the lip of top coal, telling him that it did not look too good. Crawshaw replied that he would try to take it down or else shoot it down. At about 12:30 p.m. the rope rider went down to change cars for Crawshaw and Mazane, but they were not yet loaded, so he went on with his routine work. At 1:15 he returned to their place to change the cars, which this time he found to be loaded, but on seeing no lights he shouted to the men and on receiving no reply went into the place and found a fall of top coal. Suspecting that both men were buried, he went in search of help and also to notified the foreman. When the bodies were found under the top coal, the position of them would lead to the belief (they were close together) that the men were walking under the coal, so as to get to the inside of the lip and probably try to take it down (they had a pick and a pinch bar with them) and the coal fell and caught them both while they were under it. (1929 MIR) Sam was buried in Plot 34 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. Charles Katila, February 2, 1929, findings of the investigation of the accident which occurred in the No. 4 Mine, Hanna, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company, in which Charles Katila, age 54, Finlander, married, was killed. Katila was employed as a track layer and on the morning of the accident was called up to the parting of "F" Plane on the 2ndEntry to repair a spring latch which was not operating correctly. While employed at the job, the motor came in and changed the trip on the parting, which caused Katila to leave the latches and step to the low side as the motor had to pass over the said switch. It also appears that a trip on the top rope of "F" Plane was at this time standing at the derail switch, which is located about 165 feet above the latches, waiting for the signal light to indicate that the parting was clear. When the motor started out with the loaded trip from the parting, the motorman pulled the signal light switch, which indicated, to the rope rider on the trip that was at the derail, that the parting was clear. The rope rider immediately threw the derail and signaled down his trip. While entering the parting, he heard a noise like the trip had derailed and signaled the engineer to stop the trip and while so doing he noticed a light below the trip and when the trip finally came to a stop he saw that Katila had been run over. Immediately getting help, Katila was carried to a suitable place and first aid applied. From observation it would appear that Katila was not aware that this trip was at the derail, as he could not see up to that point as he was working around the curve, and when the motor trip got on the all clear he started back up to the latches and upon either not seeing the red light on the plane trip coming or hearing it, he started to get out of the way and was struck by the trip, or in attempting to get on the clear he slipped and fell in front of the trip. It has developed since the investigation was made that Katila was trying to get away from the trip when he slipped and fell. (1929 MIR) It is unknown were Charles was buried. (BL)

3. John Mazane, Greek, age 44, married, two dependent children. Findings of investigation into the accident which occurred in the No. 2 Mine, Hanna, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company, in which Samuel Crawshaw and John Mazane were killed by a fall of coal. The accident occurred at the first right hand cross-cut below 13thEntry, where Samuel Crawshaw and John Mazane had been employed in taking down top coal. This place had that morning been examined at different times by the fire boss, mine foreman and assistant foreman, the last visit being made by the assistant foreman at 11:15 a.m. and all three men reported the place as being in first class condition at the time of their respective examinations. While the assistant foreman was in the place, Crawshaw asked him to send the shot-firer down as he had two shots ready to fire; this the assistant foreman did and Shot-firer Erickson went down and fired the shots at about 11:30. After shooting he made the customary examination of the place and called Crawshaw's attention to the high side of the lip of top coal, telling him that it did not look too good. Crawshaw replied that he would try to take it down or else shoot it down. At about 12:30 p.m. the rope rider went down to change cars for Crawshaw and Mazane, but they were not yet loaded, so he went on with is routine work. At 1:15 he returned to their place to change the cars, which this time he found to be loaded, but on seeing no lights he shouted to the men and on receiving no reply went into the place and found a fall of top coal. Suspecting that both men were buried, he went in search of help and also to notify the foreman. When the bodies were found under the top coal, the position of them would lead to the belief (they were close together) that the men were walking under the coal so as to get to the inside of the lip and probably try to take it down (they had a pick and a pinch bar with them) and the coal fell and caught them both while they were under it. (1929 MIR) It is unknown were John was buried. (BL)

4. James Pappas, May 19, 1929, findings of the investigation of the accident at No. 2 Mine, Hanna, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company, which caused the death of James Pappas, Greek, age 43, married. Time of accident - 2:30 p.m. Pappas along with his brother, Nick, was employed as a miner and was engaged in pulling slope pillars between 13 and 15 Entries. At about 1:45 p.m. they had three shots fired in their place by the shot-firer. After the place was examined by the shot-firer they proceeded to load two cars, which were at their place. While loading the cars, a slab of coal weighing about three tons rolled off the rib striking Pappas. He fell and his head struck the protruding end of a track tie, which caused head injuries of such nature that death was instantaneous. It appears that Pappas and his brother knew that this piece of coal was parted away from the rib and had, previous to the time of the accident, tried to bar it off, but were unable to do so. They then proceeded with their work, but failed to sprag this piece of coal. Apparently the concussion of the shots loosened it a little more and when they started to load the cars they failed to examine it again and the accident occurred a few minutes later. (1929 MIR) James was buried in Plot 28 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

The Colorado Coal Corporation, Jay Johnson and Carbon County Coal Company were added to the list of mining companies doing business in the Hanna Basin.

Four mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 mine with 64 employees produced 119,064 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 mine with 208 employees produced 409,948 tons of coal.
2. Colorado Coal Corporation's Red Mountain mine with 7 employees produced 478 tons of coal.
3. Jay Johnson's Johnson mine with 2 employees produced 723 tons of coal.
4. Carbon County Coal's Wilson mine with 2 employees produced 275 tons of coal. (1929 MIR)

The Hanna First Aid Contest in Rock Springs in 1929 was a great success for the Hanna contestants.

The Union Pacific Coal Company’s Annual First Aid Contest was held in the Old Timers’ Building in Rock Springs in July. Eleven teams from the various Union Pacific camps, including Tono, Washington, competed, also thirteen Girl Scout teams and seven Boy Scout teams. The Hanna teams were successful in capturing all four first prizes, namely, men, Girl Scouts (Senior), Girl Scouts (Junior) and Boy Scouts.

This was probably the most successful contest ever conducted by the Union Pacific Coal Company and was held in conjunction with the Old Timers’ Celebration.

Hanna men, Team No. 1, consisting of Thomas Lucas, Arnum Bailie, W. E. Moffit, John Fermelia, Charles Mellor, Ted Attryde (Captain), were winners of First Place. The boys brought back the Challenge Cup to Wyoming.

Hanna Boy Scouts, Troop No. 29, consisting of Frank Hearne, James Milliken (Captain), Harold Morgan, Vincent Lucas, Charles Morgan and Henry Lemoine.
Hanna (Seniors) Mount Elks, Girl Scouts, consisting of Garnet Stultz, Elizabeth Crawford, Helen Van Renterghen, Helen Renny (Captain), Hazel Jones and Ruby Fearn.

Hanna (Junior) Girl Scouts, consisting of Annie Tate, Irene Lucas (Captain), Mildred Mellor, Dorothy Cook, Thelma Penman and Leona Mangan. (1929 MIR)

Several improvements were made to the Union Pacific Coal Company’s mines in Hanna.

Purchased two new 5 B.U. Joy Loading Machines, one 300K.W. motor and generator set and 1,800 ft. of panel was driven with an Eickhoff Conveyor.

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 530,488 tons of coal with 283 employees. The state produced a total of 6,690,779 tons of coal with 4,768 employees.

1930

In The News

1930: Wyoming population was 225,565 people with 11,391 of those living in Carbon County.

1930: Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 6 mine in Hanna was developed in 1929 and opened for production of coal in 1930.

Hanna Miner

There were two fatalities in the mines.

1. Gust Giatrakis, June 3, 1930, findings of the investigation of the fatal accident at the No. 2 Mine, Hanna, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company, on June 3, 1930, which resulted in the death of Gust Giatrakis, Greek, age 52, married, with two dependent children. Giatrakis and Wm. Crombie were engaged in pulling slope stumps and were working in the second crosscut below the entry. On the morning of the accident when both men reported to the fire boss prior to entering the mine, they were told that there was some loose coal and cap rock in their place and to be careful. On reaching their working place, they examined it and finding, as they were told, loose top coal and cap rock they proceeded to take down this coal in order to make the place safe, so that they could use a ladder to get up and take down the loose rock. Giatrakis was working on the loose coal and Crombie was holding a portable light, so that he could see better what he was doing. While Giatrakis was trying to bar down the loose coal, a piece of coal directly above him measuring 5' 3" x 1' 8" fell on him and caused injuries having occurred at 7:45a.m. He died in the hospital at 9:55 a.m. (1930 MIR) Gust was buried in Plot 135 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. J. M. Koosenjons, June 28, 1930, J. M. Koosenjons, findings of the investigation of the fatal accident which occurred June 27that 10:00 a.m., in Mine No. 4, Hanna, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company, wherein J. M. Koosenjons, American, married, one child, an employee of the Goodman Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois, was instantly killed. J. M. Koosenjons, J. B. Hughes, mechanical foreman for the Union Pacific Coal Company, Wm. Wright, and Joe Jones, Joy operators for the Union Pacific Coal Company, were taking a new type Goodman Loader into Mine No. 4 to place in No. 2 Room, F Plane, 5 Entry. They had progressed as far as F Plane, No. 4 Entry and at this point it became necessary to apply the haulage rope, which serves F Plane, in order to pull the machine up the pitch. In going thru the spout hole, the machine became lodged. Mr. Koosenjons noticed that there were levers protruding on the low side, stepped onto the low side of the machine to remove the levers, when suddenly the machine moved, catching Koosenjons between the rib and the machine and killed him instantly. I. N. Bayless, General Superintendent of the Union Pacific Coal Company, and from the testimonies, held an investigation by those present when the accident occurred, it would appear that the engineer received a signal of one bell, which is the signal to pull. Those who were in charge of the signals at the machine did not give this signal. The machine that was being moved was 6' 3" in width and 22' 7" overall in length, weighing 13 tons. The entry at the point of the accident had a clearance of 2' 7" from the tail on the high side. The hoist that was pulling the machine was approximately 1,800 ft. from the point of the accident and was equipped with a 200 H.P. motor. (1930 MIR) He was buried in Chicago, Illinois. (BL)

Four coal mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 mine with 63 employees produced 113,538 tons of coal. The No. 4 mine with 198 employees produced 368,696 tons of coal. The No. 6 mine with 10 employees produced 3,536 tons of coal.
2. Colorado Coal Corporation's Red Mountain mine with 5 employees produced 836 tons of coal.
3. Jay Johnson's Johnson mine with 2 employees produced 1,238 tons of coal.
4. Carbon County Coal's Wilson mine with 2 employees produced 520 tons of coal. (1930 MIR)

Significant improvements were made to the Union Pacific Coal Company’s Hanna mines.

The Company opened a new No. 6 mine; (The main slope is located 300 ft. south of the “A” fault and has been driven down a distance of 400 ft. from the surface. The man-way is 60 ft. south of the main slope and has been driven down a distance of 240 ft. from the surface. The air-shaft is to the top of the coal seam, about 40 ft. from the surface and connections are being made underground to the main return and man-way.); installed box car loading equipment at Hanna No. 4, consisting of a Gransfer Conveyor, loading boom, picking table with rock bin and a Mannierre Box Car Loader; built a Lump Chute at Hanna No. 2 to provide a facility for loading lump coal for employees; laid a new 3” fire protection line from No. 4 mine to No. 2 mine, allowing No. 4 mine water to be used for fire protection at No. 2 mine, both underground and on the surface; laid approximately 3,300 ft. of railroad track from No. 1 yard track through the No. 6 tipple; scales were installed; erected a dump and tipple with Link Belt Crusher and Link Belt Chain Conveyor at the No. 6 mine during the summer; extensive repairs were made to tenements; grading and ditching of streets, renewing of bridges and placing of culverts were carried on during the entire year. Miscellaneous buildings were erected at the No. 6 mine. (1930 MIR)

HANNA NO. 2 MINE (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

State Miner

The Hanna mines produced 488,364 tons of coal with 280 total employees while the state produced 6,070,796 tons of coal with 4,868 employees.

1931

In The News

October 17, 1931: Mobster Al Capone was sent to prison for tax evasion.

September 19, 1931: The Union Pacific Railroad remodeled the Community Hall in Hanna. The outside coal bin and several storage sheds in the rear of the building were removed and a kitchen, library and new light fixtures were added to the interior of the building. The Hanna Community Hall was now the site of community events such as family gatherings, dances, parties, weddings and funerals. Boy Scout meetings, lodge meetings and various other community programs were also held at the Community Hall.

Hanna Miner

There were no fatalities in the Hanna Basin mines.

Four mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 underground mine with 73 employees produced 96,754 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 underground mine with 197 employees produced 329,856 tons of coal. Hanna No. 6 underground mine with 10 employees produced 16,398 tons of coal.
2. Colorado Coal Corporation's Red Mountain mine with 5 employees produced 525 tons of coal.
3. Jay Johnson's Johnson underground mine with 2 employees produced 1,819 tons of coal.
4. C. J. Abbott's Carbon County underground mine with 5 employees produced 4,353 tons of coal. (1931 MIR)

Several improvements were to the Union Pacific Coal Company’s mines in Hanna in 1931.

Built one community building. Installed plumbing facilities in the hotel. Installed one Landis bolt cutting and pipe-threading machine in machine shop. Purchased one rock-dust distributor for 2, 4 and 6 mines and one 10-ton retail coal sales scale. Built one 6 stall garage. Purchased one 1-½ -ton Ford truck. Constructed at the No. 6 mine fire proofed portals at the manway and slope. Purchased one Joy 5 B. U. Loading machine and one C. L. U. Sullivan Cutting and Shearing Machine. (1931 MIR)

Wyoming Miners

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 449,705 tons of coal with 292 employees while the state produced a total of 5,000,705 tons of coal with 4,675 employees.

Eugene McAuliffe, the president of the Union Pacific Coal Company, experimented with ways to reduce accidents and deaths in the mines by awarding prizes in return for good safety. If better safety was to be achieved, McAuliffe believed, it would take the individual miner seriously wanting to stay safe.

To every employee in those sections of the mines, which had gone through the year without a lost-time injury, was presented with a ticket in a drawing for two five-passenger automobiles. The drawing was held in the Old Timers’ Building at Rock Springs, employees attending from all the mining districts. And now at last came the reward of patience and persistence. Here was a prize that produced tangible results! For a chance on a brand new automobile the miners were willing to guard their eyes, to have their cuts treated against infection, and to wear safety equipment the company urged them to use. (HUPCM)

The awarding of money, clothing and automobiles in exchange for good safety brought about some real change in thinking for the coal miner, in regards to safety. As the rewards got bigger and better, the more the miner agreed to wear protective glasses or goggles for eye protection, hard-toed shoes or boots to protect the feet, hard hats to protect the head, special protective gloves to protect the hands and the use of electric battery cap lamps to better see. The miner now saw a reason to have a good safety record.

1932

In The News

1932: A Hanna school teacher earned $1,433.70 a year or $159.30 a month. If the teacher should marry, the contract was automatically terminated.

1932: The Gus Siltimaki Coal Company opened the Elmo Peacock mine.

Hanna Miner

There were no fatalities in the mines.

Six mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 underground mine with 69 employees produced 107,058 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 underground mine with185 employees produced 280,906 tons. Hanna No. 6 mine with 10 employees produced 16,416 tons.
2. Colorado Coal Corporation's Red Mountain underground mine with 12 employees produced 4,711 tons of coal.
3. Jay Johnson's Johnson underground mine with 4 employees produced 2,985 tons of coal.
4. Carbon County Coal's Elk Mountain underground mine with 13 employees produced 5,095 tons of coal.
5. Gus Siltamaki's Elmo Peacock underground mine with 11 employees produced 100 tons of coal.
6. Merl Miller's Miller underground mine with 4 employees produced 351 tons of coal. (1932 MIR)

JAPANESE TOWN AND VEGETABLE GARDEN. IN THE BACKGROUND, SITS THE NO. 2 MINE AND BEHIND IT THE NO. 4 MINE (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna produced a total of 417,622 tons of coal with 308 employees while the state produced 4,163,419 tons with 4,236 employees.

1933

In The News

December 5, 1933: Prohibition of alcohol in the United States ended.

1933: Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 6 mine in Hanna was abandoned. The mine was developed in 1929 and opened for production of coal in 1930. It operated for a little over three years and was closed in 1933. The mine produced a total of 38,914 tons of coal with a peak of 10 workers over the lifetime of the mine. There were no fatalities at the No. 6 mine.

1933: A monument, carved by Hugh Renny in May 1933, was erected in honor of the men who lost their lives in the two disasters of the Number One mine. The monument was made from a slab of marble recovered from the old Opera House that burned down in 1926. The monument is located on a hill south of town overlooking the Number One mine. It sits over the area believed to be the spot in the mine where the men lost their lives in the 1908 explosion. The fence enclosing the monument was donated by the Sprowell family and was moved from the Sprowell plot at the Carbon Cemetery as family members there had been disinterred and moved to Rock Springs. (Hanna Basin Museum)

MEMORIAL TO THE MEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE DISASTERS OF NUMBER ONE MINE, JUNE 30, 1903 AND MARCH 28, 1908. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION PHOTOGRAPHED BY BOB LEATHERS)

HUGH RENNY (LEFT), T. H. BUTLER (CENTER), AND THOMAS R. JACKSON (RIGHT) (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

Hanna Miner

Two men were killed in the mines.

1. W. D. Baillie, July 13, 1933, findings of the investigation of the accident which occurred to W. D. Baillie, employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company at Hanna as a lamp-man and bathhouse attendant, wherein he was injured on July 13thabout 10:45 a.m., which injuries caused his death on July 18that 6:00 p.m. in the Hanna Miner's Hospital. Mr. Baillie and his son were engaged in replacing a locker chain over a pulley, which had become loose, this pulley being attached to the roof of the bathhouse. This necessitated the use of a stepladder nine feet in height. Mr. Baillie ascended the ladder nearly to the top and it is presumed that he became overbalanced and reached for the light fixture, which was hanging there to support him. He was also holding the locker chain and on reaching the light fixture it gave him a shock. He was unable to let go of the light fixture until the power was turned off. He conveyed this information to his son, who was supporting the ladder, and he ran to the door of the bathhouse where the switches are located and turned off the power. As soon as the power was off Mr. Baillie fell to the floor and it is assumed the he struck either against a pipe upright, 4 ft. 3 in. high, which is used for a hand rail and to hold the locker chains, or on one of the benches, causing injuries that necessitated a surgical operation from which he did not recover. The electrician made electrical tests of the light fixtures and no indications of a short could be detected. However, the electrician immediately after the accident placed himself in the same position as Mr. Baillie and he felt a shock from the fixture. The ladder, which was used, was a substantial one. In the writer's opinion it was better than an average stepladder. (1933 MIR) He was buried in a marked grave in Laramie, Wyoming. (BL)

2. Leonard Luoto, October 5, 1933, findings of investigation of the accident which occurred in Mine No. 4, Hanna, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company, wherein Leonard Luoto was injured at 11:45 p.m. and died at the Hanna Hospital about two hours later. The accident occurred in Room 10, "E" Dip, 5 Entry, and it was found that Leonard had been engaged in drilling and was working with Andrew Hyvnen, Mike Sevenikr and Edward Atryde. They were shooting top coal and had taken approximately 40 ft. of the upper bench, the place being 26 ft.in height and 30 ft. in width at the point of the accident. They were engaged in drilling holes in the top coal when suddenly a bump occurred and discharged some of the coal, which struck Leonard and caused the injuries from which he died. At the coroner's inquest it was found that these men had taken work in a workmanlike manner when the bump occurred, causing the accident. (1933 MIR) Leonard was buried in Plot 61 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Six companies were mining coal in the Hanna Basin.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 underground mine with 65 employees produced 88,667 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 underground mine with 192 employees produced 267,798 tons. Hanna No. 6 underground mine with 9 employees produced 2,564 tons.
2. Colorado Coal Corporation's Red Mountain underground mine with 7 employees produced 5,919 tons of coal.
3. C. J. Abbott's Carbon County underground mine with 15 employees produced 9,114 tons of coal.
4. Gus Siltamaki's Elmo Peacock underground mine with 4 employees produced 2,048 tons of coal.
5. Merl Miller's Miller underground mine with 4 employees produced 428 tons of coal.
6. H. B. Northrup's Garey underground mine with 6 employees produced 1,913 tons of coal. (1933 MIR)

Some improvements were made to the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 4 mine in Hanna.

Constructed a new concrete and steel house. Installed an auxiliary fan on the main north air-course.
Drove 1,000 ft. of new main return and 250 ft. of rock tunnel through “E” and “F” faults, 2ndNorth Entry. (1933 MIR)

Several improvements were made to the Carbon County Coal Company.

Built four new cabins, built one school house, added scales, tipple, hoist, rails, and ties. Added an Oldroyd Cutting Machine, a 75 K. W. Generator D. C. Added Air Stoppings. Built roads from highway to the mine. (1933 MIR)

ELECTRIC BULL DRILLS IN THE NO. 4 MINE (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

Wyoming Miners

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 378,451 tons of coal with 302 employees and the state produced a total of 4,004,602 tons with a total of 3,792 employees. (1933 MIR)

1934

In The News

May 11, 1934: Tremendous dust storms hit the Great Pains depleting valuable topsoil needed to grow crops.

May 23, 1934: The famous Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were killed by law enforcement officials near Sailes, Louisiana.

1934: The Union Pacific Coal Company’s Hanna No. 2 mine was permanently abandoned. The No. 2, like the No. 1 mine, was developed in 1889 and 1890. In 1891 the mine produced 38,507 tons of coal for outside use. The coal company itself used all of the coal produced prior to 1891. The mine was then idle for 3 years, 1892 through 1894. In 1895, the No. 1 mine caught fire and was forced to temporarily close. The shutdown of No. 1 forced the No. 2 mine back into production. When the No. 1 mine recovered from the fire late in 1895 the No. 2 mine w back went to idle status. The No. 2 mine was idle for the next nine years, 1896 through 1904. The No. 2 produced 31,131 tons of coal in 1895. In 1904 the mine was forced back into production because of the June 30, 1903 explosion of the No. 1 mine. The No. 2 mine was finally closed permanently in 1934 when all the coal had been removed. The No. 2 mine produced 6,206,201 tons of coal over 31 years of production. During the mine’s lifetime, the highest number of workers was 633 in 1918 and the lowest number of workers was 280 in 1930. The Hanna Basin mines (Hanna, Elmo, Sampo, Carbon, Dana, and Wagon mines) experienced a total of 371 miner deaths. The No. 2 mine in Hanna was responsible for 27 of the 371 deaths.

Hanna Miner

There was one fatality in the mines.

1. Merl Miller, February 24, 1934. Findings of the accident that occurred in the Miller Underground Mine, located about 15 miles northwest of Medicine Bow in Carbon County, wherein Merl Miller was killed. This accident was not reported to this Department and nothing was known of it until a news item in the Wyoming Tribune was seen on February 28th. Upon arriving at the mine it was discovered that there was no one present, it being surmised that the family was in Laramie attending the funeral rites of the deceased. From the information received and from observation, it appears that Mr. Miller had been employed in undermining the face of the main entry when a piece of coal, weighing approximately one-half to three quarters of a ton, fell from the face and crushed Mr. Miller's head and shoulders to such extent that death was practically instantaneous. D. V. Miller, a son of the deceased, later verified this. Mr. Miller and two sons had operated this property by themselves for about three years and on all previous visits, the last one only two weeks before the date of the accident, conditions were found to be good and all safety precautions taken. Mr. Miller was a good, practical miner. (1934 MIR) Merl was buried in Laramie, Wyoming. (BL)

The Merl Miller underground mine was abandoned in 1934, not long after the death of Merl Miller.

Four mining companies were producing coal in the Hanna Basin.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 underground mine with 55 employees produced 23,256 tons of coal. Hanna No. 4 mine with 224 employees produced 363,549 tons.
2. Colorado Coal Corporation's Red Mountain mine with 8 employees produced 3,012 tons of coal.
3. C. J. Abbott's Carbon County underground mine with 11 employees produced 11,405 tons of coal.
4. Gus Siltamaki's Elmo Peacock underground mine with 3 employees produced 2,444 tons of coal. (1934 MIR)

Several improvements were made to the Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 4 mine in Hanna 1934.

Installed a rock disposal plant at the No. 4 tipple to handle tipple refuse. Built a concrete overcast for the Main North return over 2ndNorth Entry. Drove to the surface a Main North Slope. Installed a 250 H.P. hoist with hoist house and rope carrier. Built a new stable for 2ndnorth No. 4 mine. Built a new inside machine shop on 4thNorth Entry. Purchased and installed two Sullivan CR3 cutting machines and one 15-ton Goodman haulage locomotive. Installed a 200 H. P. electric hoist on I Plane and 35 H. P. electric hoist on I DIP. (1935 MIR)

JOY LOADER (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

Wyoming Miners

The Hanna Basin produced a total of 404,066 tons of coal with 305 employees while the state mined 4,376,791 tons of coal with 3,378 employees.

1935

In the News

January 24, 1935: The first canned beer “Krueger’s Ale” went on sale in Richmond, Virginia. It was an instant success.

June 2, 1935: Babe Ruth, the greatest player in the history of baseball at that time, retired from the game.

August 14, 1935: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Social Security Act that guaranteed an income for the unemployed and retirees.

Hanna Miner

Two men lost their lives in the mines.

1. Yngve Eckman [Yngve Ekman], was injured in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 4 mine in 1934. He died from those injuries in 1935. (MM) (Family) He was buried in Plot 38 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

2. Frank Konishi, Japanese, age 52, married, one dependent child, age 6, employed as a sprinkler and track cleaner in Hanna No. 4 mine, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company was instantly killed about 2:00 p.m. on July 30, 1935, when he was struck by a loaded trip of pit cars in "I" Plane, spout hole 2, North Entry. Konishi was cleaning the track in the spout hole at the time of the accident, and no doubt failed to hear or see the trip that was being lowered to the parting. He had commenced to clean the track from the parting switches and was about in the middle of the spout hole and the center of the track when the cars struck him. Accidents of this kind are difficult to avoid when the mine is in operation. It is recommended that work of this kind be done on the off-shift in order to eliminate the possibility of being struck by the rope or trip. (1935 MIR) Frank was buried in Plot 300 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Three mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4 underground mine with 276 employees produced 456,371 tons of coal.
2. H. B. Northrop's Gary underground mine with 4 employees produced 3,649 tons of coal.
3. Gus Siltamaki's Elmo Peacock underground mine with 2 employees produced 2,444 tons of coal. (1935 MIR)

Several improvements were made to the Union Pacific Coal Companies No. 4 mine in Hanna.

Purchased and installed two gathering reel locomotives and one CLU cutting and shearing machine. Installed 8-foot, 50 H. P. Aerovane Fan, “H” Plane, No. 4 mine. Installed a Magnetic separator at the No. 4 tipple. (1935 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

The Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 456,371 tons of coal with 282 employees while the state produced 5,165,289 tons with 4,090 employees.

1936

In The News

1936: Steamboat, the bucking horse, first appeared on the Wyoming license plates.

1936: St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hanna caught fire and required significant repairs, including a new roof.

1936: The Nugget Coal Company opened the Nugget No. 1 mine near Elmo.

1936: The United Mine Workers of American organized local union No. 7247 to represent the employees of the new Nugget mine. The union would represent the workers until the mine sold in 1958. The new owners in 1958 would refuse to accept the United Mine Workers as the bargaining agent for the workers.

Hanna Miner

There were no fatalities in the mine.

Seven mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4 underground mine with 306 employees produced 544,930 tons of coal.
2. Colorado Coal Corporation's Red Mountain underground mine with 6 employees produced 1,939 tons of coal.
3. H. B. Northrop's Gary underground mine with 1 employee produced 1,455 tons of coal.
4. C. J. Abbott's Carbon County mine with 8 employees produced 8,526 tons of coal.
5. Earl Johnson's Elk Mountain Valley undergroundmine with 5 employees produced 3,056 tons of coal.
6. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget mine with 22 employees produced 32,780 tons of coal.
7. P. W. Waghorn's underground mine with 3 employees produced 4,043 tons of coal. (1936 MIR)

Some improvements were made to the Hanna No. 4 mine in 1936.

Installed one additional 250-H.P. motor to North Main Slope Hoist. Purchased and installed a new rotary dump and conveyor with motor and controls for the No. 4 tipple. Purchased 350 new 4-ton pit cars. Purchased one new 11 B.U. Joy Loading Machine. The Blacksmith shop was moved to the No. 4 mine and erected on a concrete foundation for use as welding room. A new machine shop was built at the No. 4 mine. Built new stables for horses on 3 North Entry, Main Slope. (1936 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin produced a total of 596,729 tons of coal with 349 employees while the state produced 5,791,202 tons with 4,751 employees.

1937

In The News

January 20, 1937: President Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated for the second time as President of the U.S.

May 27, 1937: The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco was opened.

June 22, 1937: Joe Louis won the world heavyweight title of the world in an eight-round knockout of Jim Braddock.

1937: The Monolith Portland Coal Company opened an open pit mine near Elmo.

1937: United Mine Workers of American organized local union No. 7502 to represent the workers of the Monolith Portland Midwest Coal Company’s workers.

Hanna Miner

There were no fatalities in the mines.

Seven mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company’s Hanna No. 4 underground mine with 304 employees produced 564,138 tons of coal.
2. Carbon County Coal Company's Carbon County underground mine with 8 employees produced 7,876 tons of coal.
3. Monolith Coal Company's Monolith open pit mine with 7 employees produced 11,230 tons of coal.
4. Earl Johnson's Elk Mountain Valley mine with 5 employees produced 4,260 tons of coal.
5. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget open pit mine with 23 employees produced 51,694 tons of coal.
6. Gus Siltamaki's Elmo Peacock underground mine with 2 employees produced 1,207 tons of coal.
7. P. W. Waghorn's Johnson mine with 4 employees produced 4,111 tons of coal. (1937 MIR)

Some improvements were made to the Hanna No. 4 mine.

Installed one CR 3 Sullivan mining machine. Installed four six-ton locomotives. Moved the Machine Shops from the No. 2 mine to No. 4 mine. (1937 MIR)

UNION PACIFIC ENGINE X2480 PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HANNA ROUND HOUSE AND MAINTENANCE SHOP (DON AND PHYLLIS SHIPMAN COLLECTION FROM RANDY SHIPMAN)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 644,516 tons of coal with 353 employees. The state produced 5,950,230 tons of coal with 4,996 employees.

1938

In The News

February 4, 1938: Walt Disney released the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

September 27, 1938: President Franklin Roosevelt appealed to Adolf Hitler for peace in Europe and not war.

Hanna Miner

There were no fatalities in the Hanna Basin mines.

Six mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4 underground mine with 295 employees produced 487,805 tons of coal.
2. Monolith Coal Company's No. 2 open pit mine with 21 employees produced 45,834 tons of coal.
3. Earl Johnson's Elk Moutain Valley underground mine with 8 employees produced 9,630 tons of coal.
4. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget open pit mine with 14 employees produced 25,775 tons of coal.
5. Gus Siltamaki's Elmo Peacock underground mine with 2 employees produced 1,001 tons of coal.
6. P. W. Waghorn's Johnson underground mine with 3 employees produced 3,556 tons of coal. (1938 MIR)

Several improvements were made to the Hanna No. 4 mine.

Added: a car haul at the No. 4 mine tipple, one 200 K. W. motor-generator set, complete with switchboard, one automatic reclosing circuit breaker, three transformers, 2200 feet of power line, 400 foot bore hole, one 4”x3” centrifugal pump, complete with motor and boiler plant and one set 10-ton mine car scales at the No. 4 tipple. (1938 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin produced a total of 573,601 tons of coal with 343 employees while the state produced 5,219,054 tons with 4,868 employees.

1939

In The News

September 1, 1939: Germany invaded Poland and World War II started. The United States adopted a neutral position until 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan.

1939: A new Union Pacific Coal Company store was opened. It contained all the necessities a mining family would need such as school supplies, gifts, tools, clothing and groceries. G. E. Bullock was the manager.

UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY STORE (HANNA MINER)

COUPON BOOK FOR THE UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY STORE IN HANNA (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY STORE (WHILE FAMILY FROM BOB LEATHERS)

UNION PACIFIC COAL COMPANY STORE (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Hanna Miner

One man was killed in the mines.

1. Reino Kuoppala was killed in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 4 mine in Hanna. (MM) Reino was buried in Plot 362 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Four mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4 mine with 296 employees produced 490,181 tons of coal.
2. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget open pit mine with 11 employees produced at total of 17,093 tons of coal.
3. Gus Siltamaki's Elmo Peacock mine with 3 employees produced 1,045 tons of coal.
4. P. W. Waghorn's Johnson underground mine with 3 employees produced 3,958 tons of coal. (1939 MIR)

Improvements were made to the Hanna No. 4 mine.

Added 2 BU -11 Joy Loading Machines and 2 CR3 Cutting Machines. Installed reels on 5 Goodman locomotives. Purchased 8 coal drills and 1 ½ ton truck. Moved 30 Tenements from No. 1 Town to Butler’s Addition. Built a New Store Building (1939 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin produced a total of 512,277 tons of coal with 313 employees while the state produced 5,411,072 tons with 4,287 employees.

1940

In The News

June 14, 1940: The German army entered and occupied Paris, France.

September 16, 1940: Congress initiated the first peacetime draft in the history of the United States. Selective Service was created.

December 29, 1940: The German air force dropped bombs on London, England.

1940: Wyoming’s population was 250,742 people with 12,644 of those living in Carbon County and 1,127 in Hanna.

1940: The Great Depression ended.

1940: Forty-two houses were moved from One Town to Butler’s addition.

1940: An addition to the Amusement Hall [Loves] was completed along with remodeling for a new post office and installation of a water tank at Butler’s addition.

HANNA, IN 1940. NO. 1 TOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE TRACKS WAS MOVED TO BUTLER’S ADDITION ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE TRACKS (HEARNE FAMILY COLLECTION)

HANNA AMUSEMENT CENTER - LOVES - (HANNA MINER)

Hanna Miner

One man was killed in the Hanna mines.

1. William A. Carnahan, a fatal accident involving William A. Carnahan. On May 23, 1940, William A. Carnahan, car coupler, age 59, married, two dependents, was fatally injured when squeezed between an empty and loaded car. The accident occurred at 9:40 a.m. He died in the Hanna Miners' Hospital at 11:47 a.m. the same day. The accident took place at the north end of the 2ndnorth parting, North Slope of the Hanna No. 4 mine, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company. Carnahan's duties consisted of making up motor trips, to see that they were properly coupled to eliminate any unnecessary delay on the parting and to clean track while waiting for rope trips or haulage motor. According to the testimony, also the investigation, there were twelve loaded cars on the parting, all coupled. Two four-car trips were then landed and coupled together by Carnahan. However, he failed to couple the last eight cars to the twelve that were already standing on the parting. There being no eye witness to the accident, Bruce Bailey, motorman and Frank Worsley, fireboss, testified that when Bruce landed his empty trip and started to pull out, Carnahan was riding the end of the loaded trip. When he noticed that eight cars were not coupled, he flagged the motorman with the red light. Bruce at the same time knew his trip was light, turned and saw Carnahan flagging him to come back so he could couple the eight cars that were left. Carnahan walked up the wide side to the end of the trip and then crossed over in front of the loaded eight-car trip, and stood in readiness to couple the trip together, evidently forgetting about the standing empties. The motorman stated that he saw Mr. Carnahan waiting to couple the trips up when he heard him yell. Mr. Worsley, fireboss, was at the parting at the time and called to the motorman to pull the trip back, stating that he thought Carnahan was caught between the two trips. This was done and he ran towards Carnahan, whom he found lying between the tracks. Had Mr. Carnahan remained on the wide side as was customary in coupling the trips together, this accident would have been avoided. Recommendations: To prevent like recurrences of this nature, instructions should be given to all haulage men to see that their trips are in the clear before disengaging their motor from their empty trips or coupling their motor to the loaded trip. (1940 MIR) William was buried in Plot 128 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Five mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4 underground mine with 350 employees produced 658,603 tons of coal.
2. Monolith Portland Midwest Company's Monolith No. 2 open pit mine with 26 employees produced 45,726 tons of coal.
3. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget No. 1 open pit mine with 23 employees produced 26,578 tons of coal.
4. Carbon County Coal Company's Hanna underground mine produced 4,044 tons of coal.
5. Elk Mountain Valley Coal Company's Gary underground mine produced 7,670 tons of coal. (1940 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin produced a total of 742,621tons of coal with 382 employees while the state produced 6,670,808 tons of coal with 4,506 tons of coal.

1941

In The News

December 7, 1941:
The Japanese bombed the American Naval fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing more than 2,400 Americans.

December 8, 1941:
The United States declared war on Japan and entered World War II. The war initially began when Nazi Germany attacked Poland in September of 1939.

December 11, 1941: Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.

1941: The largest steam locomotive ever built, the Big Boy, went into service for Union Pacific Railroad. It steamed through Hanna many times.

1941: Diesel powered locomotives were introduced by the Union Pacific Railroad for freight service.

1941: The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 4 mine in Hanna was abandoned. The No. 4 mine started mine development in 1911 and opened coal production in 1912 when it produced only 29,583 tons of coal in its first year. The mine closed production in 1941 when the mining operations were moved out of Hanna to the new mine 4A facility north of town. The mine operated in Hanna for 30 years and produced 10,226,125 tons of coal with a peak work force of 331workers. The Hanna Basin mines (Hanna, Elmo, Sampo, Carbon, Dana, and Wagon mines) experienced a total of 371 miner deaths. The No. 4 mine in Hanna was responsible for 24 of the 371 deaths.

HANNA NO. 4 MINE DUMP JUST BEFORE IT WAS ABANDONED IN 1942. (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Hanna Miner

There were three fatalities in the Hanna Basin.

1. Stanley Crank, on October 17, 1941 at 12:45 p.m. Stanley Crank, Joy operator, age 31, American, married and one dependent, was instantly killed by a fall of rib coal in No. 9 Room, J Plane, Hanna No. 4 Mine, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company. Stanley and his partner Joseph Lucas, trimmer, Eino Williams, Joy helper, and Max Whitman, motorman, were loading coal from the high side of the room when the accident occurred. According to the statements made at the investigation, also the testimony brought out at the inquest, Joseph Lucas, whose work consists of trimming down all loose coal, had just come down from the coal pile and was talking to Stanley about the condition of the high side rib. Stanley stated to Mr. Lucas that the high side appeared to be in good shape and was not working, as it had been all morning. They loaded two cars and started on the third when the coal fell, crushing him against the Joy. The coal that fell measured ten feet by two feet by three feet thick. The room at this point was thirty-two feet wide and twenty-six feet high. The slips run diagonally across the room. The piece that fell from this slip came down without giving any or little warning. Nevertheless, the overhang at this particular point was excessive as compared with the general mining condition in this seam. Had the rib been leaning toward the top instead of overhanging toward the workmen, this accident may have been avoided. Recommendation: This Department recommends that all overhanging rib or top coal be taken down before any loading takes place. Where brushing cannot be fully carried out, props in the form of a brace can be set until such time as the dangerous condition can be removed by shooting down excessive overhang. Robert T. Real, Deputy Coal Mine Inspector. (1941 MIR) Stanley was buried in Laramie, Wyoming. (BL)

2. Neil Glad, on November 6, 1941, Neil Glad, age 28, American, no dependents, was instantly killed when struck by a piece of falling coal; which measured twenty-four inches by thirty-six inches. The total amount of coal in the fall was about four tons. This accident took place about 4:30 p.m. in Room 10, K Plane, off 3 North Entry, Hanna No. 4 Mine, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company. Glad who had been instructed by Thomas Rimmer, unit foreman, to get two grease guns and grease the loading machine, had secured the guns and was walking towards the machine indicated, when the top coal fell which caused his death. Mr. Rimmer and one of the loading crew testified at the inquest that the roof had been properly tested and found to be solid and in good condition. There are numerous slips in most of the rooms in this section and from careful observation; we believe that No. 10 Room was subject to the slips more so than the adjoining rooms. The rooms in this mine are driven for a distance of eight, nine and ten hundred feet and the height of coal removed in first mining averages about eight feet when the room has been driven its full distance. Removal of what is known as subtop is then mined for a like distance of the first mining. Upon the removal of this coal, the brushing down of what is known as the top proper is then commenced. In the room where Glad met his death, the shooting down of subtop had just commenced and the distance from the load point to where the top coal fell was sixty feet. The brushing of the subtop had taken place at a distance of 550 feet from the room neck. The posting of these rooms has never, at any time, been considered a necessity. Occasionally, props have been set at various intervals and only in cases where the top became extra heavy. Upon being questioned regarding instructions from his operators in connection with the posting of this room, Mr. Rimmer, unit foreman, stated that he had been given instruction, but felt that there was no need of securing the top by setting props, as the place, in his judgement, was in good condition. Recommendation: This department believes that in all present rooms where subtop coal has not yet been started, these rooms should be secured by properly posting same with suitable timber and cap pieces, and that in all future development, instructions must be given to all unit foremen and crew members that their places must be properly secured by timber before work commences. (1941 MIR) He was buried in Plot 312 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

3. Herman W. Maki[William Haapamaki], on December 19,1941, Finnish, age 56, married, one dependent, was killed instantly at 10:30 a.m. in No. 8 Room, J-1Plane of the Hanna No. 4 Mine, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company. Maki, who was employed as a driller, had stamped a place preparatory to drilling a hole on the lower left hand rib; he was working under what is known as the top coal pepper. His partner, William Bennett, was above him standing on a pile of coal that had been previously shot down. While Bennett was on this coal, he noticed the upper layer moving and small pieces dropping. He immediately called to Maki to look out or get out. Maki either failed to understand the warning or felt that nothing of any consequence could fall. Instead of moving back, he looked up at the same instant as the coal fell, which struck him on the chest, breaking his back, legs and possibly his neck. The doctor stated that either the neck or back injuries would have killed him. Maki was recognized by his employers as being a first-class miner, a conscientious, capable and careful workman. There is no gainsaying that he failed to heed the warning called to him by his partner, which resulted in his death. That he had violated no state or company rules in carrying out the foreman's instructions is another factor that must not be overlooked. This Department will appreciate someone in the supervisory department examining get escaping of all faces, sides and top after each blast and remain to see that each place has been made secure, thereby guarding against a recurrence of the above. (1941 MIR) He was buried in Plot 377 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Six mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4 underground mine with 350 employees produced 658,603 tons of coal.
2. Monolith Portland Midwest Company's Monolith No. 2 open pit mine with 26 employees produced 45,726 tons of coal.
3. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget No. 1 open pit mine with 23 employees produced 26,578 tons of coal.
4. Earl Johnson's Carbon County underground mine with 5 employees produced 4,044 tons of coal.
5. Earl Johnson's Elk Mountain Valley No. 1 underground mine with 3 employees produced 267 tons of coal.
6. Gus Siltimaki's Elmo Peacock underground mine with 3 employees produced 824 tons of coal. (1941 MIR)

Improvements were made to the Union Pacific Coal Company No. 4 Mine in Hanna.

Installed run-of-mine conveyor in No. 4 tipple. Graded and laid railroad track for new 4A tipple. Installed three 200 KVA 13,000 transformers complete with tower. Extended heavy tracks in slopes and entries. Extended sprinkling lines. (1941 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin produced a total of 736,042 tons of coal with 380 employees, while the state produced 6,670,808 tons with 4,506 employees.

1942

In The News

November 11, 1942 : The legal draft age was lowered to age 18.

1942: The Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming began to serve as an internment camp for some 10,000 Japanese Americans.

1942: The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 4A mine in Hanna started production of coal. The No. 4 mine in Hanna was closed.

Hanna Miner

One man was killed in the mines.

1. Joseph LeRoy Griffith was involved in a fatal accident on May 26, 1942. Joseph LeRoy Griffith, American, age 53, married, wife and seven dependent children, was seriously injured at 11:45 p.m. when he was caught between the top of a motor and the loading boom of a Joy loading machine. Griffith died in the Miners' Hospital in Hanna about 1:00 a.m. on May 27, 1942. The accident took place in No. 8 Room, "J-1" Plane of the Hanna No. 4 Mine, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company. Griffith who was employed as a motor man, was working with a Joy crew. They had cleaned up No. 8 Room and were moving the Joy loader and motor together, the motor furnishing the power. This was being done in order to expedite the work of pulling the cable after the Joy had reached the room neck. Griffith had been instructed by the Joy loader runner to put his locomotive in the crossover switch, in order that the Joy could pass and would be in the lead when they reached the room neck. However, it appears that there were too many empty cars in the crossover parting for the motor to have sufficient clearance to enable the Joy to pass. Consequently, both mechanical devices went out towards the room neck, with the motor in the lead instead of the loading machine. What happened after these machines reached the room neck is mere conjecture on the part of witnesses who testified at the inquisition. Nothing was brought out by the coroner as to whether or not the Joy had been advanced further than was common practice in this transfer of the machinery from one room to the other, or whether or not the motorman had traveled such a distance that he was unable to apply the brakes sufficiently to hold the motor on the incline and was compelled to use the power. When the officers of the State Mine Inspection Department reached the scene of the accident, the cause, namely the Joy and the locomotive, had been removed. Since no one saw this accident, there is nothing left with which to determine the cause excepting the testimony given by the men who were working in the room. Recommendations: 1. This Department feels that in the future, when locomotives and Joy loader are being transferred, each unit shall travel on its own power and be transferred from the place that is being vacated to the next working place without interruption, and whatever unit is in the rear shall be compelled to remain a safe distance at all times until the unit in the lead has been taken to the place where it is to be used. 2. This Department will appreciate all evidence being left at the scene of the accident until such time as an investigation can be made. 3. The motorman in all cases should be at least the entire length of his locomotive away from the loading boom of the Joy loader. J. M. Sampson, State Coal Mine Inspector. Robert T. Real, Deputy Coal Mine Inspector. (1942 MIR) Joseph was buried in Medicine Bow, Wyoming. (BL)

Coal production was greatly enhanced with the addition of the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 4A mine in Hanna. In its first year of production it produced 771,696 tons of coal with an average of 350 employees.

Five mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4A underground mine with 350 employees produced 771,696 tons of coal.
2. Monolith Portland Midwest Company's Monolith No. 2 open pit mine with 26 employees produced 51,621 tons of coal.
3. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget No. 1 open pit mine with 23 employees produced 40,947 tons of coal.
4. Carbon County Coal's Hanna underground mine produced 6,653 tons of coal.
5. Elk Mountain Valley Coal Company's Gary underground mine produced 8,102 tons of coal. (1942 MIR)

The Union Pacific Coal Company made extensive additions and improvements to the Union Pacific Coal Company No. 4 and No. 4A mine in Hanna.

Developed and equipped a new surface opening and surface plant at "L" Plain. Constructed a modern steel tipple with a surface dump station and crushing plant of 300 ton-per-hour capacity. Added five loading railroad tracks. Installed one 150-ton railroad track scale and housing. Built a surface motor road and rock tunnel to the tipple. Drove 815 lineal feet 8'X12' rock tunnel. Built concrete portals for the manway and the slope. Built a concrete portal for the rock tunnel. Provided a mine-water-disposal system involving installation of one 500 G.P.M. pump and one 50,000-gallon redwood tank. Built 3.75 miles of 31.2 K.V. power line and installed three 200 K.V.A. transformers. Installed two 25 H.P. shaking conveyors. Installed tow type 7-B Sullivan mining machines. Installed ten Little Giant Drills. Installed two blower fans with 350 feet vent tube. Constructed a mine car repair shop. Installed a storage tank of 50,000 gallon capacity at the 4A mine, and installed a booster pump of 100 G.P.M. capacity at Hanna and Elmo for the domestic water supply in Hanna. Extended heavy tracks in slopes and entries. Extended sprinkling lines. (1942 MIR)

HANNA 4A MINE, NORTH OF HANNA. (JACK HEARNE COLLECTION)

ENTRY TO HANNA NO. 4A MINE (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

NO. 4A MINE, LOOKING SOUTH TO NORTH (JACK HEARNE COLLECTION)

HANNA NO. 4A MINE (SHIPMAN FAMILY FROM RANDY SHIPMAN)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 879,016 tons of coal with 410 employees, and the state produced 8,154,861 tons with 4,776 employees.

1943

In The News

August 1, 1943: Bernard R. Lucas, Hanna resident: (World War II Casualty Serial number 17054597, TECHNICAL SERGEANT, 328th BOMBER SQUADRON, 93rd BOMBARDMENT GROUP,) was killed in action, August 1, 1943. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart Medal and Air Medal. He was buried in Florence, Italy. A memorial stone was placed in Hanna, Wyoming cemetery in plot 218. He was 22 years old.

November 26, 1943: Ten families were left homeless when two apartment buildings and a beauty parlor burned down. The buildings were located on the corner a block west of Love's store and theater. The fire started from hot ashes piled outside the apartment houses. It was reported that up to 60 families were affected by the fire.

1943: University of Wyoming men’s basketball team won their first and only national basketball title. The team defeated the NIT champion, St. John’s, at Madison Square Garden, just a few days after winning the NCAA tournament title. The team was led by Kenny Sailors who is credited as the inventor of the modern day jump shot.

Hanna Miner

One miner was killed in the Hanna Basin mines.

1. Gust Fouros, age 48, Greek, single, was fatally injured on May 16, at 9:55 p.m. and died at 11:30 p.m. the same day at the Hanna Hospital. The accident occurred in No. 8 room of K 2 Plane, Hanna No. 4 Coal Mine, operated by the Union Pacific Coal Company. On May 17, Hugh McLeod, made an investigation into the accident resulting in the death of the aforesaid. John Kivi, machine runner; Clifford Frazier, machine helper; and D. J. Stevens, driller; made up the crew who were engaged in cutting and drilling No. 8 room of K 2 Plane, Hanna No. 4 Mine. Kivi and Frazier were cutting the place and when they cut about ten feet from the right side toward the left side, they stopped the machine and moved the tail jack pipe so that Fouros and Stevens could start drilling. When the place was cut, the machine was pulled back about thirty feet to load it on the traveling truck. Fouros and Stevens had just finished drilling the seventh hole about center of the place, which was twenty-seven feet wide. They then proceeded to sharpen the drill bits. Fouros was standing out four feet from the face looking toward the face and Stevens was standing against the face looking out over the room, when a piece of top coal, without warning, struck Fouros on the back, injuring him severely. Recommendations: Owing to a large amount of top coal that is left in the first mining, very little timber was used in the past, but due to changing condition, because of well defined slips encountered in the top coal, I feel that it would add to the safety if safety props be set while the men are working, cutting, drilling and shooting. Hugh McLeod, State Mine Inspector. (1943 MIR)

Gust was buried in Plot 134 in the Hanna cemetery.

Six coal mining companies were producing coal in the Hanna Basin.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4A underground mine with 366 employees produced 1,042,874 tons of coal.
2. Carbon County Coal's Hanna underground mine produced 13,065 tons of coal.
3. Elk Mountain Valley Coal Company's Carbon open pit mine produced 10,160 tons of coal.
4. Elk Mountain Valley Coal Company's Gary mine with 9 employees produced 14,316 tons of coal.
5. P. W Waghorn's Elk Mountain open pit mine with 2 employees produced 1,977 tons of coal.
6. Monolith Portland Midwest Company's Monolith No. 2 open pit mine with 18 employees produced 71,248 tons of coal.
7. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget No. 1 open pit mine with 15 employees produced 54,281 tons of coal. (1943 MIR)

Improvements were made to the Union Pacific Coal Company No. 4 mines in Hanna.

Installed a new centrifugal pump and 3,970 feet discharge line to handle mine drainage. Built one overcast. Extended heavy track. Installed one Joy loader. Constructed an area wall to serve as an air duct for power plan turbines. Constructed an addition to power plant and a cooling pond. Installed a crusher conveyor and drive in tipple.(1943 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 1,194,856 tons of coal with 417 employees, while the state produced 9,237,729 tons with 4,675 employees.

1944

In The News

June 6, 1944: D-Day began. It was the day the Allied powers crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control.

June 26, 1944: John W. Saari, a Hanna resident, (World War II Casualty Serial number 39197110. TECHNICIAN GRADE 5, 297th ENGINEERS COMBAT BATTALION) was killed in action. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. He was buried in Cherbough France. A memorial monument was placed in the Hanna, Wyoming cemetery, in plot 360.

July 14, 1944: William C. Lucas, a Hanna resident, (World War II Casualty, Serial number 0-524578. SECOND LIEUTENANT, 331 INFANTY, 83rd DIVISION U.S. ARMY), died from wounds received during action. He was buried in the Hanna, Wyoming cemetery in plot 218. He was 27 years old.

1944: Steam Locomotive No. 844 was the last steam locomotive built for the Union Pacific Railroad. It was delivered in 1944. A high-speed passenger engine, it pulled such widely known trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Roseand Challenger. Many people know the engine as the No. 8444, since an extra '4' was added to its number in 1962 to distinguish it from a diesel numbered in the 800 series. The steam engine regained its rightful number in June 1989, after the diesel was retired. When diesels took over all of the passenger train duties, No. 844 was placed in freight service in Nebraska between 1957 and 1959. It was saved from being scrapped in 1960 and held for special service. The engine has run hundreds of thousands of miles as Union Pacific's ambassador of goodwill. It has made appearances at Expo '74 in Spokane, the 1981 opening of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans and the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Los Angeles Union Station in 1989. Hailed as Union Pacific's "Living Legend," the engine is widely known among railroad enthusiasts for its excursion runs, especially over Sherman Hill between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming.

STEAM ENGINE 844 STOPPING IN HANNA. (WHILE FAMILY COLLECTION FROM BOB LEATHERS)

Hanna Miner

There were no fatalities in the Hanna Basin mines.

Seven mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4A underground mine with 366 employees produced tons produced 1,054,681 tons of coal.
2. Turteling Brothers' Elk Mountain open pit mine with 58 employees produced 76,600 tons of coal.
3. Elk Mountain Valley Coal Company's Hanna open pit mine with 3 employees produced 593 tons of coal.
4. Elk Mountain Valley Coal Company's Gary open pit mine with 9 employees produced 14,143 tons of coal.
5. J. C. Johnson Mine Company's Elk Mountain open pit mine with 2 employees produced 1,430 tons of coal.
6. Monolith Portland Midwest Company's Monolith No. 2 open pit mine with 18 employees produced 52,228 tons of coal.
7. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget No. 1 open pit mine with 15 employees produced 101,850 tons of coal. (1944 MIR)

Improvements were made to the Union Pacific Coal Company No. 4A mine in 1944.

Installed 3,681 feet pipe from the Butler Addition reservoir to the railroad tanks, 788 feet of 4” cast iron pipe for fire protection at the 4A mine, one drying house for the hospital and 40,000-gallon water tank for the power plant. An auxiliary crusher installed at the No. 4 mine along with a new oil house, one 1-½ ton Dodge truck, and one Jeffrey mining machine. Constructed a new Ash Disposal system at the power plant. (1944 MIR)

Improvements were made to the Nugget Coal Company in 1944.

Union Pacific Railroad Company built spur works for the new tipple site. Temporary loading ramps were constructed at new tipple site. The crusher was moved and set up at new tipple site. (1944 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin produced a total of 1,301,525 tons of coal with 475 employees, while the state produced 9,559,593 tons with 4,585 employees.

1945

In The News

April 21, 1945: Arvo A. Luoma, a Hanna resident, (World War II Casualty Serial number 3714 3722. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S.) was killed in action and buried in the Hanna, Wyoming cemetery in plot 365. He was 28 years old.

April 30, 1945: Adolf Hitler committed suicide by swallowing cyanide and then shooting himself in the head. Soon after Hitler’s death, Germany surrendered to Allied forces.

May 7, 1945: The German armed forces officially surrendered.

August 6, 1945: The American B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing approximately 80,000 people.

September 2, 1945: After 6 years and 1 day, World War II ended.

December 5, 1945: A U.S. Navy squadron of aircraft on a routine training flight mysteriously disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle and up to this day have not been found.

1945: The Nugget Coal Company started construction of a new steel and concrete modern tipple. The tipple was completed and put in service in 1946.

Hanna Miner

One miner was killed in the mines.

1. Henry Rice, on October 22, 1945, Henry C. Rice, American Negro, age 37, married with three children, was instantly killed at 9:30 p.m. in the No. 11 Room, A Panel, 4 North Entry. The accident occurred in the Hanna No. 4A Mine, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company. Henry Rice, Joy machine runner, Donald Knifer, Joy helper, Earl Owens, motorman and George Kostifakis, trimmer, made up the crew working in the No. 11 Room. All men who examined this place at the beginning of the shift were a little concerned over the condition of both the high and low rib. This crew had loaded about sixty-five cars and was going to load one more car and then move on to another place because they felt it was too dangerous. Without any warning the high rib sloughed off, striking Mr. Rice and killing him instantly. This department feels that when the supervisory force finds a dangerous working place, it is their duty to stay and supervise the work and not leave the workmen until the place is made safe or the loading crew moved out. Hugh McLeod, State Coal Mine Inspector. (1945 MIR) It is unknown where Henry was buried. (BL)

JOY MINING MACHINERY IN THE HANNA 4A MINE (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

Five mining companies were mining coal. 1945 was the last year of coal production for the Terteling Brothers.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4A underground mine with 366 employees worked 350 days and produced 1,033,158 tons of coal.
2. Elk Mountain Valley Coal Company's mine with 69 employees worked 279 days and produced 259,950 tons of coal.
3. J. C. Johnson Coal Company's Elk Mountain mine with 2 employees produced 1,161tons of coal.
4. Monolith Portland Midwest Company's Monolith No. 2 open pit mine with 18 employees produced 49,399 tons of coal.
5. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget No. 1 open pit mine with 15 employees produced 3,125 tons of coal. (1945 MIR)

Several improvements were made to the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 4A mine.

Constructed a new machine shop and warehouse, drilled nine hundred and eighty-five feet of holes by a contractor north of L. Plane to determine the location of coal seam, laid four hundred and sixty-five feet of 4” water main at L Plane for fire protection, installed a voltage regulator in the power plant, installed two 25 H. P. Goodman shaking conveyors, and purchased one federal truck. (1945 MIR)

Improvements made to the Nugget Coal Company's mine.

Started construction on a new tipple. (1945 MIR)

Wyoming Miners

Hanna Basin produced a total of 1,346,793 tons of coal with 473 employees, while the state produced 9,836,798 tons with 4,814 employees.

1946

In The News

1946: The Hanna gymnasium, built in 1918, burned down at Christmas time. The basketball team was forced to practice in the Finn Hall, which was located near the school, and play most of their home games in Rawlins. In spite of all the difficulties, the Hanna team placed third in the district tournament and fourth in the state tournament.

Hanna Miner

There were no fatalities in the Hanna mines in 1946.

Four mining companies were producing coal in the Hanna Basin.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4A underground mine with 339 employees produced 767,049 tons of coal.
2. Elk Mountain Coal Company's Gary open pit mine with 72 employees produced 94,551 tons of coal.
3. Monolith Portland Midwest Company's Monolith No. 2 open pit mine with 18 employees produced 54,210 tons of coal.
4. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget No. 1 open pit mine with 29 employees produced 160,220 tons of coal. (1946 MIR)

The Union Pacific Coal Company’s Hanna No. 4A mine engaged in two important safety features; it rock dusted the interior of the mine and used permissible electric cap lamps in the mine.

Several improvements were made at the Union Pacific Coal Company No. 4A mine.

Purchased: one 11 BU Joy Loader; a band saw for the machine shop; a Sullivan 7AU cutting machine and mounted drill; a drill for the machine shop; a rock dusting machine; an oil treating system at the tipple; a 50,000-gallon water tank for the power plant; a 2,500 KVA turbine for the power plant; two banks of three 500 KVA 13,200/2300 volt transformers for the power plant; 300 G. P. M pump for the 4thentry to the 4A mine; a new drum for the "L Plane" hoist. Built a new warehouse and a new machine shop. Drilled 1833 feet of holes to prove coal lands. (1946 MIR)

Some improvements were made at the Nugget mine.

Completed a new concrete and steel tipple. (1946 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin mines produced 1,076,030 tons of coal with 458 employees, and the state produced 7,616,681 tons with 4,500 employees.

1947

In The News

1947: Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play baseball in the Major Leagues. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

1947: The Cottonwood was adopted as the state tree.

1947: A new gym was being built during the school year. The Hanna basketball team again practiced in the Finn Hall and played most of their games at Rawlins. The team won the district tournament in 1947 and placed fourth at the state tournament.

HANNA SCHOOL’S NEW GYM, ON THE FAR LEFT, WAS ADDED IN 1947. (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

HANNA'S 1947 BASKETBALL TEAM (GERT MILLIKEN COLLECTION FROM GARY MILLIKEN)

Hanna Miner

There was one fatality reported in the Hanna Basin mines.

1. Elmer Ehrhardt, on January 22, 1947, at 3:41 p.m., age 23, married, was instantly killed by a fall of coal. The accident occurred in C-3 Plane, No. 9 Room, Hanna No. 4A Coal Mine, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company. Robert Houston, machine runner, and Mr. Ehrhardt, machine helper, had completed the undercut in the room. They were in the act of cutting out on the low side rib, when, without any warning, a slab of coal, measuring eight feet long, three feet wide and twenty inches thick at the thickest part, tapering off to a featheredge, weighing approximately a ton, fell from the face of the room, striking Mr. Ehrhardt on the back, knocking him against the frame of the machine, killing him instantly. According to the testimony given at the inquest by the unit foreman, Mr. Childers, he had tested the face and found it to be solid and safe before the undercut was started. This Department recommends that where there is overhanging top coal, it must be taken down before the mining machine starts to undercut.Hugh McLeod, State Coal Mine Inspector. Mike Duzik, Deputy Coal Mine Inspector. (1947 MIR) Elmer was buried in Clifton Hills, Missouri. (BL)

Four mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4A underground mine with 360 employees produced 734,905 tons of coal.
2. Elk Mountain Coal Company's Gary open pit mine with 43 employees produced 140,273 tons of coal.
3. Monolith Portland Midwest Company's Monolith No. 2 open pit mine with 21 employees produced 52,958 tons of coal.
4. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget No. 1 open pit mine with 29 employees produced 304,513 tons of coal. (1947 MIR)

Improvements were made to the Union Pacific Coal Company’s Hanna No. 4A mine.

Moved 2500 KW Steam Turbo Generator from Rock Springs power plant and installed it at the Hanna plant. Built seven duplex modern apartment buildings. Purchased: one 300 KW Ignitron Rectifier; one bit sharpener and forge; one ½ ton pickup truck; and one GPM centrifugal pump. (1947 MIR)

Improvements were made at the Nugget Coal Company's mine.

Erected two Quonset buildings. Purchased two residences in town. Remodeled a bunkhouse into a residence. Installed sewer and waste disposal for the houses. (1947 MIR)

Improvements were made to the Elk Mountain Coal Company's mine.

Installed a dustbin and a vibrating screen. (1947 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin mines produced 1,232,649 tons of coal with 455 employees, and the state produced 8,054,751 tons with 4,348 employees.

1948

In The News

June 24, 1948: The Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin and the Cold War began.

August 16, 1948: The legendary George Herman “Babe” Ruth died from cancer in New York City.

Hanna Miner

One man was killed in the mines.

1. Uno Albert Lehti, November 13, 1948 at 10:20 a.m., age 39, married, was instantly killed by a fall of coal. The accident occurred in the No. 4 North Entry off the North Slope, Hanna No. 4A Coal Mine, and property of the Union Pacific Coal Company. Thomas Lucas, Unit Foreman, Frank Urtado, Joy Helper and Uno Lehti, Joy operator made up the crew working this entry. They had just finished loading a car with the Joy when Lucas and Urtado went to the parting to get an empty car. It seems that Mr. Lehti had picked up a pinch bar to trim some loose coal off the rib when a large piece of coal fell from the rib striking him on the head, killing him instantly. (1948 MIR) Uno was buried in Plot 368 in the Hanna cemetery. (BL)

Five mining companies were producing coal.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4A underground mine with 345 employees produced 590,998 tons of coal.
2. Elk Mountain Coal Company's Gary open pit mine with 52 employees produced 71,189 tons of coal.
3. Monolith Portland Midwest Company's Monolith No. 2 open pit mine with 19 employees produced 55,223 tons of coal.
4. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget No. 1 open pit mine with 28 employees produced 199,582 tons of coal.
5. Pioneer Coal Company's Pioneer Mine, open pit, with 2 employees produced 1,956 tons of coal. (1948 MIR)

Some important improvements were made to the town of Hanna and Union Pacific Coal Company’s Hanna No. 4A mine.

Modernized thirty-five houses.

Installed: a smokestack and induced draft fan in the boiler plant; one centrifugal pump for the boiler plant; one Joy elevating conveyor; two Auto Duckbill Assemblies; two Automatic Circuit Breakers; and two excitation rectifiers for the power plant. (1948 MIR)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin mines produced a total of 917,112 tons of coal with 444 employees. The state produced a total of 6,408,302 tons with 4,212 employees.

1949

In the News

1949: The blizzard of 1949 was the worst storm in Wyoming history. The storm created nearly intolerable conditions in Hanna. The blizzard closed the Union Pacific Railroad's main line through Hanna for seven weeks.The state of Wyoming suffered significant damage during the blizzard of 1949. It was, without a doubt, the most memorable storm to occur in the town of Hanna. It wasn't so much the amount of snow that fell, it was the wind that blew constantly, up to 80 miles per hour without letting up, resulting in huge snow drifts. The temperatures remained below zero most of the time. Some drifts were reported up to 40 feet deep, stretching for hundreds of feet. Some buildings in Hanna were entirely covered with snow. At a minimum, drifts reached the roofs of houses and residents had to tunnel out of their houses. Train traffic was entirely stopped. The railroad tracks and earth cut banks were filled with snow, making train movement impossible. Roads were closed. Large equipment, such as bulldozers, was required to move the huge amount of snow to allow traffic flow.

The Blizzard of 1949

The most significant blizzard in Wyoming history, in terms of total human impact, occurred from January 2, 1949 to February 20, 1949. Snowfall in parts of eastern and southeastern Wyoming measured up to 30 inches, with drifts 20 to 30 feet high. Within 24 hours of the storm, all bus, rail and air traffic was halted. There were thousands of stranded motorists and rail passengers. Thirty-three hundred miles of state highway lay in the storm area. Seventeen people perished, along with 55,000 head of cattle and more than 105,000 sheep. That was an estimated loss of 15 percent of the state's cattle. Seventeen people lost their lives during the storm, the greatest loss of life documented for a winter storm. Total economic loss is estimated at more than $9 million. (History of Wyoming.gov. Chapter 19 Winter Storm and Blizzard)

1949 BLIZZARD. UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CREWS WORKING TO FREE A STEAM ENGINE (JIM CLEGG COLLECTION)

1949 BLIZZARD. UNION PACIFIC STEAM ENGINE STUCK IN THE SNOW (JIM CLEGG COLLECTION)

1949 BLIZZARD. HAULING HAY TO THE STRANDED LIVESTOCK. (JIM CLEGG COLLECTION)

1949 BLIZZARD (JIM CLEGG COLLECTION)

Hanna Miner

There was one fatality in the mines.

1. Earl Duty, on August 29, 1949, age 53, married with one child, was fatally injured at the Hanna 4A Mine, property of the Union Pacific Coal Company. Lyman Fearn, State Coal Mine Inspector, accompanied by John Hughes, General Superintendent; Frank Peternal, Safety Engineer; John Kivi and William Hapgood, members of the safety committee of the Hanna Mine Workers Local Union No. 2335, investigated the accident. Earl Duty was employed as a machine runner’s helper and was helping Dill Garner on a cutting crew in 3C plane on a 290 Jeffrey machine. They had finished cutting 18 ½ room and was tramming the machine out of a slant from 18 ½ room to 19 room. Dill Garner was riding the machine and Earl Duty was walking along opposite to the side the machine man was riding. The cutter bar was set at an angle of about chest high. Mr. Duty quit walking and the cutter bar caught him against the rib causing injuries, which were fatal. The slant at the point of the injury was 13 feet 6 inches in width 7 feet 6 inches from the rail looking down on the lift side and 2 feet 10 inches on the right side. It was at this point the accident occurred. The machine cable was not long enough to reach from the source of power to the face of 18-½ room and a jumper was in use. This department recommends that the power lines be maintained so the machine cable is long enough to reach the place being cut. Instructions are to be given to all machine crew helpers that are to precede the machine or follow same when tramming. Never walk alongside of the machine. The facts and circumstances surrounding this accident are to be disseminated to all workmen and supervisors. (1949 MIR) Earl Duty was buried in Arkansas. (BL)

Five mining companies were producing coal in the Hanna Basin.

1. Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 4A underground mine with 345 employees produced 586,219 tons of coal.
2. Elk Mountain Coal Company's Gary open pit mine with 52 employees produced 75,366 tons of coal.
3. Monolith Portland Midwest Company's Monolith No. 2 open pit mine with 19 employees produced 47,030 tons of coal.
4. Nugget Coal Company's Nugget No. 1 open pit mine with 28 employees produced 184,521 tons of coal.
5. Pioneer Coal Company's Pioneer open pit mine produced 2,123 tons of coal. (1949 MIR)

Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 4A mine was using permissible electric cap lamps and rock dusting the interior of the mine. Five mining companies were producing coal.

Improvements were made to the Union Pacific Coal Company’s Hanna No. 4A mine.

Purchased: one Jeffrey Mining Machine; one Tire-Mounted Electric Drill; one Barber Green Conveyor; one Model D-S tractor; one Joy Elevator Conveyor; and two Sinking Pumps. The Company built Fire Walls for M. G. Set rooms inside the mine and installed a hoist at “L” Plane Slope. (1949 MIR)

JOY MINING MACHINE IN HANNA 4A MINE (HANNA BASIN MUSEUM)

Wyoming Miner

Hanna Basin produced a total of 895,259 tons of coal with 444 employees, while the state produced a total of 5,972,640 tons with 3,814 employees.

1950

In The News

May 11, 1950: Sixty-nine years after Big Nose George was lynched in Rawlins, construction workers, putting a new foundation in for a new building at the corner of East Cedar and Fourth Street, uncovered a whiskey barrel containing the remains of Big Nose George. The location was near the building that belonged to Dr. Maghee.

June 25, 1950: The Korean War began. North Korea invaded South Korea following a series of border clashes. The United Nations, with the United States as the primary force, came to the aid of South Korea. China and the Soviet Union came to the aid of North Korea.

1950: St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hanna was moved away from the coal chute and placed on the west side of the town just off old Highway 30 and near the old No. 4 mine. The church was placed on a new foundation that included a basement, which was used as an apartment for the priest.

1950: Wyoming’s population was 290,529 people with 15,742 of those living in Carbon County and 1,326 living in Hanna.

1950: The Finn Hall was moved from near the old high school to the north end of town near the present day football field in order to make room for the new high school.

1950: A new Hanna High School was built.

IN 1950, THE FINN HALL WAS SITTING IN THE SAME POSITION AFTER BEING MOVED FROM CARBON. THE GROUND WAS NEEDED FOR A NEW HIGH SCHOOL, SO IT WAS MOVED NORTH OF TOWN NEAR THE FOOTBALL FIELD. (HEARNE FAMILY COLLECTION)

HANNA HIGH SCHOOL BUILT IN 1950 WHERE THE FINN HALL STOOD. (HANNA MINER)

Hanna Miner

There was one fatality in the Hanna Basin mines.

1. Edward D. Burnham, December 5, 1950, at 5 p.m., Lyman Fearn, Coal Mine Inspector, made an investigation into the cause of the accident wherein, Edward D. Burnham, American, age 18, married, no children, an employee of the Union Pacific Coal Company, Hanna No. 4A Mine, experience 2 weeks, was fatally injured. Accompanied by Hodge Burress, Mine Superintendent and Frank Peternall, Safety Engineer, the inspector visited 2 ½ 3 D entry where Edward D. Burnham was employed as an apprentice motorman. The men found that Edward D. Burnham was coming out of the top entry down the slant with a six ton Goodman motor with two loaded cars behind the motor. The motorman Domingo Olives was running alongside the motor putting the reel cable out of the way of the motor. Frank Urtado, Joy operator and Bernard Rippath, crewmember, were riding on the back of the loaded cars. On reaching the slant the motor swayed, and for some unknown reason Edward D. Burnham partly closed the controls and gave the brake wheel two or three turns, then stepped in front of the moving trip and was caught by the motor. This was his first day as apprentice motorman and was working under the direction of the Unit For

A History of the Hanna, Wyoming, Coal Miner from 1868 to 2017

THE HANNA MINER: At The Bottom of the Mine​by Bob Leathers

Author's Note

Contents

Introduction My Forgotten Family

Numbers That Matter

State Inspector of Mines

Chapter 1The Beginning (1868 – 1877)

1871

1872

1873

1874

1875

1876

1877

​Chapter 2The Murder of Lawmen Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent (1878)

1878

"Dutch Charlie" Burris

​Chapter 3The Early Years (1878 – 1892)

1878

1879

1880

1881

1882

1883

1884

1885

1886

1887

1888

1889

Hanna

No. 1 Town and Mine

No. 2 Town and Mine

The Hanna Miner

1890

1891

1892

Chapter 4The Outlaw Rattlesnake Pete (1893)

1893

Chapter 5The Transition: Carbon Ends and Hanna Begins (1893 – 1902)

1893

1894

1895

1896

1897

1898

1899

1900

1901

1902

​Chapter 6The June 30, 1903 Explosion (1903)

1903

Chapter 7Unmarked Graves and the Rasmusson Lawsuit (1903-1904)

1904

Chapter 8The Making of Another Explosion (1903 – 1907)

1903

1904

1905

1906

Hanna No. 3 Town - No. 3 and No. 3.5 Mine

1907

Chapter 9The March 28, 1908 Explosions (1908)

1908

Chapter 10Sampo and Elmo, The Finnish Towns and Mines (1909)

1909

Chapter 11Recovering from Tragedy and Heartbreak (1909 – 1922)

1909

1910

1911

1912

1913

1914

1915

1916

Mechanical Loading in the Mines

First Aid Teams

1917

1918

1919

THE HANNA MINER: At The Bottom of the Mine
by Bob Leathers

Introduction
My Forgotten Family

Chapter 1
The Beginning (1868 – 1877)

Chapter 2
The Murder of Lawmen Bob Widdowfield and Tip Vincent (1878)

Chapter 3
The Early Years (1878 – 1892)

Chapter 4
The Outlaw Rattlesnake Pete (1893)

Chapter 5
The Transition: Carbon Ends and Hanna Begins (1893 – 1902)

Chapter 6
The June 30, 1903 Explosion (1903)

Chapter 7
Unmarked Graves and the Rasmusson Lawsuit (1903-1904)

Chapter 8
The Making of Another Explosion (1903 – 1907)

Chapter 9
The March 28, 1908 Explosions (1908)

Chapter 10
Sampo and Elmo, The Finnish Towns and Mines (1909)

Chapter 11
Recovering from Tragedy and Heartbreak (1909 – 1922)

Chapter 12
The Mining Modernization Years (1923 – 1953)