Kotila, Charles: Killed in the No. 4 Mine

Images and notes from Union Pacific Coal Company Employes' Magazine
Picture
Charles Kotila in Hanna. (UPCCEM, May 1929)
Hanna Saddened By the Death of Charles Kotila
​ by T. H. Butler.
The community of Hanna was shocked and grieved to learn of the accident in No. 4 Mine on February 22nd which caused the death of Charles Kotila at the Hanna Hospital a few hours later. Funeral services were held at the Finnish Hall on February 27th at 2:00 p. m., where the rituals of the Finnish Society, the Loyal Order of Moose and the United Mine Workers of America were read impressively. Burial took place at the Hanna Cemetery the procession being led by the Hanna band playing a solemn funeral dirge. Charles Kotila was born at Reiskarvi, Finland, on March 24th, 1875, and came to the United States in June, 1901. He first located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, later moving to Cambria, Wyoming. He came to Hanna in 1909 and entered the employ of the Union Pacific Coal Company. He leaves to mourn his untimely passing his widow and two daughters, Mrs. Alex Lina of Hibbing, Minnesota, and Miss Ellen Kotila of Fitchburg, Mass. His daughters came to Hanna for the funeral services and to comfort their mother, to whom the sympathy of the community goes out in her loss. (Union Pacific Coal Company Employe's Magazine, May 1929)

Hanna Cemetery Records

Kotila, Charles O., (MM) (UPCCEM); Katila, Charles, (MIR)
Monument: "Mar. 24, 1875 - Feb. 22, 1929"
Plot: 171
Age: 54
Died: 1929
Age: 54
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 2nd Entry 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 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 clear he started back up to the latches and upon either 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. (MIR)