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Old Timers in the Hanna Coal Mines

Page by Bob Leathers

A typical Old Timer coal miner at Hanna - William "Bill" While survived the Hanna mines. He stated working with his dad and brothers for the Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 2 Mine after graduation from 8th grade, at about age 16. He lived his entire life in Hanna working in the coal mines except for his time spent defending our country in World War II. He also worked for Turtling Brothers for a short time after the war.
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William Henry "Bill" While (While Family Collection from Bob Leathers)
More at: 19 men age 55 or older killed in the Hanna Basin Mines
Older men killed in the Hanna Basin coal mine was not common.

​Three hundred seventy two men were killed in the Hanna Basin coal mines. Nineteen of the 372 men, were men ages 55 to 70. All nineteen older miners were killed in Union Pacific Coal Company mines at Carbon and Hanna. Eight of the men were killed in the June 30, 1903 explosion of the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 Mine in Hanna and 3 were killed in the March 28, 1908 explosion of the the same No. 1 mine. One was killed in 1892, one in 1899
1892
George Stansfield - Age 60. Killed in Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 underground mine in Carbon. Buried in Carbon.
1899
William Edwards - Age 59. Killed in Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 underground mine in Carbon. Buried in Carbon.
1900
Charles Beuhler - Age 60. Killed in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 Mine in Hanna. Buried in Hanna.
1903
​John Boney - Age 70,  killed in Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna No. 1 Mine 1903 Explosion, buried in Carbon.
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Union Pacific Coal Company Officials. Old Timers. (UPCCEM, Jan. 1925)
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1889-03-17 Hanna Miner entering the No. 1 mine (Hanna Basin Museum)
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1889-03-18 Two miners preparing to blast the coal. (Hanna Basin Mueum)
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Frank Hearne at end of shift as night watchman at the #2 mine. (Date Unknown) (Jack Hearne Family Collection)
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Thomas Cook. Hanna Miner, (UPCCEM, Apr. 1924)
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1889-03-14 Hanna Miners at the No. 2 Mine (While Family Collection from Bob Leathers)
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James Attryde (UPCCEM, May 1924)
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Hanna. James McArdle. Hanna Hero. (UPCCEM Oct. 1925)
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William Sled of Hanna (UPCCEM, May 1929)

Hanna Basin Museum Website – A Connection to the Past