Hellraisers Journal: Funerals Held at Trinidad for Women, Children and Little Babies of Ludlow Colony Who Perished Beneath Tent Set Afire by State Militia

Quote Mother Jones Babes of Ludlow, Speech at Trinidad CO UMW District 15 Special Convention, ES1 p154 (176 of 360) —————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday April 26, 1914
Trinidad, Colorado – Eleven Children and Two Mothers Slain at Ludlow Laid to Rest

From The Denver Post of April 24, 1914:

From The Rocky Mountain News of April 25, 1914:

Friday April 24, 1914 – Trinidad, Colorado
-Strikers and Families Gather to Bury Their Women and Children

The death wail of the Mexican women, and the sobbing of Italian, Slavic, and American women was said to be enough to shake the composure of the bravest miner as mourners gathered on Friday for an open-air service to honor fourteen of the those who died at Ludlow last Monday. Thirteen coffins held the remains of the women and children who died as militiamen set fire to the tent beneath which they were huddled. The fourteenth held the remains of striking miner, Charlie Costa, who died defending the colony as his wife and children sought shelter in the ill-fated pit.

Among the 1500 who gathered together in front of Holy Trinity Catholic Church were Pedro Valdez who lost his wife and four children, Mary Petrucci and her husband, Thomas, who lost all three of their little children, and Alcarita Pedregone and her husband who lost their two children.

The family and friends of the Costa family also gathered. There was present the elderly father of Charlie Costa who blames the militia in no uncertain terms for the death of his son, his daughter-in-law and his two little grandchildren.

Mary Thomas, now a refugee along with her two little daughters, stood sick with grief and remembering the last time she had morning coffee with her friend, Cedi Costa. Cedi, Mary, and their friend Margo Gorci watched the children play on that happy Easter Day, never dreaming that the next day the entire Costa family would gone.

The bells of Holy Trinity Catholic Church were ringing as two large horse-drawn wagons brought the fourteen coffins to the service. Teamsters, in high silk hats and long black coats, provided an escort. The coffins were covered in flowers, eleven small white ones for the children and three dark wooden ones for Patria Valdez and Cedi and Charlie Costa.

In the coffin with Cedi Costa was the body of the tiniest martyr, born post-mortem and laid to rest upon the cold breast of its mother.

WE NEVER FORGET
Charlie Costa-31
Cedi Costa-27
Onofrio Costa-6
Lucia Costa-4
Patria Valdez-37
Rudolph Valdez-9
Eulalia Valdez-8
Mary Valdez-7
Elvira Valdez-3 months
Joe Petrucci-4
Lucy Petrucci-2
Frank Petrucci-6 months
Rodgerlo Pedregone-6
Cloriva Pedregone-4

The mourners marched to the Catholic Cemetery in silence with the body of Louis Tikas leading the way. His remains were returned to the undertakers to await the arrival of a Greek Orthodox priest. Thousands are expected to turn out for his funeral on Monday.

A tentative truce had been declared for the funeral, but by evening that truce was no more. The Coal War continues to rage across the strike zone. Miners pick up their rifles and shout, “Remember Ludlow,” as they march off to join the battle, never forgetting the men, women and children who lost their lives in Freedom’s Cause.