Hellraisers Journal: Explosion at Vulcan Mine, Near New Castle, Colorado, Entombs Miners; Mothers and Wives Give Up Hope

Share

Quote Mother Jones, Necklace of Blood Diamonds, Dnv ULB p6, Dec 20, 1913—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday December 19, 1913
New Castle, Colorado – 37 Coal Miners Dead in Explosion at Vulcan Mine

From Grand Junction (Colorado) Daily Sentinel of December 17, 1913:

…..Among the mine victims of Tuesday are many of the boys who were made fatherless by the previous disaster [Feb. 18, 1896]. Widowed Mothers forced them into the mine again……

“Thank God I am a farmer,” said A. S. Tibbits at 2 o’clock this morning to a Sentinel reporter, after having spent the day in rescue work at the mine.

“I was one of the helpers in the Vulcan disaster eighteen years ago, but this explosion wrecked the mine a dozen times as bad.”…..

New Castle CO Vulcan Mine Disaster, Grand Jctn Dly Sent p1, Dec 17, 1913New Castle CO Vulcan Mine Disaster, Wives, Mothers, Grand Jctn Dly Sent p1, Dec 17, 1913

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Explosion at Vulcan Mine, Near New Castle, Colorado, Entombs Miners; Mothers and Wives Give Up Hope”

Hellraisers Journal: 120 Coal Miners Feared Dead at Hastings, Colorado; Smoke Pouring from Victor-American Mine

Share

Pray for the dead
And fight like hell for the living.
-Mother Jones

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Saturday April 28, 1917
Hastings, Colorado – 120 Coal Miners Trapped in Victor Mine

From the Spokane Daily Chronicle of April 27, 1917:


FIRE TRAPS 120 IN VICTOR MINE;
HINT WAR PLOT
—–
Rescuers Rush Into Smoke-Filled Shafts-
Fear Every Man Is Lost.
—–

Hastings Colorado Victor American Fuel Company
—–

TRINIDAD, Col., April 27.-Fire in the Victor American Fuel Company mine No. 2, at Hastings, near here, is believed to have trapped 120 coal miners.

Reports were in circulation this afternoon that the fire was the result of a war plot, Austrian miners being suspected. A company of troops has been guarding the property for some weeks.

Fire was first noticed coming out of the mouth of the mine shortly after 9:30 this morning. Helmet crews which entered had made no report this afternoon as to whether or not they had reached the entombed men.

Heavy smoke was pouring from the mine at 1:20 o’clock and it was feared there was little hope of rescuing the men.

Rescuers are being hurried into the workings. At 1:50 o’clock this afternoon 50 men had descended to aid in the fight to save the entombed workmen.

A messenger who reached here from the scene said:

The fire broke out shortly before 9:30 o’clock, when smoke was seen coming from the mine. We think there was an explosion also, but there is no sign of it on the outside. Heavy smoke is pouring from the mine.

Not a word has come from the inside since the fire started.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: 120 Coal Miners Feared Dead at Hastings, Colorado; Smoke Pouring from Victor-American Mine”