MINERS BURIED BY AWFUL BLAST

Sometimes a little perspective is useful. We often remark upon the casualties and injuries that were a frequent occurrence in the early days of Iron Range mining. They were treacherous, yes, but our casualty numbers were paltry compared to the numbers of victims in other areas--particularly coal mining areas. This week’s history showcases a few examples, including Canada’s worst mine disaster, which occurred in 1914 at the Hillcrest mine in Alberta.

--Jason Scorich

LETHBRIDGE, Alta., June 19—A mighty explosion, coming without a moment’s warning, today entombed 225 miners employed in mine No. 20 of the Hill Crest Collieries, Ltd.

The probable death list was officially placed at 205 late tonight. This morning 225 men entered the mine as the day shift, 20 were rescued alive, and 22 bodies have been taken out, leaving 182 still entombed and probably dead.

At dusk tonight a silent group of white-faced wives and mothers stood at the mouth of the mine, which had been closed by the explosion, still hopeful that the moans for help that issued from the inner workings earlier in the day, might be repeated and aid the scientifically equipped experts in their efforts at rescue. As the night wore on, however, many of the women, their heads bowed, turned sadly homeward, their action expressing the general feeling that hope was lost.

Blast of Awful Force

The explosion, which occurred about 9 o’clock this morning, shook the countryside for miles around, lifted the roofs from many miners’ cabins and demolished numerous small buildings. A moment after the explosion, a score of panic-stricken surface workers rushed from the mine, followed by a dense cloud of smoke and poisonous fumes.

Appeals for help were dispatched to many towns, and in the meantime residents organized an emergency crew and turned feeble and ineffective hands toward the work of rescue.

Thomas Corkel, a well-known official of the miners’ union, was among those who lost their lives.

The British Columbia government mine rescue apparatus from Fernie station, together with the Alberta province rescue car, with 100 trainmen, arrived at the mine tonight.

Several mine rescue experts expressed the opinion that it would take at least a week to reach the bodies of some of those entombed as a large number of the men were reported to have been far into the workings of the mine.

Mine a Mile From Frank

The mine in which today’s disaster occurred, is located but one mile from Frank, Alberta, where the great disaster occurred 10 years ago. The mines have been operated at intervals for 12 years. Because of the danger in working the mines, is has at times, been difficult to get men. The Hill Crest mines are under the same mountain which toppled over before, although the Hill Crest end of it is not so high and is considered more firm.

This is the third great disaster which has fallen to inhabitants of Crow’s Nest Pass. A year ago, 45 men were killed in the Bellevue mine and 10 years ago Frank was wiped out by the neighboring mountain toppling over and burying 125 inhabitants.

Duluth News Tribune—June 20, 1914

from Wikipedia: The Hillcrest mine disaster, the worst coal mining disaster in Canadian history, occurred at Hillcrest, Alberta, in the Crowsnest Pass region of western Canada, on Friday, June 19, 1914. At the time, it was the world's third worst mine disaster. The accident had a profound effect on the town of Hillcrest Mines, which in 1914 had a population of about 1,000. A total of 189 workers died, about half of the mine's total workforce, which left 130 women widowed and about 400 children fatherless. Many of the victims were buried in a mass grave at the Hillcrest Cemetery. Condolences came from across the country, including a brief message from King George V, but the commencement of World War I soon overshadowed this event.

For more information on the Hillcrest Mine Disaster, visit: http://coalminersmemorial.tripod.com/hillcrestminedisaster.html

LIEGE, Belgium, June 19—Two hundred coal miners had a narrow escape from death in the Vielle Marihaye colliery near here when fire broke out and penned them inside. Four hundred men were in the pit at the time, but 200 managed to get out.

The entombed men remained in their perilous position for hours with the fire raging inside the mine, but finally made their escape with the aid of rescue gangs. Duluth News Tribune—June 20, 1914

Warrants Issued for Arrest of Three Following Woman’s Narrow Escape from Drowning

CROSBY, Minn., June 17—John doe warrants were issued today for the arrest of three young men who last night it is charged insulted three Crosby women who were boating on Serpent lake. The women were Mrs. Charles Nieme, Mrs. Henry Hendrickson and Mrs. Frank Antilla. The women declare that they were repelling an attempt made by the men to board their boat. Mrs. Antilla fell into the water. She was rescued by her two companions, the assailants rowing away without offering to help.

The women declare that mashers, in another boat, tried to start a conversation, rowing their craft alongside. When the women tried to get away from the vicinity, they say the men attempted to board their boat. After consultation with their husbands this morning, the women made complaint to the authorities. It is believed that the three men have left town. Duluth News Tribune—June 18, 1914

Complaints Made to Virginia Police Matron— Playgrounds to Be Watched In Future

VIRGINIA, June 18—That Virginia should copy the ordinance in force at Hibbing, which provides that children under 16 years of age cannot attend the second performances of moving picture shows unless accompanied by their parents, is the opinion of Police Matron Mrs. Anna Fish. Complaints regarding the conduct of young men and women at local playgrounds after dark have been lodged with

the police, who say that they will keep a strict watch over the grounds in the future. Mrs. Fish ascribes much of the waywardness of children to parents who fail to co-operate with the police. In addition to watching the playgrounds, the authorities are keeping tab on chop suey restaurants and dance halls. Duluth News Tribune—June 18, 1914

VIRGINIA, June 18—Adam Stezak, charged with setting fire to logs in Virginia lake yesterday by W. T. Bailey, Jr. of the Bailey Lumber company, was bound over to the grand jury by Judge Carey in municipal court until the August term of court here. He was taken to Duluth this afternoon. He

was intoxicated when arrested. On a charge of beating a board bill and stealing an accordion at a boarding house in Hibbing. John Lassila was arrested here this morning. Duluth News Tribune—June 18, 1914

VIRGINIA—Mrs. John Norwalk, proprietor of a confectionary store here, was fined $25 in municipal court today for selling

snuff to a high school boy. Duluth News Tribune—June 18, 1914

CHISHOLM, June 19—Through the confession of one of the suspects, the police now have three men under arrest charged with dynamiting a popcorn wagon last Saturday evening. They are Alex Corrodi, Gust Vergeri

and Clement Resatti. Resatti, who confessed, implicated Alex Corroddi and Gust Vergari, saying that Corroddi was the man who procured the dynamite, but he was the man who threw it under

the platform on which the popcorn wagon stood. Duluth News Tribune—June 20, 1914

DETROIT, June 20—Tyrus Raymond Cobb, center fielder of the Detroit American league baseball club, was arrested tonight in the butcher shop of W. L. Carpenter, while engaged in a fist fight with Harold Harding, 20 years old, one of Carpenter’s employees. Harding told the police Cobb assaulted him after the ball player had drawn a revolver on the proprietor. Carpenter confirmed the charge, and said Cobb attacked Harding when the latter interfered. Cobb was taken to the Bethune avenue police station and held pending an investigation. Several friends offered to furnish bail. The only explanation which could be obtained from the ball player was that the butcher insulted Mrs. Cobb. Carpenter denied

the charge, but admitted Cobb rushed into the butcher shop, made the allegation and started trouble. A fish which Cobb purchased from Carpenter earlier in the day is believed to be responsible for the affair. Cobb claimed his wife told the butcher the purchase was not satisfactory and that Carpenter insulted her. Cobb said he went to the butcher shop to demand an apology. Cobb was allowed his liberty late tonight. No formal charge was made against him but friends of the ball player said they understood that court proceedings might be instituted. A physician dressed Cobb’s right hand and said the thumb was strained and bruised but not broken as first reported. A long statement to the newspapers was

dictated by Cobb late tonight. In it he declared that Carpenter grabbed a butcher’s cleaver when the two began their argument. “I have a permit to carry a revolver and I told Carpenter I had the means to protect myself,” said the outfielder. “Our little affair was practically over when Harding butted in. He seemed to want trouble and I was so angry I gave him what he was looking for.” It became known tonight that Cobb has been permitted to carry a weapon for some time. Threatening letters which he received caused him to arm himself, he said. Cobb’s injury may keep him from playing baseball for a couple of days. Duluth News Tribune—June 20, 1914

LETHEBRIDGE, Alta., June 20—The bodies of 94 of the 197 miners entombed when a terrific explosion wrecked the inner workings of mine No. 20 of the Hillcrest collieries, Lt., yesterday had been removed to the surface tonight.

All hope of rescuing alive any of the 103 men in the ill-fated crew has been abandoned.

Under the direction of government mine experts, the work of the rescue went rapidly forward today, and at nightfall the rescuers had reached a point several hundred feet into the mine. The work was retarded somewhat by a fire that broke out in the mine today, but was only temporarily delayed.

Many of the bodies removed today were dug from the debris, tons of which blocked all passages. Other bodies were standing erect, pinned to the wall by timbers.

Mine experts tonight were of the opinion that the remaining bodies would be found 1,200 feet or more from the mouth of the pit, basing their belief on the statements of the rescued.

That the explosion was due to the issuing of gases, in the lower levels of the mine has been generally accepted. Investigation preliminary to the formal opening of the inquest into the cause of the disaster was conducted by government officials today.

Two hundred coffins have been ordered from Winnipeg. Practically the entire male population of the little mining camp was wiped out by the disaster. Duluth News Tribune—June 21, 1914

SAGINAW, Mich., June 21—Because he was forced to eat cheese and crackers or starve, Robert Hardon, a negro student at the East side high school, gave as the reason for his failure to win the state oratorical contest at Muskegon.

Hardon said that when he got into Muskegon, tired and hungry, and started out to get something to eat, he walked from one end of the city to the other, but was put out of every eating place he entered.

Finally, with little time before the starting of the contest, he entered a grocery store and bought some cheese and crackers, which he ate, and then hurried to the school to deliver his speech.

“After the contest, in which I was not given a decision, I spent several hours looking for a place to sleep,” said Hardon. Finally I was given lodging by one of the few colored families in the city.”

Hardon, whose father is a minster in Joliet, Ohio, came here more than a year ago as a strikebreaker during the strike on the Pere Marquette railroad, and after the strike entered the high school. He has since been working his way through school by doing odd jobs. Duluth News-Tribune—June 22, 1914

A postcard bearing the picture of four Mexicans lying dead before the Diligencias hotel in Vera Cruz, following the American engagement there, was received yesterday by Chief Quartermaster John Erickson of the naval recruiting station in Duluth from Charles F. Driscoll a Virginia (Minn.) boy who is now

coxswain on the battleship Arkansas. Driscoll re-enlisted from this station about four months ago and took part in the Vera Cruz skirmishes. The postal reads as follows: “What do you think of this for a bunch of ‘Spicks?’ We start back for the good old U.S.A. June 22. It is about time, as there is nothing doing here. We

send ashore two liberty parties every day. That gives each part three hours to look around.” “Spick” is the word for Mexican in the slang of the navy. Duluth News-Tribune—June 22, 1914