Hastings Mine Explosion

Huerfano County, Colorado
Hastings Mine Explosions

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Hastings Mine Explosion 6-19-1912

Fort Collins Weekly Courier – June 21, 1912 – Thirteen Men Killed in Mine Explosion Today – Explosion Caused by Windy Shot, Is Believed – Victor American Fuel Company’s Mine at Hastings, Colo., Scene of the Disaster – One Man Escapes With His Life, Though Badly Injured – Trinidad, June 19 – Thirteen men are entombed and believed to be dead behind hundreds of tons of rock 4,500 feet from the mouth of the tunnel in the Hastings coal mine. The mine is owned by the Victor-American Fuel company. The explosion took place at 1 a.m. today and the work of rescue is going on slowly. Fourteen men entered the mine before the rest of the workmen and only one of them escaped, Geo. Papes, a Greek. The only American in the gang is John Thomas, a fireman. It is believed that the explosion was caused by a windy shot set off in a pocket of dust and gas. The blast was so tremendous that it is believed it must have either instantly killed the men or suffocated them. Papes, the only man who escaped, is so seriously burned that he is hovering between life and death. That more men were not in the mine at the time is caused by the fact that the explosion took place between the hours of day and night changing of shifts. The rescue car was at Hastings at the time of the explosion and all appliances are being used to reach the men. Gangs from neighboring mines came to the rescue and it is believed that all of the men or their bodies will be rescued before night. Superintendent Cameron believes all of the men perished. The company is in complete control and there are no disturbances. No bodies have yet been recovered.

Yuma Pioneer – June 21, 1912 – Explosion Kills Twelve Miners – Pocket of Gas “Goes Off” At Hastings Colliery Near Trinidad, Colorado – Seven Bodies Rescued – The United States Rescue Car and Crew at Work; All Are Believed Dead – Trinidad, Colo. – Twelve men were caught like rats in a trap when an explosion occurred in the Hastings mine of the Victor-American Fuel Company Tuesday night. All are believed to be dead. Seven bodies have been recovered by the rescue crews, among them being that of Fire Boss John Thomas. The bodies were scorched, but not otherwise in bad condition. Indications show that the men died of suffocation after the explosion. The work of getting the bodies from the mass of wreckage which blocked the slope was accomplished quietly and without excitement. The members of the rescue gangs worked like so many machines. Barriers of rock and timber were swept away before the onslaughts of the grim workers. As fast as the dead are removed from the mine they are being placed in the temporary morgue near the mouth of the shaft. Wednesday evening the United States government rescue car and its crew of famed men reached Hastings and the crew at once joined in the work of recovering the bodies. It is believed that the remaining five men in the mine are in the extreme entry, and to reach them it will be necessary to clear away almost a solid wall of wreckage which the explosion heaped up near the cutoff of the south portion of the slope. The explosion was caused by a windy shaft setting off a pocket of gas. It caught the thirteen members of the night shift like rats in a trap with no chance to escape. George Pappas, a Greek, his body mangled, was rescued alive from behind a wall of rocks shortly before 2 o’clock Wednesday morning. The body of an unidentified man was taken out shortly before 3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon. The explosion took place in what is known as “C” seam shortly after 10 o’clock Tuesday night, but was not known until long after midnight when night watchmen saw smoke coming out of the mouth of the slope. Casting the light of their lanterns into the mouth of the slope the men discovered the entrance choked with wreckage. The alarm was at once spread and within a few minutes the mine officials and a small army of trained men were on the scene. Life-saving equipment was hastily assembled and a small force led by Superintendent Cameron entered the mine. They had proceeded but a few feet when the foul air swept down upon them. General Superintendent McDermott was notified and upon his arrival the men were organized into squads to take up the work of rescue. General Manager W. A. Murray of Denver was notified by wire and left at once for the scene.

Leadville Carbonate Chronicle – June 24, 1912 – Trinidad, June 19 – The twelve bodies of the victims of the Hastings mine explosion were all brought to the surface shortly before nightfall. The bodies, other than being scorched and burned are free from blemish and the revolting scenes customary to such accidents are entirely missing. The cause of the explosion is given as a “windy-shot,” igniting a body of gas and originating in the extreme end of the slope being driven from the main entry to intersect a lower vein. The damage in the mine is small and operation of the slope will be resumed the first of the coming week.

Yampa Leader – June 28, 1912 – Eight of the twelve victims of the Hastings mine disaster were buried in Trinidad.

Victims of the Hastings Mine Disaster, June 18, 1912:
Asti, Louis
Benedetto, Ben (also listed in the mining fatalities database as Ben Bendetti)
Cgontos, George
Dichiazzo, Pietro (also listed in the mining fatalities database as Petro Dietuazzo)
Ferazzo, Emanuel
Mattina, Joe
Milirh, Pete
Orlich, Bude
Sertori, Pete (also listed in the mining fatalities database as Pete Serteri)
Springhetti, Lorenz
Thomas, John
Velottie, Jim

Victims: Cause of death for all victims was Explosion of gas due to defective lamp.

1. ASTI, LOUIS Death Date: 1912JUN18
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 28
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: L

2. BENDETTI, BEN Death Date: 1912JUN18 (also in database as Ben Benedetto)
Nationality: AUSTRO-TYROL
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 25
Marital Status: S

3. BENEDETTO, BEN Death Date: 1912JUN18
Nationality: AUSTRIAN-TYR
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 25
Marital Status: S

4. CGONTOS, GEORGE Death Date: 1912JUN18
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: ROCKMAN
Age at death: 24
Marital Status: S

5. DICHIAZZO, PIETRO Death Date: 1912JUN18 (Also in database as Petro Dietuazzo)
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 30
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

6. DIETUAZZO, PETRO Death Date: 1912JUN18
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 30
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

7. FERAZZO, EMANUEL Death Date: 1912JUN18
Nationality: AUSTRIAN-TYR
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 25
Marital Status: S

8. MATTINA, JOE Death Date: 1912JUN18
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 31
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

9. MILIRH, PETE Death Date: 1912JUN18
Nationality: SLAV
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 36
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 4

10. ORLICH, BUDE Death Date: 1912JUN18
Nationality: SLAV
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 40
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

11. SERTERI, PETE Death Date: 1912JUN18 (also listed in the database as Pete Sertori)
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 30
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

12. SERTORI, PETE Death Date: 1912JUN18
Nationality: ITALIAM
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 30
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 2

13. SPRINGHETTI, LORENZ Death Date: 1912JUN18
Nationality: AUSTRIAN-TYR
Occupation: PUMPER
Age at death: 47
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 5

14. THOMAS, JOHN Death Date: 1912JUN18
Nationality: WELSH
Occupation: FIRE BOSS.
Age at death: 40
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 3

15. VELOTTIE, JIM Death Date: 1912JUN18
Nationality: AUSTRO-TYROL
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 36
Marital Status: S

Hastings Mine Explosion April 27, 1917

The Ogden Examiner Utah 4-28-1917
HUNDRED AND TWENTY MEN PERISH IN MINE EXPLOSION.
COAL DUST EXPLODES AND SHUTS IN WORKERS IN MINE NEAR LUDLOW, COLO.
SHEET OF FLAME BELIEVED TO HAVE SWEPT THROUGH MINE AFTER EXPLOSION, PROBABLY KILLING MEN INSTANTLY; HUNDRED AND NINETEEN NAMES ON LIST OF MISSING ISSUED BY FUEL COMPANY; RESCUE SQUAD UNABLE TO MAKE HEADWAY.
Trinidad, Colo., April 27 -- There is no escape for the 120 or more men caught behind the fire in the Hastings mine of the Victor-American Fuel company near Ludlow and it is feared that all have perished. Rescue crews reported tonight that they cannot reach the entombed men because of the wreckage, the explosion having torn down ceilings and walls of the main slope.
Superintendent CAMERON tonight said he had little hope of saving any of the men who were in the mine when the explosion occurred. If the men are alive behind the fire, it is a miracle, he said.
The exact number of men caught in the mine still is undetermined. The company has compiled a list of the names of men known to be in the mine but it is asserted that the list is not complete.
Late tonight only meagre reports of the progress of the rescue work had been received here. The only means of communication between Trinidad and Hastings is a single telephone wire which has been crowded with official messages relating to the organization of the rescue work.
Hundred and Nineteen Missing.
A list containing 119 names of missing was given out by company officials tonight. It included:
DAVID REESE, mine inspector;
DAVID WILLIAMS, pit boss;
H. J. MILLARD, fire boss;
twenty-five company men and 91 miners.
The company men follow:
JEFF JONES;
PAUL VINCENZI;
STEVE STUHLAE;
JOE LIYBA;
WILLIAM SHORT;
BEN VALDEZ;
FRANK MAURO;
STEVE ANTONIUCCI;
FELIPO HERRERA;
E. H. ATWOOD;
JIM LOCHART;
JIM HOWARD;
BRUNO NICOLUCCI;
CHARLES NICOLUCCI;
STEVE BADEL;
GONZALES FLORES;
PETENCH;
FRANK PAPER;
JOE TATOR;
JOE HERNANDEZ;
GEORGE MARKAS;
and three unknown men. Virtually all of the miners listed are foreigners.
The disaster is one of the greatest in the history of the southern Colorado mining district, and although the rescue work was unabated tonight, company officials hold out little or no hope that any of the men will be taken out alive. The few, if any, who escaped the flames that swept the interior of the mine, are believed to have been suffocated.
Helmet Parties Working Ahead.
The helmet parties are working 400 feet ahead of the rescue crew and tonight had penetrated to the "fifth north," one of the main partings, where the cars are gathered for the long drive to the surface.
One body, that of JIM LOCHART, a negro, has been discovered half buried under fallen rock.
The rescue parties are working constantly to reach the innermost recesses of the pit, but are hampered by lack of air and by falls that have torn down the brattices in important places and make ventilation almost impossible until the breaks have been repaired. All lumber and canvas for this repair work has been carried by the men on their backs for more than three-quarters of a mile.
At 11:30 o'clock tonight it was reported that five bodies had been found.
Rescuing crews, working continuously in short shifts, expect to reach the remaining men before daylight tomorrow. No hope is held out that any of them will be rescued alive.
Spontaneous Combustion.
The explosion which caused the disaster is said to have been caused by a sudden change of temperature this morning, resulting in spontaneous combustion of coal dust.
All of the bodies found were badly burned, it was said, indicating that a sheet of flame swept through the mine after the explosion, probably killing all of the men in the mine instantly.
The Hastings mine is situated three miles up Hastings canyon from Ludlow, which stands at the entrance to the Hastings and Berwind canyons, 20 miles from Trinidad. The main slope of the hastings mine is driven straight into the mountain, with only a slight pitch, to the present workings which are back some 3,600 feet from the entrance. The mine normally employs about 100 men to a shift and has a capacity of 1,000 tons a day.
In holding out hope that the men caught in the mine might have escaped instant death, company officials asserted that the explosion apparently was slight. It apparently was not sufficient in force to be heard on the surface, they said.
The first indication of trouble was a cloud of black smoke which billowed from the mouth of the slope. Superintendent CAMERON hastily organized a rescue force of five men and entered the slope but the smoke and heat from fire withing was so intense that they soon were forced to retreat. Another rescue force was organized and equipped with oxygen helmets. These men, eight in number, again led by MR. CAMERON, reentered the mine determined to reach the imprisoned men. Whether debris from the explosion was blocking the slope farther back had not been determined at last reports.

Eagle Valley Enterprise – May 4, 1917 – Explosion in Hastings Mine – Twenty-One Bodies Taken From Depths of Victor-American Mine – 120 Lost in Disaster – Only Three Bodies Missing Out of 120 Caught in the Hastings Horror – Facts in Hastings Horror – Disaster – Explosion and fire in Victor-American Fuel Company Coal Mine No. 2 at Hastings, near Ludlow, twenty miles from Trinindad (words missing). Mine is one of the biggest producers of the district. Its workings are 3,600 feet almost straight in the side of the mountain. Lost – One hundred and nineteen men are believed dead more than 3,600 feet from the entrance. A wall of fire blocks rescuers. Cause – Sudden change in temperature, caused ignition of gas and explosion followed by fire and “black damp.” Rescue – State mine crews and inspectors, private experts from schools and government, with picked men from the Hastings and near-by mines fight the flames and work toward the lost men. Insurance – Nearly $300,000 in insurance is carried under the Colorado Workmen’s Compensation Act on the men lost. Guard – The mine was considered dangerous and was frequently inspected. It was guarded alike by the company, state officials and federal mine experts. A trained rescue crew was maintained. Probe – Attorney General Hubbard, with labor officials, left for the scene to ascertain the cause. “A rigid investigation will be conducted,” he said. Hastings, Colo., April 30 – Virtually all hope of saving any of the 120 men emtombed in the Hastings mine of the Victor-American Fuel Company here Friday morning has been abandoned. James Dalrymple, state coal mine inspector, who came from the mine, gave it as his opinion that there was no one left alive in the mine. Rescue men who have been in the mine expressed themselves similarly. G. F. Bartlett, president of the company, however, declared the work of rescue would go on until there is no hope that any of the entombed men are alive. “In my opinion there was no fire in the mine,” Dalrymple said. In this view he is joined by practically all employers and rescue men here. As to the cause of the disaster he said: “We cannot tell until we reach the initial point of the explosion. We are working the north side of the air course and coming back on the south, searching every entry in which there were men working.” Rescue men, old miners, and old residents in this section put the present disaster down as the worst that ever occurred in the southern Colorado coal fields. The same men united in shaking their heads and saying, “I don’t know,” when asked about the cause of the explosion. Hastings, Colo., April 30 – Three men, Thomas Manville, mine worker, D. H. Reese, mine inspector, and Phil King, electrician – may be alive in an air pocket 4,000 feet underground in the Hastings mine, wrecked by an explosion and swept by fire at 9 o’clock Friday morning. But the theory is discounted for company officials. Poisonous gases fill the passages which lead to the air pocket, and fighting through the deadly damp, helmeted crews of rescue men are working frantically in an effort to reach the entombed miners. Here is the basis for the belief that Manville, Reese and King are still alive: Twenty-one bodies have been brought from the mine, and ninety-six others have been located by the helmet men, who have explored practically every foot of the mine except the main heading, 1,200 feet farther than the last cross entry. As 120 men were known to have been in the mine at the time of the explosion, this leaves three unaccounted for. Hastings Disaster Seventh Since 1910 – Denver – The accident at the Hastings mine April 27th is the seventh large accident in Colorado since 1910. In that year there were three accidents in which a total of 209 persons were killed. The first occurred February, 1910, at Primero and seventy-five lives were lost. The second October 3, 1910, and fifty-six were killed. The third was November 8, 1910, at Delagua in which seventy-eight lives were lost. The Delagua accident had the largest loss of life in any one accident in the history of the state until the Hastings explosion. On February 9, 1911, seventeen lives were lost in an explosion at the Cokedale mine. June 18, 1912, twelve lives were lost at the same mine where the explosion occurred Friday. On December 16, 1913, thirty-seven lives were lost at the Falcon mine at Newcastle. Since then there have been no disasters in which lives were lost to any great number until last week.

Castle Rock Record Journal of Douglas County – May 4, 1917 – Seven burned bodies were recovered Friday night from the Hastings mine near Ludlow, where 119 miners were trapped. The mine is located three miles up Hastings cañon from Ludlow, which stands at the entrance to the Hastings and Berwind cañons. It is twenty miles from Trinidad. The main slope of the mine is driven straight into the mountain, with only a slight pitch to the workings where the men were behind the wall of fire. At the least they are 3,600 feet from the entrance; they may be over a mile.

Wray Rattler – May 3, 1917 – Colorado State News – The death of the men who were killed in the explosion at the Hastings mine of the Victor-American Fuel Company, are the first losses since 1915.

Golden Colorado Transcript – May 3, 1917 – Roberts to Hastings – Goes to Assist in Government Investigation of Great Mine Disaster – At the request of the U. S. Government, Dr. J. C. Roberts, of the School of Mines, left last night for Hastings, the scene of the big mine disaster, to aid in the government examination as to the cause of the explosion which cost the lives of 120 miners. Dr. Roberts was for a number of years in charge of the U. S. mine rescue car for this district. The engineer in charge of the government investigation is Dan Harrington, a School of Mines graduate.

Castle Rock Record Journal of Douglas County – May 4, 1917 – Seven Miners Buried – Joint Funeral for Others Killed at Hastings – Cause of Disaster Still Surrounded With Mystery – Mine to Be Inspected in Every Part – Hastings, Colo. – Funerals for seven victims of the coal mine disaster on Friday, April 27, were held in Trinidad Monday afternoon. For the others, it is probable burial services for those of each nationality will be held, and a great funeral for the entire list, attended by miners and their families from over all the mining district. The mine is to be inspected in every part. The disaster’s cause is surrounded with a cloak of mystery seemingly as impenetrable as the heavy wall of gaseous smoke the searchers have been fighting against. The manner in which the men met death is a subject of talk today. Physicians declare the belief that even for those caught by the first terrific blast of the explosion the end came quickly and almost painlessly. Carbon monoxide, or white damp, the deadly fume of which the detecting lamps carried by each squad of miners cannot locate in gaseous mines, necessitating the carrying of canary birds and mice to give warning of its presence, is said to have conquered all those not killed by the explosion. Many have been found as if fallen into easy sleep. One was found on his knees as if in the act of prayer.

Castle Rock Record Journal of Douglas County – May 4, 1917 – Hastings Disaster Made 141 Orphans – Hastings – That every man who was under ground when the explosion in Hastings No. 2 mine occurred Friday morning, April 27th, was killed practically at the moment of the explosion, is the fact now forced upon the management and the rescuers. One hundred and twenty dead, 141 orphans and sixty-two widows are accepted as the awful results of the explosion. In some families as many as ten children were left fatherless.

Castle Rock Record Journal of Douglas County – May 4, 1917 – Miners to Handle Relief Work – Hastings – The local union of the United Mine Workers will handle the relief work for the families of the miners who lost their lives in the explosion of the Victor-American Fuel Company, it was announced when officials of the local union refused an offer of $10,000 made by James F. Moran, acting president of District No. 15 of the United Mine Workers of America.

Castle Rock Record Journal of Douglas County – May 4, 1917 – The body of every Greek miner killed in the disaster at Hastings has, upon search, yielded a substantial sum. On the leg of one was discovered, securely tied, a portion of a girl’s stocking, in which was $1,700 in currency. Most of the Greek miners carry on their own persons, in that fashion, all their mobile wealth.

Bayfield Blade – May 4, 1917 – “We cannot explain the explosion,” said G. F. Bartlett, president of the Victor-American Fuel Company at Hastings, Colo. “Electric lights were used in the mine, no miner was permitted to have electric caps for firing blasts, and all blasts were fired by a shot-firer.”

Castle Rock Record Journal of Douglas County – May 4, 1917 – Scouts Plot Theory – Governor Gunter Finds Mine Disaster Accident – Explosion One of Inevitable Happenings to Those Who Mine the Coal of the World – Denver – Gov. Julius C. Gunter disposed of all charges of plots of conspiracy of alien enemies Saturday in connection with the Hastings mine disaster. He had a full report of the casualities before him and said: “In this mine I find 118 or 119 men went to work on the fatal morning. Of these, I find 13 were Mexicans, 12 Americans, 7 negroes, 1 Pole, 36 Greeks, 33 Austrians and 15 Italians. Does it seem reasonable that 33 Austrians might have blown themselves into eternity to carry out a plot against 15 Italians or 12 Americans? I think not, and my opinion is that this disaster is just one of the inevitable happenings of those who mine the coal of the world. The mine was carefully guarded, there is not an indication of any foul play, and the inspection was rigid. But these mine accidents will happen just so long as coal is mined underground.”

Eagle Valley Enterprise – May 4, 1917 – Miners Were Insured – Kin of Hastings Blast Victims May Get $297,500 – Company Will Have to Pay Workmen’s Compensation Insurance of $2,500 for Every Life Lost – Denver – Under the Colorado workmen’s compensation law, which throws its protecting blanket of insurance around every dependent of the 119 unfortunate miners entombed in the Hastings mine, the mine owners’ mutual company, organized under the state law to insure the workmen, may pay $297,500 for the lives of the workmen reported to have perished. The maximum sum of death in each instance shall be $2,500 and each man was insured for this sum. Under the law, dependents only are entitled to the insurance. J. A. Warren, secretary of the State Industrial Commission, said that the figures of the board showed that in all instances over 70 per cent had dependents. He said the law provided only one-third of the $2,500 should be paid in each instance where the man killed and insured had no dependents in this country. If they lived in a foreign country, the law provides that only one-third the capital sum of $2,500 shall be paid. The Victor-American Fuel Company is one of the subscribers to the coal mutual insurance pact, which includes all but the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, which has other insurance arrangements for its workmen. Where a man has no known dependents, the insurance company must pay $100 for his burial under the state law, but in very few instances, it is said, are the miners without some one who is entitled to the insurance, either in this country or in a foreign land.

Eagle Valley Enterprise – May 4, 1917 – Bodies in Explosion Charred – Hastings – Rescue parties working in the Hastings mine, damaged by an explosion April 27th, brought to the surface the bodies of twenty-one men up to Sunday which are held in the power plant, turned into a temporary morgue until they can be moved to Trinidad for burial. Nearly 100 men are still entombed in the mine. Charred and burned almost beyond recognition, the dead bodies present a grewsome sight stretched upon the long tables.

Mancos Times-Tribune – May 11, 1917 – Colorado State News – Up to Saturday sixty bodies had been taken from the Victor mine at Hastings.

Kiowa County Press – May 11, 1917 – Wrecked Mine Gives Up Victims – Hastings. – Six more bodies were brought from the Hastings mine of the Victor-American Fuel Company here May 4th. One hundred and twenty men lost their lives in an explosion in the mine Friday, April 27th. The bodies recovered bring the total so far brought from the mine to 67. The bodies brought out Friday have all been identified save one. Among the bodies recovered was that of George F. Brown, a coal miner, who was found on his knees with his coat over his head, indicating that he may have lived for some little time after the explosion and had thrown his coat over his face to keep out the deadly fumes of the afterdamp. The rescue crews have reported several instances of this kind. A Slavish coal miner was found sitting erect with his back against the side of the working place in the most peaceful attitude possible, as if he had quietly sat down and waited for death or had been sitting down when he was overtaken by death.

Castle Rock Record Journal of Douglas County – May 11, 1917 - $147,650 For Families – Compensation Due Dependents of Mine Victims – Seventy-Four Bodies Recovered Since Explosion That Cost Lives of 120 Miners – Denver – The State Industrial Commission issued an uncompleted official report on the compensation due the dependents of the men killed in the mine at Hastings operated by the Victor-American Fuel Company. The dependents of each of forty-one victims who are Americans will receive $2,500. The dependents of each of fifty-four victims who were not Americans will receive $800. Twenty-six of the men had no dependents and their burial expenses will be paid to the extent of $75 each. Charles M. O’Donnell, representing the Industrial Commission, will compare the names of the employes of the Victor-American Fuel Company with the names of those known to have entered the mine on the day of the explosion and for a week or ten days before, to find out if persons other than employes had been in the shaft. Trinidad – Three bodies were brought from Hastings mine Monday morning and four Sunday, making a total of seventy-four recovered since the explosion of the mine on April 27th, which cost the lives of 120 miners.

Fort Collins Weekly Courier – May 11, 1917 – Rescue Man Drops Dead in Mine – (By United Press.) – Trinidad, May 7. – Walter Kerr, helmet man from the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co., doing rescue work at the Hastings mine yesterday, died as he descended 200 feet into the gas-filled slope. This is the first life lost in the rescue work. Kerr’s helmet worked perfectly, and it is presumed he died of heart disease.

Breckenridge Summit County Journal – May 19, 1917 – Full military burial honors were accorded the body of Eugene O. Pratt, member of Company C of the Colorado National Guard, who was killed in the Hastings mine disaster.

Haswell Herald – May 24, 1917 – Recover Another Body From Mine – Hastings. – The body of Thomas Manville, well known miner and leader in Miners’ Union affairs, was found in the Hastings mine in which 120 men lost their lives in an explosion April 27. The recovery of Manville’s body brings to 77 the number of bodies brought from the mine.

Steamboat Springs Routt County Sentinel – May 25, 1917 – Blast Caused by Lamp – According to Coroner’s Jury Verdict at Hastings – Open Safety Lamp Found Near Body of Inspector David H. Reese of Denver – Hastings, Colo. – Blame for the explosion in the Hastings mine of the Victor-American Fuel Company April 27, which cost 120 lives, was placed by a coroner’s jury on an open safety lamp found near the body of David B. Reese of Denver, a mine inspector. The verdict was based on the testimony of State Inspector James Dalrymple; James Cameron, superintendent of the Hastings mine; Inspector Henry King, Fire Boss; David Jones, who found Reese’s body and the lamp, and of virtually all other witnesses who testified. Attorney General Leslie E. Hubbard conducted a lengthy examination of witnesses to ascertain what part in the explosion had been played by the electric drilling machine. Almost every witness scouted the theory that this machine had caused the ignition of gas in the mine. Coroner Bradley testified that he had taken twenty-two matches from the clothes of Reese. Matches and tobacco were removed from other bodies. Deputy Inspector King testified that the mine was in good condition, corroborating the testimony of his chief, Dalrymple, and J. W. Graham, mine inspector for the Mutual Insurance Company.

April 27, 1917 Hastings Mine Disaster
(122 Victims)

1. ANTONUCCI, STEVE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: SLOPEMAN
Age at death: 53
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

2. ANUSIS, JIM Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 40
Marital Status: S

3. ATWOOD, E. H Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: TIMBERMAN
Age at death: 42
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

4. BADEL, STEVE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 38
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 2

5. BANNER, JOE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 45
Marital Status: S

6. BARBER, M. Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: ELECTRICAIN
Age at death: 30
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 0

7. BASAKAS, HARIS Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 36
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

8. BERTOLINA, PIETRO Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 34
Marital Status: S

9. BROWN, A. T Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 25
Marital Status: S

10. BROWN, GEORGE F Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 35
Marital Status: S

11. CADERIA, JESUS Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 27
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 0

12. CAPACO, GEORGE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 44
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 3

13. CHIEK, MIKE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: POLISH
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 31
Marital Status: S

14. CHURCICH, FRANK Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 36
Marital Status: S

15. CIRCO, VINCENZO Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 39
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 5

16. CONKAS, TOM Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 36
Marital Status: S

17. CORRETICH, JOE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 23
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

18. CORTESE, MIKE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 31
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 3

19. COSTAS, JIM Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 30
Marital Status: S

20. CRESEVIK, JOHN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 38
Marital Status: S

21. CRISTULAKIS, GUST Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 23
Marital Status: S

22. DAVIS, R. L Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 38
Marital Status: S

23. DeKLEVA, TONY Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 27
Marital Status: S

24. DELY, ALEX Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 30
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

25. DIAKAS, JOHN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 23
Marital Status: S

26. DIAZ, PEDRO Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 26
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 0

27. DIAZ, SAVERIANO Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 35
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

28. DOLAN, FRANK Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 25
Marital Status: S

29. DORADO, ISADORE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 39
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 2

30. EVANCICH, ANTON Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 40
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

31. FABIAN, SAM Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 29
Marital Status: S

32. FELIX, A. B Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 29
Marital Status: S

33. FLEITIS, FRIENTAFOLAS Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 26
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1
34. FLORES, GONZALES Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 22
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 0

35. GARDELKIE, LIBOR Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 38
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 3

36. GERL, FRANC Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 20
Marital Status: S

37. GLAVICH, TONY Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 27
Marital Status: S

38. HERNANDEZ, JOE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: SPANIARD
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 27
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

39. HERRERA, FELIPO Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: TRAPPER
Age at death: 16
Marital Status: S

40. HOWARD, JAMES Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: COLORED
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 31
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 6

41. JOE, TRATOR Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: POLISH
Occupation: PARTING TENDER
Age at death: 29
Marital Status: S

42. JOHNSON, JESSE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: COLORED
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 45
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

43. JONAS, MIKE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 23
Marital Status: S

44. JONES, JEFF Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: COLORED
Occupation: TRACKMAN
Age at death: 46
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 0

45. JUNOS, JOHN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 20
Marital Status: S

46. KATRES, JOHN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 30
Marital Status: S

47. KERR, WALTER Death Date: 1917MAY6
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 27
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 3

48. KIKOS, SAM Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 37
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 0

Newspaper lists Phil King, an electrician, as missing and in the mine

49. KLOBAS, JOHN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 30
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 2

50. KONIGERES, GREEK Death Date: 1917APR27 (Formatting obviously messed up on this entry)
Nationality: MINER
Occupation:
Age at death: 36
Marital Status: M Surviving children: 1

51. KOPELAS, JOHN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 31
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 3

52. KOSICH, FRANK Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 36
Marital Status: S

53. KOSICH, JOE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 25
Marital Status: S

54. KRESOVICH, MARTIN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 29
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 2

55. KRESOVICH, TONY Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 23
Marital Status: S

56. KUNELIS, MIKE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 24
Marital Status: S

57. LEGAS, JAMES Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 35
Marital Status: S

58. LEYVA, JOE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: TRAPPER
Age at death: 16
Marital Status: S

59. LOCKHARD, JAMES Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: COLORED
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 31
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 2

60. LOPEZ, PEDRO Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 30
Marital Status: S

61. MANVILLE, TOM Death Date: 1917APR27 (Newspaper lists him as Thomas Manville)
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 33
Marital Status: S

62. MARIANA, SALVATORE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 25
Marital Status: S

63. MARINCICH, ANTON Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 37
Marital Status: S

64. MARKES, GEORGE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 23
Marital Status: S

65. MAURO, FRANK Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: ROADMAN
Age at death: 40
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 8

66. MAYORGA, MIGUEL Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 29
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 0

67. MEREDITH, WILLIAM Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: COLORED
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 28
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 0

68. MERIDAKIS, GEORGE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 52
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

69. METAXAS, GEORGE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 37
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 4

70. METAXAS, JAMES Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 47
Marital Status: S

71. METAXAS, JOHN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 27
Marital Status: S

72. MILLARD, H. J Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: WELSH
Occupation: FIREBOSS
Age at death: 26
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

73. MITCHELL, ARTHUR Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: COLORED
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 34
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 0

74. MYERS, B. B Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 27
Marital Status: S

75. NENICH, PETE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 22
Marital Status: S

76. NICCOLI, BRUNO Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: DRIVER BOSS
Age at death: 34
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 5

77. NICCOLI, CHARLES Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 34
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 5

78. NOWATHER, JOHN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 33
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 6

79. OBRADOVICHII, MIKE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: SERVIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 45
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 3

80. ODOROZZI, SERAFINO Death Date: 1917APR27 Nationality: AUSTRIAN Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 35
Marital Status: S

81. PAPES, FRANK Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 23
Marital Status: S

82. PAPPAS, ATHAN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 27
Marital Status: S

83. PAPPAS, GEORGE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 35
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 0

84. PAPPAS, JOHN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 40
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 5

85. PAPPAS, THEROS Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 43
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 6

86. PAPPAULIS, APIROS Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 26
Marital Status: S

87. PAPPAULIS, DIMITRIUS Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 33
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 4

88. PAVELIK, VALENTINE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: POLISH
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 31
Marital Status: S

89. PIETRAKAS, KERIAKAS Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 26
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 2

90. POSLEP, ANTON Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 38
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 3

91. PRATT, E. O Death Date: 1917APR27 (Newspaper lists him as Eugene O. Pratt)
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 45
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 3

92. REESE, D. H Death Date: 1917APR27 (Newspaper lists him as David H. Reese)
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: MINE INSPECTOR
Age at death:
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 2

93. ROKICH, STEVE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 27
Marital Status: S

94. SHORT, WILLIAM Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: TRACKMAN
Age at death: 41
Marital Status: S

95. SIMONELLI, MARI Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 25
Marital Status: S

96. SKAULAS, MIKE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 29
Marital Status: S

97. SKRAKES, GEORGE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 30
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 0

98. SLOK, JOHN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 21
Marital Status: S

99. SMITH, ARCHIE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: COLORED
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 39
Marital Status: S

100. SMITH, CHARLES E Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AMERICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 42
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 0

101. SMOLICK, JOE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 31
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 4

102. SPANODDA, ANTONIO Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 32
Marital Status: S

103. STEROS, ANTON Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 32
Marital Status: S

104. STIMOC, MATT Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 28
Marital Status: S

105. STUHLAS, STEVE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 24
Marital Status: S

106. TAKOVIC, ANDY Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 29
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 3

107. TOMSICK, JACK Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 23
Marital Status: S

108. TORCHIO, JOE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: ITALIAN
Occupation: MASON
Age at death: 58
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 5

109. TURKOVICH, JOHN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 30
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 2

110. VALADAZ, JOSE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 25
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

111. VALDEZ, BEN Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: PUMPMAN
Age at death: 27
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 3

112. VALENCICH, MATT Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 21
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

113. VIGIL, ALEJANDRO Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: DRIVER
Age at death: 35
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 5

114. VIHOS, THEROS Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 31
Marital Status: S

115. VINCENZI, PAUL Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: MEXICAN
Occupation: TRACKMAN
Age at death: 20
Marital Status: S

116. VLAHOS, TOM Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: GREEK
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 37
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 2

117. VURNICK, FRANK Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 48
Marital Status: S

118. WILLIAMS, DAVE Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: WELCH
Occupation: PIT BOSS
Age at death: 34
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 4

119. YEDNIK, LUDVIK Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 34
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 4

120. ZARNADA, FRANK Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 25
Marital Status: S

121. ZATKOVICH, TONY Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 42
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 4

122. ZELE, JACK Death Date: 1917APR27
Nationality: AUSTRIAN
Occupation: MINER
Age at death: 29
Marital Status: M
Surviving children: 1

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