Scofield, Utah - History (part 1 of 4)

That Took Place At Scofield, Utah, May

A CONCISE ACCOUNT OF THE INQDENTS AxND SCEN2S THAT TOOK PLACE AT SCOFIELD, UTAH, MAY J. J900. WHEN MINE NUMBER FOUR EXPLODED, KILLING 200 MEN. PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED BY 70 CHOICE ENGRAVINGS.

Chapter 2

Description of Scofield Town. Discovery of Coal. Building of the first railway into the Coal Fields. Openin^^ of the Union Pacific Coal Property. CHAPTER 2.

Exploration of Captain Bonneville. Coining of President Young. Settlements. Counties and County Seats. Population of County Seats. Mining Industry. Agricultural Manufacturing Industry. Education. CHATER 4.

Chapter 5

Explosion of dust in Number Four Mine at Winter Quarters May 1,1900. Bringing of the first man to the surface. Heroic work of the Rescuing Party. Finding of John L. Wilson at the foot of the dump still alive. Foreman Hood becomes overcome by the deadly afterdamp. Bringing out the Ijodies. Identifying the dead and taking care of them. Making arrangements for the Funeral Train. Floral Car and gifts of flowers. CHAPTER 5.

Chapter 6 Chapter 7

Organization of Scofield Lodge No. 32 and its progress. List List of dead members and a record of the family. Organization of the building committee. Commencement of the Hall. Portraits of the dead Brothers. Portraits of the officers. CHAPTER 7.

Chapter 8

Knights of Pythias. Organization of the Lodge. Charter Members. List of dead Brothers and a record of their families. Portraits of the officers and deceased Brothers. Endowment Rank. List of the beneficiaries of the Endowment Rank. CHAPTER 8.

Chapter 9

Clippings from the Press of the State and Country. Mining laws of the State. Inquest, and finding of the Jury. Report of State Mining Inspector to Governor Wells.

Daily papers of the State appeal for aid. President McKinley sends sympathy. President Faure. of France, sends condolence. Cash responses from everywhere. Bread and Flour distributions. Governor Wells names the Relief Committee. List of most of those contributing to the relief fund.

Chapter

Placing- the dead in a car at the boarding house to be taken to the Meeting House. Placing the body of the Author's Brotherin-law, H. A. Miller.

Wreaths from the graves of Sandy, Willie and Jiramie Wilson, Graves of Joe. Delclift and R. Farrish. Flowers from the grave of John T. Davis.

Residence of the Farrish family. Father and Sou. Residence of the Jones Family. Seven children left. I. W. Bowman, teacher at Winter Quarters. Relief Meat Wagon. Professor Giles distributing- relief.

To the memory of the Brave Brothers who met their death at Scofield, Carbon County, Utah, in the mine of the Pleasant Valley Coal Company, by an explosion, May 1, 190f>.

Benefit

Published liy authority of the RathboneLodg-e No. 9, Knights of Pythias of Sco field, and Scofield Lrodge No. 32, I. O. O. F., of Scofield, Utah, for the benefit of the Widows and Orphans, left alone and fatherless, to fjght life's battles, unaided by the advice of husband or father.

At a nieetiiig^ uf Rathborue Lodge No. 9, Kiiig-hts of Pythia.s, it was reg'ularlv inovf;d and seconded that, "Whereas, many of the Brothers of this L/odg^e have met their death in the mines of the Pleasant Valley Coal ConipanA-, and beiiifj^ desirous of perpetuating- their memory'; not only in our memory but in the memory of all our Fraternal Brothers. Therefore, be it Resolved that we do hereby authorize James W. Dilley, a resident of Scofield, wh<; is perfectly conversant with all the facts in the matter of the explosion, to compile a record of each and every one who met death on May 1, 1900, in mine Number Four of this place, and to cause the same to be published.

At a reg^ular ineetin^-^ of Scofielcl Lodge No. 32, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, held upon the above date, it was reg^ularlv moved and seconded, that in order that each and every one of the friends and relatives of our departed Brothers may have an authentic record f>f the scenes and incidents that transpired at Scofield during- the calamity that occured at this place on May 1. 1900. whereby eighteen of our members met their death by an explosion ir. the mines of the Pleasant Valley Coal Compatiy of this place; Be it Resolved, that we do hereby authorize Brother James W. Dilley to compile a true record of such scenes and incidents, and cau.se the same to be published.

fHK Town of Scofield, lies in the bituminous coal field of Carbon County, Utah, about nineteen miles from the main line of the Rio Grande Western Railroad, and is nestled among- the hills that surround the upper part of Pleasant Valley.

Clear Creek and the waters of the Winter Quarters creek unite at the south end of town and flow through the valley until lost among- the windings and turnings of Fish Creek.

Among- the first settlers of this reg^ion were S. J. Harkness, T. H. Thomas, William Burrows, O. G. Kimball, D. D. Green, A. H. Earll, R. McKecheney who were attracted hither by the immense rang^es for their cattle.

For many years the cattle men were not molested and their herds grew and multiplied until every water course and hill was covered hy cattle and horses.

The hidden treasures were not suffered to lie hidden, however, and as coal cropped out on every hand the veins commenced to be worked and it was not long- before the discoverers fouud out that the supply was inexhaustible.

The Railway Companies finding that the coal fields were of such magnitude and covered so much territory began to surve3' and cast about for practicable routes to reach the coal that they so much needed.

Every can^'on that headed in Pleasant Vallej' was thoroughly explored and the route through Spanish Fork Canyon was finally decided upon, and a narrow guage was built into Scofield.

Before the railroad was completed, winter set in and the last few miles were laid upon the ice and snow as it was impossible to find the ground, so deep were the drifts that filled the canyon. This was all right until the severe weather was succeeded by the warm days of spring when it was impossible to operate the road in that condition, and it was for a longtime that trains coming into town could not tell when they would be able to leave, for upon nearly every trip the engine would require a new road-bed.

Following in the wake of the railroad were the miners from nearly every country on the habited globe, and the quiet of the cattle men was turned into the bustle and activity that attends the opening of every camp of this kind. Many of the miners being married men their wives either accompanied them or were sent for as rapidly as the miner could save suflScient means to briiig^ them here. Tliis brought a class of men that Companies very seldom acquire, as they were thrifty, and homes dotted the hillside on every hand. The Coal Company now known as the Union Pacific Coal Company claimed all of the land on the townsite, and each one desirous of building was compelled to lease the spot of ground desired from this Company. Not knowing how long they would be permitted to remain as laborers in and about the mines, the men did not build elaborate homes as they knew that should the work cease thej' would be compelled to leave and look for work elsewhere, and thus would be compelled to sacrifice the little home. Ivog cabins were the order of the dajs as the rigor of the climate called for warm houses, and as lath and plaster was out of reach of the humble builder on account of the high price asked, the log house with its chinking and mud was made to do dutj' in lieu of a better. The Union Pacific still continued to collect their ground rent, however small, and the knowledge that the miners had of the company that was ruling the camp at that time deterred them from beautifying their homes as they desired. This state of affairs was however not to continue forever, and the rights of the Company to hold the land become to be questioned. Part of their land was jumped and their title was found to be imperfect, in fact they had no title whatever to the land now embraced in the Townsite.

The btjsiness men of Scofield then took the matter in hand and Articles of Incorporation were granted after the following petition was presented and acted upon by the Honorable County Court, in and for Emery County, the Countj' of Carbon not then being in existence:

We, your petitioners, residents and tax-payers of Scofield Precinct, would respectfully represent to your Honorable Body: That the following tract of land, being a part of the Precinct of Scofield, contains more than three hundred inhabitants, and we, your petitioners, hereby praj- that the said described land may by

The Scofield

That said Town may include the following lands: The BE % Section 32. Township 12, South of Range 7 East, and Lots 1, 3 and 4 of Section 5, Township 13, South of Range 7 East, known as the "Wye."' Also S. ja of XW '4 Section 5, Township 12. South of Range 7 East, being lands belong^ing to S. J. Harkness; and we, your petitioners, as in duty bound will ever pray.

Mine Disaster

I, Carl Wilburg, Recorder in and for said Countj'. do hereby certify that the foregoing petition for a town government for Scofield, Utah Territory, is a true copy of the petition as filed and recorded in my office, March 15, 1893. at ten o'clock a. m.

The people uf the town appointed John JS. Ing-les, and S. J. Harkne.s.s as a Committee to represent the town before the County c'l'urt and on the following- March the following- acknowledgment was received.

In accordance with a resolution adopted by the County Court of Emery County, Utah Territory, March 8, 1892, your petition asking- for a town Corporation wa^ granted and you are hereby u<3tified of the fact.

Carl Wilberg

The Town of Scotield by this instrument wa.s made a town and the org^anization of the Towti Board was at once Vjegun and A. H. Earll was chosen President of the Town Board with Messrs Kimball, Wrig-ht, Lewis and Krebs as Trustees. M. P. BraflFet was appointed Town Clerk and Thomas Lloyd, Town Marshal.

Everyojie was then allowed the homes they were then occupying^ and improvement was the order of the day. Where the log cabin was predominant the lumber house nicel3' finished quietly took it.s place and from a town of shanties it rapidly became a town of neat cottages.

On account of the altitude, being- over eight thou.sand feet above sea level it was impossible to make gardens of anj- pretentions or to adorn the lots with lawns as would have Vjeen the ca.se did nature allow.

The town was well supplied with stores that carried even - thing in stock that the miners were likely to need, and in fact there are few stores in cities of the second class that carry as complete a stock as is carried by Mr. A. H. Earll, John E. Ingles. S. A. Henrichsen and the Company Store.

Besides the Odd Fellows hall that was in course .>f c )nslniction the Knights of Pythias had their Articles of Incorporatimi filed and would have started their hall in a few days as bids for the construction of the same were under advisement. MaTiy of the miners had built during the winter, it bei)ig quite mild for this altitude, and as soon as the first warm days of spring arrived cottages were being built upon every side. Mrs. J. B. Trevier had iust finished a commodious hotel and Mrs. Ella Broyles was building a hotel to cost nearly three thousand dollars.

Heretofore it had been next to imp.jssible to secure rooms in the town and many commercial travelers Avere compelled to sleej) in the coach, but by the building of these new hotels all of this had changed and the traveling public could not ask for better accomodations. Mrs. Walton who had been running a miners boarding house at Winter Quarters had been prevailed upon to cast her lot with us and had built a cottage where she has catered to transient trade, a favor that has been much appreciated.

At the last election H. H. Earll was elected Mayor, with Andrew Smith, Willi:nn Forrester. Lars Jensen and James P. Curtin as Cauncilmen. James W. Dilley was appointed clerk of the Board, John L. Price, Marshal, Lars Jensen, Treasurer.

When the late small p ^x scare pervaded this section of the country James P. Curtin was chosen as Chairman of the joint County and Town Board of Quarantine, Dr. E. B. Isgreen was appointed Quarantine Physician and it was owing to the hard conscientious w'ork of this board that the dread di-sease was held at bay after one case had developed.

pretty cotta|,res it is nut because the liouses will not be needed but because of the sad fact that in nearly, and I might add, every house some of the.Bread Winners have passed away during the explosi<jn that took place here May 1, 19U0.

The relatives and friends realizing that there is iioihing here outside of mine work have advised the Widows of their dead friends to go somewhere that nature favors more than she does Scofield and there upon a small farm try to raise their families so that they may be independent of charitv. For this reason many are disposing of their property and hope by this method to raise sufficient means to buy small homes at a lower altitude.

Chapter Ii

mayor H. H. Earll, who is now serving- his third term as Maj'or of Scofield, was born at Ogden in 1872, and has lived in Scofield for the past 16 years.

At first news of the explosion, he being in Salt Lake on business, he hurried home and although everything was most orderl)', issued a proclamation closing- all the saloons in town for one week, fearing^ on account of so many strangers being- in town that they might interfere with the work. He took immediate charge of the preparation of the graves for the many miners that were interred at this place.

His work on the relief committee has been of great aid to the sufferers, who one and all unite in thanking- him for his timely call for aid.

Biographical

He was born at Richfield Sanpete Co., Utah, August 15, 1857, and is now in the emploj- of the R. G. W. Rv. In the handling- of the funds of Scofield Town he has shown himself an efficient officer.

He has taken a leading part in the rescuing party that has brought man)' dead miners from the mine, nearly all of whom were friends of many years standing.

irother James P. Curtin, was born in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, April, 1862, and has served his country in the army for 8 years. At the last election he was elected Trustee for Scofield Town by a handsome majority.

He is also Chairman of the Joint Board of Quarantine. Being- a past g-rand he was the first D. D. G. M. for Scotield, and was one of the charter members. He is much admired by the members of Scofield Lodg-e No. 32, for his sterling- qualities. Having^ been an Odd Fellow for many years he is able to give good advice in the councils of the lodge.

He was outside foreman at Number Four when the explosion occurred and labored night and day with his men, sending material etc., into the mine for the use of the rescuing party.

David B. Laug-hlin, is the remaining member of the Town Board, he having- been selected to take the place of William Forrester, who lately moved to Clear Creek.

When the call was made for rescuers he was one of the first and although nearly overcome by his feelings in searching for his dead friends, he heroically assisted in their recovery, and so far as lay in his power comforted and cheered the stricken relatives and friends with whom he was directly and intimately acquainted.

Seventeen years ago he worked in Number three, one of the mines of the Pleasant Valley Coal Company adjoining- Number one, where so many of the miners were smothered, and was employed in driving a rock tunnel, for the veins of coal known to lie under the mountain.

For thirteen years he worked in the Union Pacific mine at this place, which mine is now lying idle on account of freight rates prohibiting the shipment of coal.

In a conversation he related that while working in the Union Pacific mine eight years ago, when James Russel was Foreman, a miner named Buchanan, placed an immense amount of black powder in a hole he had drilled for a shot, at the bottom of the coal vein, intending to blow out all the coal from the bottom of the vein to the top.

When the shot was fired the jar or concussion was felt from one end of the mine to the other. The coal dust flew from the discharge to the mouth of the mine, and the only reason the men were not killed by an explosion'of dust at that time, was the fact that the company kept the dust on the floor of the entries sprinkled.

Sixteen years ago last New Years day, when he arose early in the morning, he looked towards the mouth of the U. P. mine and saw that the mine was all lighted up and knew that the mine had caught fire.

John Fife was Foreman in the mine at that time. It appears as though a man, named John Jones was weigh boss at that time and as the cars were coming rather slowly from the inside of the mine, he left the office and went out to haul some dirt from the mine. While thus employed the office took fire from a hot stove that he had left, and the fire was communicated to the timbers in the mine, and from them to the coal, as the air was drawing- into the mine. Quite a number of men were at work on the inside of the mine at that time, but all escaped, except John McL/ain and his Son. Many were the hair-breadth escapes related by the men who were fortunate enough to reach the outside, many of whom are now dead from this explosion in Number Four. Mr. Price, who has lost a promising' son 24 years of ag^e in this disaster, went with the first party of rescuers, and remained at his post until nature asserted herself, and he was forced t(j retire for rest. His was a sorrowful duty, hunting for his son, while still assisting- in carr3'ing' out the remains of his intimate associates, many of whom were relatives.

He being better acquainted with the miners than an3' other person, the unpleasant dut3' of identifyin<4 the dead miners as thej' were brought from the mines devolved upon him. As fast as the bodies were recognized he placed tags upon the breast of each, and owing to his care there were no cases wherein an}- change was made, nor did anyone bury a body not belotiging to them. Since the disaster he has visited each home with the paymaster E. L*. Carpenter, and has assisted in the payment of the monthly payroll to the widows and parents of the deceased.

Co Bedlington E. Lewis the Author of this volume is under great obligations for the labor he has taken in getting views and photographs of the mines.

He abandoned mining-, however, about one year ag-o and has given his attention to photography, at which profession he is making great success as evidenced by the views herewith presented

Chapter Iii The Ssofibld Mine Disaster

The State of Utah being- the last State to be admitted into the Union, lies north of Arizona, west of Colorado and the Rock3- Mountains, east of Nevada and south of Wyoming and Idaho. Its greatest length is 345 miles bv 27,5 miles in breadth, and encloses an area of 87,970 square miles. It is intersected from north to south by the Wasatch range of mountains, which forms a water shed and drains the eastern part of the State into the Colorado river system, while the Central part of the State drains into the larg-e lakes that are situated in the north central part of the State.

The principal rivers flowing into the Great Salt L/ake are the Weber, Bear, and Jordan that forms an oiftlet to Utah Lake, and these rivers drain the section west of the Wasatch Range. Sevier river, which flows through the .southern part of the State, after many windings and turnings becomes lost in the desert. It formerly emptied- into Sevier lake, situated in Millard County, but on account of being: used so extensively in irrigation, only the overflow in the Spring enters the lake. The land lying east of the Wasatch range is drained by the White, Price, Grand, Green, and San Juan rivers, being the headquarters of th^ Colorado River System. The valley of the Great Salt Lake was explored, according to Washington Irving, by Captain Bonneville, who started on the 24th da3' of July, A. D. 1833, at the head of forty men to complete a circuit of the lake. He left the valley of the Green river, and intended tt) trap on all the principal streams flowing into the lake, while he should make a journal and chart so as to impart a knowledge of the lake and the surrounding country. All the resources of the brave trapper were tasked to make this journey. This whole country lying to the southwest of the mountains down as far as California were totally unknown, as the buffalo at that time had not been driven that far west; and the trappers preferred to stay where the roaming herds of that animal furnished a comparatively easy and luxurious life. The deer, elk, mountain sheep, and bear, however, more than replaced the lack of bufl^alo, but this was known only to the Indians that were living in this section of the country.

Captain Bonneville, however, not knowing of the food resources that avi^aited him, had prepared a quantity of dried buffalo meat while he was encamped on the Bear river preparatory to his expedition into what at that time was a trackless desert.

Deserts, - second only to t'.ie Sahara - extended around them as far as the ej'^e could reach. No trees or grasses greeted his eye, no spring or stream could be discerned upon either side, and the wastes of sand must have been most discouraging, even to Captain Bonneville, whose love of exploration and danger had brought him thus far into the unknown west.

Traveling along the sands to the east of the lake they were almost overcome from thirst, when they saw a stream issuing from the mountains, where they quenched their thirst and refreshed their tired horses on the grasses and herbage that lined the stream. After recuperating- themselves they proceeded along this river, trapping- the beaver as they went and subsisting- upon its meat, thus saving their dried buffalo meat until they should again encounter the sandj' wastes.

The stream that they had found was called Mary's river, but was afterwards named Ogden river, from Peter Ogden, that first explored it while in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company.

This country' was then inhabited by very shy tribes of Indians called Root Diggers, a branch of the Snake tribe. The trappers frequently met trails and could see the smoke arising from the camp fires of the Indians, but for a long time could not see any of the Wary Diggers.

Their presence, however, could be felt each morning, as they missed traps and various other articles from their camps. It was among this harmless people that the first Indian blood was shed, as Captain Bonneville believed them to be of a hostile disposition. As he traveled along the plain on the left of the river he came upon a horde of the Indians gathered together upon the bank of the stream, and conceiving that an ambuscade had been laid for them, the Captain ordered his trappers to charge upon the natives, who, howling and whining, fled in terror before the guns of the white man, oniy to be overtaken and slaughtered. Not a weapon did the Indians discharge during the horrid butcher^'. This is the dark spot to the otherwise bright picture, when we consider the achievements of the intrepid explorer. Following on down the Ogden river until it became lost in a swampy lake, he then headed directly west for California, leaving the valley of the G^reat Salt Lake for future generations to conquer and to bring the desert lands into subjection, and to cause cities, towns and hamlets to arise upon everj' hand. Along with the names of Captain Bonneville must be mentioned Provost, from whom Provo in Utah County, gets its name, Col. Bridger and Wm. N. Ashley; Peter Ogden, from whom the city of Ogden is named, and John C. Fremont from whom Fremont, Ireland, derives its name.

Thus in solitude lay the de^rt wastes only to be crossed now and then by some predatory band of Indians, until Brigham Young beheld it in 1847, on July were seeking homes, he looked down upon the broad expanses and decided that here his noble band would settle and make their homes. How well this band of Mormons fulltilled their mission the monumeiits reared by their hands can testify. Where nothings but sandy wastes could be seen now stand the cities of Salt Lake, Ogden and Provo, while the landscape from Idaho on the north to Arizona on the south is dotted by smaller towns. Acres upon acres of orchards now give forth their fruits for the thousands of people that inhabit the towns, while the fields of flowing grain and the gardens give bread and food to the miners that are delving in the hills for the precious metals.

Utah was organized as a territory on September 9, 1850, out of that part of Mexico that had been ceded to the United States by the treat)' of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and in 1868 was reduced to its present size.

After repeated attempts to be admitted into the Union, it finally obtained statehood January 4, 18%, when the people divided on party lines. The Enabling Act was passed by the House of Representatives Dec. 12, 1893, and b)' the Senate of the United States July 10, 1894, and was signed by President Cleveland July IS, 1894.

It deferred Statehood for eighteen months. The Constitutional convention that framed the present Constitution was compose?d of 107 delegates who met march 4, and completed their labors May 8, 1895.

The general elevation of the State is 6100 feet, while Mt. EJmmons rises 13,694 feet, and Mt. Gilbert and Mt. Wilson are nearly as high. The Great Salt Lake is situated at an altitude of 4210 feet, and is 83 miles long by 30 miles wide. The waters of this lake are so salty that animal life, except brine shrimp, and the lar\'ae of flies, is extinct.

State Officers

Governor, Heber M. Wells, of Salt Lake City, Secretary of State, James T. Hammond, of Log-an. State Auditor, Morgan Richards, Jr., of Parowan. State Treasurer, James Chipraan, of American Fork, Attorney General, A. C. Bishop, of Og-den.

Justices Of The Supreme Court

Clerk of Supreme court, L, P. Palmer; Reporter of Supreme court, Geo, L. Nye; State Coal Mine Inspector, Gomer Thomas; State Engineer, R. C. Gemmell; State Dairy and Food Commissioner, H. J. Faust, Jr.; State Fish and Game Wardeti, John Sharp.

Legislature Of The State Of Utah

The Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains contain the most productive mines in the state, and althoug-h mining did not begin until 1870 it is now the leading- industry.

Every range in the State however contains something in the way of minerals, and while gold and silver are found in one or more ranges, coal and other Hydro-carbons are found in others, while still in others lie the different metals herein before mentioned. The export value of gold, silver, copper and lead annual' ly reaches the sum of twenty millions of dollars.

The most important mining belts are Park City, Eureka, Frisco, Bingham and Mercur. The largest silver producing mine in the U. S. is the Ontario, at Park City, which has paid in dividends nearlj- twenty millions of dollars.

In the Eureka Tintic mininjf district are the Centennial Eureka, Bullion Beck and Mammoth mines, which have also contributed rich dividends. In the Mercur mines g-old is the predominating- mineral and the output reaches four h^undred thousand dollars in g-old.

In the Bingham mining- district the main producing- mines are the Highland Boy, United States, Dalton and Lark and Galena, whicn owing- to the advance in copper are also pacing- rich dividends.

Carbon County which was organized a few years ago by being cut off of Emer^' County is the largest producer of coal and Hydro-Carbons of any Cauntj^ in the State. The coal fields practically cover the entire countj' and can be found in immense bodies in nearly every hill. In some places the coal has burned out leaving the ashes covered by the overhanging rock, but in most places the veins are easih' uncovered. The Pleasant valley Coal Company of which William G. Sharp is manager, practically control the entire output of coal from this Countj'. This company has mines at Winter Quarters, Clear Creek, Castle Gate and Sunnyside.

At Castle Gate are situated nearly one hundred coke ovens, which are now being augmented by one hundred more. The coal from Sunnyside being of good coking quality is brought to Castle Gate to be coked as the supplj' of water at Sunnj'side is limited. Most of the work around the coke ovens is done by Italians, who are most faithful and attentive to this arduous task. In nearly every canyon outside of the Pleasant Valley Coal Company's territor}' are private mines that are worked for the local markets. Should this Count)- ever be fortunate enough to secure another railroad so that the coal from these smaller mines could be shipped at reasonable rates, it would be equallj- as wealthy as those counties that boast of their silver, gold and copper. Probably the richest veins of coal in the State is in the mine at Scofield, and owned bj' the Union Pacific Railroad Co. This mine contains a vein averaging 27 feet in thickness, drains itself and needs no props to support the roof. While the rooms are being mined pillars ot coal are left standinj.f until the rooms are worked out and the miner then draws the pillars 'as he works back to the entry. This mine took fire seventeen years aiftj, and the old entry was walled in \>y masjnery to smother the fire. It is believed now that the fire has been smothered. The last mine to be (jpened was the one at Clear Creek, uliich is now a heavy producer. The explosion of may 1st, took place in No. Four mine at Winter Quarters, being- situated about 2 miles above Sofield. The foreman William Parmley was one numbered among- the dead.

Hardly any of the minerals uf use tu man, but what can be found in the depths of the mountains, while the bounteous soil being- waterefl by miles upon miles of irrigating- streams, responds with food products for the nourishment of man.

Vast herds of cattle roam the countless hills and the many herds of sheep that feed upon the mountain sides, contribute their vast wealth to the comforts of the whole nation, and these products are sought by the people that live in the larger cities of the east.

While the Counties of Carbon and Suminit produce annually over one million of dollars in coal, they also produce cattle, horses and sheep in large numbers, and the mines of Asphalt, Gilsonite and other Hydro-Carbons are now commencing to yield large amounts of these products. But while the miners in these counties are delving in the bowels of the earth for the many kinds of minerals, the former is plowing the bosom of mother earth and causing her to give forth the fruits and food products, of use to man.

Iron County, that now holds in embrace of her mountains, Iron ore enough to supply the earth for years and ages to come, will before long contribute her millions to this commonwealth. The iron ore in Iron County embraces a belt of mountain three miles wide by fifteen miles long, along which the ore outcrops several hundred feet in length and breadth.

could nntltiply her product hv inmy sc )res. still c )uld the Great Salt Lake produce enou'jjh Salt to properly take care /if her beef. The Great Salt Lake, is estimated to hold four hundred iiiilliniis of tons of Salt in solution, and nature, alone c;in render it fit for consumption. Larg-e reservoirs are built close to the lake and the water pumped into eacli until filled. Evaporation j;-oes on from these reservoirs until the water has passed off, when a rich deposit of salt is yathered and taken to the refinery to be cleaned and prepared for shipment.

Rock salt that is placed upon the hillsides by the cattlemen and sheepmen, for use of their herds and flocks. is found in Iar;^e quantities in Kephi, Juab Co., while gypsum in lar^-'e deposits is close at hand.

In MiUard County can tie found enou,<^-h sulphur to manufacture matches for the world, for sulphur 98 jjcr cent pure is manufactured there, tons upon tons.

Wasatch and ITintah Counties now mostly composed of Indian Reservation will when thrown open to settlement, contribute their millions, produced from mines of silver, jj;-old and uintatite.

Utah, Cache and Weber Counties contributed the be;iutiful onyx wainscoting that adorn the halls of the City and County building in Salt Lake, while building stones, clays and kaolin are found in immense quantities. Along the South-western side of the lake is found lithographic stone seond to iione, while selenite of most perfect transparency, some crystals of which weigh 500 pounds is found in Wayne county. Among the minerals are found, zinc, cinnabar, bismith, c )balt, antimony, manganese, mol3didenuni. Alum, asbestos, borytes, l)oia\, mica, niter, petroleum, phosphates, plumbago, ag-ates, soda, talc.

But while the mountainous counties yield so magnificently, and employ thousands (jf men in their mines, still c:m the beautiful valleys produce food for them and to spare.

Davis county with her acres of gardens gives us fresh vegetables daily, and the countj' of Utah more than furnishes our tables with tVie choicest of fruit. Utah county furnishes the most fruit, but the counties of Bo.\ Ejlder and Weber make close

The raising of beets for sugar, has become one of the chief industries in the state. Sugar refineries at Lehi and Ogden use over five hundred thousand dollars worth of sugar beets annually. In the yield of potatoes per acre, Utah stands second to none, her yield per acre in 1896 being 203 bushels.

Lucerne, wheat, barley, sorghum, rj'e, corn and all kinds of vegetables are grown to advantage. The following tables are taken from the U. S. Government reports for the year 1895.

The people of this state have ever tried to foster home industries and from small beginnings the manufactories are now branching out and sending their products to the surrounding states. Every mountain stream is being utilized for power, and as the raw material is plentiful there is no reason that the great manufacturing interests should not rapidly spread so that their products can be seen in all marts of trade.

The beet sugar factory at Lehi is steadily advancing, and last year built a crushing mill for the beets at Springville, from where the juice is pumped through pipes to the refinery a few miles away.

Woolen mills are situated in different places, and the one at Provo has an output of $250,000 annually. Much of the woolen goods find a ready market in California and other states.

Flour mills, canneries, lime kilns, charcoal ovens, coke ovens, machine shops, soap factories, saw mills, shingle mills, tanneries, etc., are situated in various parts of the State.

In the matter of education Utah is rapidly forging ahead, and the little dark incommodious school house is being replaced by more substantial buildings. In the cities, fine brick and stone buildings, with all the modern appliances for the health and comfort of the pupils have taken the place of the one story building of wood. And well may it be said that a finer lot of school buildings do not grace cities of the East of greater population.

In the district schools the County Superintendent of Schools is assisted by a County Board of Education, consisting of the Superintendent and two others, one of whom must be a practical teacher. The Superintendent is elected at the time the Trusli es are voted for in July and is chosen for the term of two years, and he selects the two persons to form the County Board of Education .

By strict examination and culling out the poorer class of teachers the Counties in most instances have a g-ood first class corps of teachers, who have been well drilled in educational methods and who are conscientious m performiny their duties.

The district schools are divided into eight grades. Upon completing the eighth grade the pupils are examined by the County Board of Education and those found qualified are given a Diploma of Graduation. These Diplomas entitle them to enter nearly all of the higher institutions of learning without further examination. At least once every year an Institute is held at which some of the most prominent educators take part, and each teacher in the Count3' is compelled to attend. By these institutes which are held monthly in the thickly populated districts the teachers are kept in touch with the educational progress of the day and cannot fail to be instructed and much benefitted thereby.

The State University at Salt Lake is the leading institution of learning atid owing to the generous donation of the last Legislature it will soon have more commodious buildings.

The State University conducts a Normal School in connection with it. There is also a branch Normal established at Cedar City in Iron County.

The Brigham Young Academy at Provo is conducted for the education and benefit of all who wish to attend, but is particularly useful in educating the children of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da^' Saints. It conducts a course where missionaries are sent to learn the best methods of cotiducting Sunday Schools and the Young Men's Mutual Aid Society. Several hundreds of students attend this institution during the j'ear.

Among the man3' other institutions of learning the following may be named: Brigham Young College, Logan; the Weber Stake Academy, and The Sisters' School. Ogden; Rocky Mountain

The Rio Grande Western Railway with its branches reach almost all parts of Utah, while the Union Pacific, Oregon Short Line, and Central Pacific cross the northern part of the State.

Chapter Iv

miner's coach that is run back and forth at the chang-e of shifts, to the mines of the Pleasant Valle_v Coal Company at Winter Ouarters. Every one of the men that were .so(jn to meet death in its most horrible form were feeling^ in the best of spirits as evidenced by the pleasant joke that was bandied back and forth throug^h the coach. What had they to fear, were they not working- in one of the safest coal mines situated in the coal region? Each one was looking' forward to thdbvening when there was to be a dance in the new Odd Fellow's Hall, and their children were to have a celebration in honor of the Hero of the Battle of Manilla. All were merry and joyous. The spring- time of thej-ear was at haiid, the trees were commencing- to put on tiieir garb of green and all nature was smiling

Nearly every man was at his post of dut^- in the mine, when from some cause or other, a most terrific explosion took place and all was changed in the twinkling of an e3'e. | The lips that were breathing words of hope and encouragement of a few hours before were now hushed and cold in death. The lips that had kissed their wives and children the customary good-bye, and the ever returning response from the loved ones as they wished their husbands and fathers a quick return, would never more be heard t<) utter words of love. At about fifteen minutes past ten o'clock the surrounding country was startled by an explosion, but as it was Dewe^' day nearly every one supposed that the noise was from some one setting off a blast in honor of the day. But bye and bye there were seen women hurrying towards the mine and by their blanched faces one could read that there was something amiss at the mines. Reports came down that Number Four had exploded, but this was not believed as this mine in particular was supposed to be the safest mine of all of the Company's mines. But disaster dire and dreadful had overtaken Number Four, and all that were not working hurried to the opening as fast as possible there to be greeted by a sight of death and destruction such as one rarely if ever sees in a lifetime. \ But if the explosion has produced such havoc on the outside, what can be the condition upon the inside where the miners are confined with no chance of escape, caught like rats in a trap?J No hope to recover anyone alive, no hope to ever look upon the face of those entombed, no hope of ever hearing loving words from lips now charred and blackened in the embrace of death.

yOn the top of the incline at the mouth of the mine, where the drums that let the cars down the incline were housed, nothing remained of the house but the boards broken and twisted. By some lucky chance or other the engineer was out assisting in replacing a car upon the track that had been derailed, and although scratched and bruised was still alive and able to take care of himself. One of the men that assists in pushing the loaded trip over the knuckle was found with his foot crushed, his shoulder out of place and severe injuries were sustained in other parts of his body. The assi^5tant helper was found with his jaw broken and the side of his face crushed. The next man to be met had one lej,-^ broken, one arm broken and severely injured about his body. These men were immediately taken home b3' a few of the men that had arrived by this time and we hastened to the mouth of the mine, where one hor.se was found dead but his driver could not be seen until someone looking' down theyulch saw the form of someone, supposed to be the driver, John Wilson. A few of the men hurried to his side and found tliat life was not yet extinct, althoug-h he had been blown eig-ht hundred and twenty feet, by actual measurementj- He was tenderly picked up and conveyed to his home where it was found that the back part of his skull had been crushed, besides a stick or splinter had been driven downward through his abdomen. He was in a critical condition and no one supposed he would live to be C-irried home, but, strange to relate, he has recovered rapidly and although he will never be able to do a day's work again he is up and feeling quite well at present. A relief committee was headed by T. J. Parmley, Superintendent of the mine, and they Started for the levels of Number Four through Number One, there being inside connections, but were driven back by the terrible atter-damp that had by this time reached the lower levels in Number One.^Bernard Newren, a young- man working- on the outside at the mine, went with the relief committee on its errand of mercy but was carried out, he havings been overcome by the deadly damp.

Andrew Hood, Foreman in Number One mine, was a fewminutes later assisted out, he having- been overcome in the same way. He went to his home, but realizing the horrible disaster he tried again to enter the mine but had not recovered sufficiently. (The route by the way of Number One having been found impracticable on account of the after-damp, the relief committee hurried to the mouth of Number Four where the attempt was again mad<- to enter the inferno that had been raging within. , minutes delay, during which the horse and timbers that obstructed the mouth of the mine was cleared away, the relief committee was able to follow the air and the actual work of rescue befi^an. (The first one to be met was Harry Betterson, supposed at the time to be John Kirton, and being^ still alive was brou<,'^ht to ihe surface where he was found to be burned beyond reci<rnition. J He was taken to-the boardinif house but died during^ the first part of the nig-ht^'|The next one to be found was William Bjweter. and although sitting among the dead was found to be alive, although hardly conscious. After being assisted to his feet he walked out, with slight help. Hope had bren entertained up to this time that some of the men would be found still living, but those mentioned above were the o»ly ones that were brought out alive. Roll after roll of cmvas was brought, and brattices vrere fixed up on the inside to force the air into one level at a time in order that the rescuing party could force their way through the mine in the hope of finding someone still alive. But the farther the rescuers went the more apparent become the magnitude of the disaster. Men were piled in heaps as there were not enough men to carry out the dead as fast as found. The miners at Clear Creek mine \>y this time began to arrive, and their assistance came none too soon, for there was plenty of work for all. The new arrivals began to carry out the bodies ^^fe*«h were placed in the Company's barn across the ravine, where they were tagged as fast as recognized. The heart-rending shrieks of the wives and relatives of the dead miners were not heard at this mine, but when an3'one would go down the incline thev would be met with lamentations that would cause even the hardest hearted men to shed tears. Women asking if their husbands or fathers had been brought out or no, children crying for the parent that was still within the mine. (Many who had relatives working in Number One, were not so much concerned at first, as it was supposed bj* those upon the outside that the men in that mine had not been afi^ected, as the explosion had occurred in Number Four, but their hopes were dispelled when the rescuers had passed from Number Four into Number One. The first dead body carried out of Number One was Koirer Davis, a driver, who had been caught bj' some of the flying- debris. After this the bodies of Thomas Livsey and his son "William were found badly burned, almost beyond recognition, but still alive. The dead then began to arrive at the month of Xumber One by the car load, sometimes as manj' as twelve bodies having been loaded upon one mine car. Then it was when the horror of the situation began to dawn upon the minds of the people on the outside of the ill-fated mine. Then it was that the people realized that it was impjssible vo expect anything but the burned or mangled body of the loved ones that had entered the mine so light hearted that nnjrning.

At the foot of the short incline at Number One, where the props for the mine are hauled up to the opening, is situated an old building, now occupied by Mr. Edwards and used as a miner's boarding house. This was utilized at once as a dead-house, and all of the dead that came from Number One were carried doAvn this short incline and laid in the old boarding house. One of the emploj'ees of the Pleasant Valley Coal Company, who had the duty of issuing coupon books to the miners, Mr. C. Nix, was detailed by the Company to take charge of the boarding house and try to identify the dead as fast as tlie^' were carried out. As soon as one of the dead was recognized Mr. Nix would place a tag upon the dead man's breast. At one time, before the washing of the dead was commenced, there were sixty-six lying in the receiving room. I l?veryone was so appalled by the disaster that it seemed as if the magnitude of the calamity could not be taken in, and the work of attending to the dead was not commenced until a joung man. named Pat Wycherlv, called for volunteers and the work of washing the dead began. As fast as they were washed they were taken to the meeting house and laid out upon the stand and ranged along the wall on the lower floor. After this room wa.* filled the remaining dead were taken to the school house, where the seats had been taken up in two of the rooms and the bodies were arranged about the side.

The chief storekeeper for the Compaiiy* hurried to the cit)' of Salt Lake on the evening- of the first day and procured coffins and clothing for the dead men. Each man was dressed in underclothes, white shirt and collar, necktie, and an eleyant black suit. Those who were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints were provided with the burial robes as designed bj' that faith. At Number Four John Llo3'd was washing the bodies and as fast as laid out, they would be placed in the barn. On the morning of Ma^- 2nd, the bodies already prepared at the barn were carried down the steep incline and laid with the rest in the meeting house. Manager William G. Sharp of the Pleasant Valley- Coal Compan3', having heard of the disaster hurried from Salt Lake with a special train carr3ing doctors and help for the en- .*.

tombed men. The special arrived at Scofield at about three *^ .* o'clock, but the men were past all aid. The special left for Salt Lake in the evening carrying Doctor Bascom together with the four men who were so badly injured: A. Wilson, with his leg and arm broken, three sons of whom were taken out dead during the evening; Harr^- Ta3-lor, who was suffering- with injuries to his face; William Boweter, who had been found in the entrance to Number Four, badly burned; and A'oung John Wilson, whose head was crushed and who was otherwise injured. It was stated b^' the doctors that Wiison would not be likely to live to reach the hospital, but, nevertheless, he is still living", with the chances of ultimate recovery. The wounded persons arrived at Salt Lake and were immediately take!) to the St. Mark's Hospital, where they had every attention. As night drew on the work of rescue did not stop, but was continued far into the night until nature asserted herself and the rescuers retired for a few hour's rest. On account of the many caves and falls the work of the rescuing part)' was greatly retarded, as many of the bodies were buried and had to be dug from under tons of dirt. As the bodies were carried down from Number One, the women and children waiting at the boarding house, moaning and crj'ing out the names of their loved ones, would rush franticalh' to the stretcher to see if thej' could recognize the face and form of him for whom they were waiting.

Whenever one would be reco^-nized the lamentations nf the stricken ones were heart rending-, cansin;,^ even .stron;>- men to turn away and weep and s^iVj like a child.

Notwithstanding- this not a sing-le Finlander, except Nestor Uro, who has labored incessantly, volunteered to aid in the rescue, and the bodies of the Finns have been recovered by the miners of other nationalities.

There had been no disturbance of any kind but Mayor Earll thought it advisable to close all the saloons for one week, and issued a proclatnation to that effect. The force of undertakers having been increased and being augmented bj' a large force of volunteers, the work of dressing the dead and preparing for their burial was nearly completed by Friday morning. [ A force of one hundred and fifty men, seventy-five of the number being volunteers, were at work in the cemetery by sunrise, and at six (j'clock Thursday evening their work was completed, each man had one grave to dig, and enough had been opened to receive all the dead recovered to date who were not to be sent elsewhere^ G. W. Snow, Company Surveyor, had direct charge of the g-rave digging. The northwestern quarter of the cemetery was torn up, the graves being scarcely three feet apart. There are about one tiundred and twenty-five graves on a tract a little over an acre in size.j^ The remainder have been made in various parts of the cemetery, being in the midst of those of the same families who have gone before. ( All the coffins in Salt Lake were not enough to bury the dead and a carload was ordered from Denver, Colorado. All day Wednesday and Thursday a committee had been visiting the homes of the bereaved, arranging for the transportation of the bodies and relatives of those who wished to bury their dead elsewhere. H. G. Williams. Assistant Superintendent, had charge of the passes, and no one was refused transportation either going

Dr. E. B. Is-^reen, the resident physician ui the Pleasant Valley Coal Company, and E. V. Evans, the undertaker in charge, having written out the certificates of death, and the bodies of those to be shipped having been prepared for burial, the arrangements for the funeral train wers completed and the train was ordered t j be ready to l^ave at twelve o'clock, noon. Friday. In the meantime. County Attornes' L. O. Hoifman, had arrived at Scoiield, and an inquest was held over the bodv of John Hunter. William Hirst, Justice of the Peace, acted as Coroner. The jury was composed of W. H. Potter, F. H. Mereweather. and A. Greenhalgh, who found a verdict as follows:

State of Utah, County of Carbon, Precinct of Scofield. An inquest having been held in Scotield, in Scofield Precinct, Carbon County, State of Utah, on the 3rd day of May, 1900, before William Hirst, Justice of the Peace of Scofield Precinct, in said County. upon the body of John Hunter, there 13'ing dead. We, the jurors, whose names are hereunto subscribed, declare that the said John Hunter came to his death through an explosion in Number Four mine while in the employ of the Pleasant Valley Coal Company.

( Gomer Thomas, the State Mine Inspector, said: "I am State Minelnspector, and have held that position for two years.. I inspected the mines here on March 8, 1900. and found them in fair condition. The ventilation was good and the mine was free from gas. In my estimation the disaster was caused by a heavj' shot of giant powder or loose powder exploding. The giant powder went off, caught the dust, and exploded it, being in the end nothing but a dust explosion. I went to a place where it was claimed they had powder stowed away, and the place showed that the explosion had started there, and showed further by the action of the explosion and by the body that was found there, that it w-as burned more than the other bodies which we found. In March, at

Dr. E. B. Isyrei n, lives in Sculield and has [jracticed for two years. He knew John Hunter in his lifetime, but was not present when the body was brought out, though he examined it soon after. He saw the bod3' when taken from the car, but could not recognize it, not being positive as to which one of the Hunters it \Yas. He said suffocation by g-as may have caused the death of those examined. He noticed in treating some of the miners, who went into the mine later as rescuers, that there was a smell of a poisonous odor, '-jome seemed to have struggled before death came, as the bodies showed great bodilv violence.

J. H. Eccles, Jr., lives in Sculield and is a carpenter by trade. Uu becoming aware of the explosion he hurried to the opening of Number Four mine and ^issisled in rescuing the victims of the explosiiin. He was one of the four who carried John Hunter from the mine He recog^nized John Hunter and upon examination he found that life was not extinct, although he had the appearance of being dead.

J. M. Jamison resides at Scotield, and was at Winter Ouarters' mine at t!ie time of the explosion. He helped to carry' John Hunter from the tunnel to the barn. Found him about thirt}' feet back from the opening. Being alive, he was carried down to the Company's boarding house, wiiere a few moments later he was pronounced dead by Dr. Fisher. Later the body of John Hunter was taken down to his home in Scofield.

Hugh Hunter, a brother of the dead man, was the next witness called by the Coroner, and testified as follows: He was at Winter Quarters at half past twelve o'clock on May 1, 1900, the day of the explosion. He did not g-o to the scene of the accident, but saw the bodv of his dead brother at about six o'clock in the evening of the same daj'. In his lifetime his brother was a strong able-bodied man.

reft of all male members except two. Two brothers, John and David Hunter: one nephew. William Patterson Hunter; two brothers-in-law. Richard Stewart .and Alex Wilson. Jr. ; Robert Hunter, with his two sons James A. Hunter and James C. Hunter; one cousin. Adam Hunter, and his son. John Hunter; an uncle, Frank Strang-, and his son, Frank Strani,'-, Jr., the untimely end of whom would cause even the stroncrest hearted to shed tears of sympathy with the stricken families that are left.

As soon as the first bulletins were sent to Salt Lake, the officers were besieged Avith inquiries as to the number of dead, and asking- if certain ones, friends or relatives of the ones asking-, were numbered among- the dead. It was impossible for the Company to g-ive any answer, as the information that they had received up to that time was of a very meag-re character, as those who were sending- the bulletins were not aware of the number of the dead, no one on the outside even dreaming- that the men in Number One were overcome by the deadlj' after-damp that crept steadily towards them. /Men were found in all conditions, some seeming- to realize their position, others being- found with their tools still clutched in their nerveless g-rasp. John James, one of the County' Commissioners, was found among- the first, tightly clasped in the embrace of his son George, as though to shield him from the death that he knew was approaching. Those found in Number Four, where the force of the explosion was most felt, were more or less badly scorched, some of whom were not recognizable, while most of those in Number One, who were not caught under a fall, were all suffocated by the after-damp.

The mine, although damaged considerably, will be able to resume work as soon as all of those known to be in the mine are recovered. Great falls and caves in some of the entries will require a great amount of labor to clear up, but on the lower levels the work is mostly in replacing timbers and cleaning the dirt from the tracks, so that cars may be hauled into the deeper caves.

Mine Disaster 57

ing- in the rescue, washing the dead, looking- after the clerical p irt of the work, or in comforting the famlies of the deceased. Mr. Myers, an employee in the general offices of the Pleasant Valley Coal Company-, came to the scene of horror and in a few minutes was dressed in overalls and jumper and working among Ihe daad, assisting the undertakers in embalming, dressing those that were ready for their coffins, and in fact there was no place that he could not fill on his mission of mercy. In Salt Lake words cannot describe the scenes that took place. Ever_v one was anxious to do their part, and the school children, becoming imbued with that sympathy that welds the Anglo-Saxon races together as of one family, hastened from house to house gathering flowers from all of the gardens in the city until almost three carloads were furnished at different times. We quote from the Herald of Salt Lake, tha following: "One of the prettiest things that is being done to bring the sunshine back to the blighted homes in Scofield. was the shipping of almost a carload of flowers A'esterday to the mining camp. The consignment went down with the regular train at 2:30, and occupied the whole of the baggage compartment and were spread out on the seats two and three feet high throughout the rest of the car. There were all varieties of floral offerings. The predominating kind were lilacs and they made a beautiful sight, stacked up in the car and tied into large-sized bouquets. Then there were small bunches of pansies and violets. that looked all the more pretty* on account of the contrast with the larger flowers. Mingled with these were cut flowers from the floral establishments laid in long boxes. Everything seemed to be there that might help to cheer those who have lived out in the hills, far away fi'om the flowers and who are now experiencing the most dreadful calamity that has ever occured in the western countr3-. This gift was not the donation of any one individual or clique of men or women. It was the gift of the cit3' of Salt Lake. It was gotten up in such short time that its magnitude was most surprising. It was not until after nine o'clock yesterday morning that the idea was conceived by Mrs. E. L. Carpenter, who immediately telephoned to Superintendent Welby. The Superintendent quickly acquiesced in the proposition and made its execution possible by offering a special car for the flowers. Mrs. Carpenter, in company with Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Harkness, Mrs. Ferg-uson, and other women started to work to carry out the idea. A notice requesting all those wishing to contribute flowers was posted with the Herald bulletins, and communication was established with the public schools. The principals of most of the schools announced to their scholars what was asked of them, and long before the time for the train to leave the flowers began to come in. They were brought "by all kinds of people. Little tots came with big bunches of lilacs that almost smothered them and asked in lisping voices where they were to be taken. Aged women came with loads of floral offerings that almost bore their feeble bodies down, and with tears in their ej-es deposited them in the car and walked slowly away. Business men who could not get away from their daily round of duty did not forget the darkened homes in the mountains, and sent cut flowers from the floral establis'iments with messengers. Even up to the last moment for the tiain tj wait they kept coming and placing their offerings with the others. The train that went down was an especially large one, comprising nine coaches. Many of Salt Lake's prominent citizens were on it, willing to do all in their power to alleviate the sufferings of the afliicted. Among these were a number of women in Superintendent Welby's private car "B," who accompanied the flowers down and who were to see to their distribution and to attempt to cheer the poor widows and mothers who suffered by the disaster. In the car v/ere Mrs. E. L. Carpenter, Mrs. George Y. Wallace, Mrs. Ferguson, Mrs. Egbert Roberts, Miss Louise Nelden, Mr. W. A. Nelden, John J. Judson, and Victor Morris, the florist. The train bearing the car of flowers from Colton to Scofield was run as a special but did not succeed in getting to Scofield until evening, when it was too late for the distribution of the flowers. The Herald''s relief car, with the lilacs and cut flowers, was switched into a sidetrack near the cemetery early in the morning. The car was next to the roadway over whi;h the long train of wagons pas.sed as they bore the bodies to their last resting place. The doors of the car were thrown open, and as each wag'on came b}', it halted while Captain Barrett and his aids, Charles S^hoope and Marc Trent, buried the coffins under lilacs and handed each driver a bunch of cut flowers for the widows and children who accompanied the coffins. At the forward end of the car, the boys in charge were almost overwhelmed by requests for flowers. Work as fast as they could, the mournful little groups of women and children, in significant black, were still there awaiting- their turn for the blossoms. If the donors of the flowers and the people who helped collect them could have seen the gratitude and appreciation of Scofield they would have been repaid an hundred fold for their work. The procession of the dead passing the car seemed almost endless. From the rear vestibule, one commanded a view of the canyon and valley down which the wagons came, and the heart-breaking traged}' of the place was borne in on the distributors with each succeeding wagon until the iteration of grief became almost unbearable. One could understand w\\y these people svho have heard the sobs of the bereft and the crys of distress for cays, have reached the point where emotion makes no response in outward expression. It was as though the constant strain on the heartstrings had left them incapable of vibrating to touch either joy or sorrow. One of the first groups to pass was in a carriage. Three women in weeds, four little children in black, two men whose drawn faces and weary eyes told their own story. Next came the wagon with the inevitable coffin. On the seat with the driver was a mother and son - the man's arms around the mother, who sat limp with her eyes closed, preserving consciousness with evident effort. The little ones came in for special care and tenderness from Captain Barrett. They stood around in the car doors in groups, some of them too shy to ask for the flowers; but there was no need of words, their eyes made their own plea. As fast as he could find time during the long procession, the Captain -Svould step down from the car, lift a tot up into the car to fill their arms with lilacs and her hands with pansies, lilies and violets. Just before noon came a plea from the Finns. Their spokesman came aboard the car and said they had sixty -one dead, none of whom had a friend in the country, aside from the people of their nationality. He asked as a favor that flowers be reserved for them until their train came down the canyon. There was an abundance for all, and the man's face lighted with evident pleasure when he was assured that all the coffins would be decorated and the graves covered with flowers. The distribution alone took nearly all the time from nine o'clock in the morning until the heavy rain late in the afternoon stopped the melancholy procession. In addition to the flowers of the school children the car contained innumerable boxes from other sources. Several were from the ladies of Sugar and Forest Dale. The Bamberger Coal Compan3', with usual thoughtf ulness all through the disaster, sent a contribution of cut flowers. One contribution bore this message: 'With deep sympathy from Mrs. Annie Trap, who had a dear brother killed in South Wales (Auburn colliery disaster in June, 1894,) to some distressed widow, mother or sister.' Mrs. Trap's flowers were given to the first widow that came to the car."

The Salt Lake Tribune^ of the same date, stated as follows: "There is a deal more of sympathy and kindness in the souls of the every-day men and woinen of the world than the}' are ordinarily given credit for, and this crops out at times in a most convincing manner. And yesterday was one of the times. The Tribune made the suggestion that it would be a gentle courtesy to send a carload of flowers to deck the graves of the scores of men who met death in the awful explosion at Scofield. The suggestion met with a responsive throb from the hearts of hundreds of Salt Lake's citizens, and a few prominent women immediately set about to carry out the idea. Mrs. E. L. Carpenter was the first to move in the matter, and early communicated with Mr. Welby, General Superintendent of the Rio Grande Western, who graciously placed his private car 'B,' and a new combination coach and baggage car No. 98, at the disposal of the ladies. Then Mrs. Carpenter communicated with some of her friends, and in an hour a dozen or more were going from house to house, from neighbor to neighbor, asking for donations to this offering of love and symynsE r->isAsri-:R. m pathy to be senttu the ,i;-rief-stricke!i families. Neldcii i'^ Jiidson's two delivery wag'ons were also placed at the disposal of the ladies, and these went from house to house and collected flowers. Considering' the time and the number engag'ed in the work, the showing- was a marvelous one. Only one school in the City, the Wasatch, contributed as a school, and the pupils of this school in an hour g-athered a full wag-on load of flowers and sent them to the depot. It was noised about among- the children of some other schools, however, that a car was to be sent down, and here and there a little one was to be seen trudging- his way to the depot, the little hands bearing a spraj' of lilacs, a few geraniums, a little cluster of pansies or some other blossoms - showing that the heart of the child had been touched and he was doing what he could to alleviate the mig-hty g-rief which wrings the heart of the stricken ones at Scofield. Before the train pulled out a dozen or two crowded around the bagg-ag-e car, unwilling^ to deposit the offering's on the trucks, which were already filled, but anxious to hand them into the car. where they knew there would be no chance of their being left behind.

"The interior of the car carrying^ the flowers was beautiful to behold, tilled as it was with lilacs and other g-arden flowers. Nor were g-arden flowers the only ones to be seen, for many a woman robbed her plants of their rarest blossoms to send with the rest; there were roses, carnations, easter lillies, pansies, g-eraniums, asparag-us ferns, tulips, flowering almond, fruit blossoms, in short every kind of flower that was to be had from g-arden or g-reenhouse. All of the prominent florists in the city gave choice flowers, and Mr Victor Morris, of the Morris Floral Company, not only gave generously but offered his services and went with the car of flowers to Scofield, where he remain until all are distributed. The flowers, the silent messengers of love and sympathy, will surely be most welcome among Ihe grief-stricken families of the little mining town, and many a heartfelt blessing will be pronounced for the noble men and women who were the means of sending them there."

this first contribution of flowers there was a f;-eneral feelinj^ of regret that they were not among the number to contribute to so noble a cause. So the school children were asked to bring their flowers to their respective schools promptly at twelve oclock, as it would take some time to convey the flowers to the depot and arrange them in the car. The suggestion was also made that each school furnish a tub, properly tagged, that it may be returned to its owner, in which may be placed the fl<jwers nicely moistened. The flowers sent today will be used in the decoration of the graves of the men who will be buried tomorrow. When the children's offerings were received at Scofield, the donors would have considered themselves well paid had they seen the pleasure with which the delicate attentions were received by the people of this coal camp. The occupants of the floral car worked every minute from the time they left Salt Lake until they arrived at Scofield, tying the flowers into bouquets. At Provo the committee was joined by Mrs. Jesse Knight and Mrs. McLain, who also added to the floral tributes. Outside of the great quantity of lilacs there there were hundreds of choicer flowers such as roses, carnations, lillies of the valley, besides many other varieties, which had been ordered from Salt L<ake, Provo and Springville by friends or relatives of the deceased. One box was marked "Barney Dougal" from his mother. Another bore this pathetic sentiment, "From Barney Dougal's mother to some heart-broken widow and mother - with the deepest sympathy."

It was a simple token, but it caused the tears to rise to the eyes of those who read the inscription on the white card and which had been written by a trembling hand. On the train were Chief of Police Hilton, Sergeant Burbidge, and Detective Sheets, and each were pressed into service in making bouquets. At Ivehi there was a large consignment of flowers, but they were left behind as that station is not one of the regular stopping places for through trains. Had longer notice been given the floral contributions would have been much larger. At every station along the line great crowds were gathered to watch the train as it passed through.

Oil Maj- 4th, those who were present at the Rio Grande Western Railroad depot when the special arrived carrying the dead victims of the awful mining disaster, were able to realize a tithe of the suffering- and anguish which the fearful calamity had entailed, there was hardly a dry eye among the crowd of over five hundred people that had gathered upon the platform to witness the arrival of one of the saddest trains that was ever pulled into Salt Lake when engine No. 128 steamed into the depot with a train of five cars from the scene of the disaster. Even the bell on the locomotive seemed to give forth a muffled sound, and a hush fell upon those assembled as they caught sight of the baggage car which was draped with black and white streamers. As every car passed slowly' in review, the pale, tear-stained faces of the passengers caused a murmur of unconstrained sympathy to pass over the crowd. There were little children there to, who were too young to sense the pitifulness of their loss and to whom a ride <>n the cars was a novelty. From one car rang out an infantile laugh as the bright eyed little orphan gazed upon the scene, not realizing the extent uf his bereavement. A hardy workman, standing near the express otfice, at the sound furtively wiped his eyes with the back of his grimy hand and then turned his face away and vainly tried to hide his emotion, while overhead the stars and stripts were waving at half-mast, over the scene. When the cars came to a standstill, the sliding doors of the baggage car were thrown back and a glimpse of tier upon tier of oblong cases were disclosed to view. Stacked one upon another were the plain outer cases containing the bodies of the bread-winners who had met such fearful death, while engaged in their daily avocations. Each coffin was covered with the novir withered flowers that had been sent by loving hands the day before from Salt Lake, while upon the ends were tacked the yellow paper which gave the names of the dead and the signed "Physicians and Undertakers Certificate of Death." Tenderly the caskets were removed one by one to the undertaker's vehicles and a furniture van, which had been chartered for the occasion, until there were in all eight bodies removed. First in order came the Wilson boys - Willie, James and

Alexander. Then followed the bodies of the three Italians, Nicola Anselmo, Joseph Mayo, and G. B\inari - who were brought to the city at the request of their friends. The body of Chris Johnson was the last to be brought out. He leaves in the city of Salt Ivake a wife and little son to mourn his loss. The train stayed only a few minutes longer and then proceeded north on its way, with the burden of twenty-one victims and about one hundred friends and relatives. Prior to the departing, however, the floral offerings on the coffins were replenished to the extent of two large wagon loads of flowers, the gifts of the school children of Salt Lake. Among those that accompanied the train on its sad journey was J. A. Lambert of Ogden, who is a member of the Hunter family, which has lost ten of its members in the awful accident. In the course of a brief conversation he said: "There are nine of our family on this train who met their death in the mine; the other still lies under the debris down there. My God it is awful. No tongue or pen can describe the horror of the s'tuation down there. I have been through the entire war of the rebellion, but I can tell you it was nothing to what it is down in Scofield, from the fact that the women were not present on the battle-field. Whole families are wiped out and the women do nothing but shriek and wring their hands day and night. There are pitiful sights and cases there that would stir the hearts of the most callous. Take one instance - that of Mrs. Williams, who came from Tennessee with her husband and a family of seven children a few days before the explosion. Her husband went to work in the mine and the next day met his death there."

S. R. Rickets, the assistant to undertaker S. D. Evans, told the same story after he had alighted from the train. He said were it not for the bounty of the people of the State of Utah, that there would be a famine staring them in the face, for the women to the last were not in a condition to do any household work. "The people of Scofield," he said, "entertained nothing but the kindest of feelings towards the Coal Co."

of Dan Williams, of Vermillion, and William Nelson, of Elsinore, were transferred to the Sanpete branch train. At Thistle there was a scarcit)- of food at the lunch counter and many had to go on the train with nothing- to eat. On arriving- at Springville the train was met by a big- crowd of citizens who donated armfuls of flowers to strew over the coffins. At this place the following bodies were removed from the car: Morgan Miller, William Miller, John Miller, John T. Davis, John O. Davis, George O. Davis, also the bodies of Daniel Pitman, John Pitman Jr., Evan Evans. Lewis Lej'shon, and W. K. Douglas of Spanish Fork. Prove was made bj' 4-+0 where the remains of William Parmley, Thomas Gatherum, James and William Gatherum. D. D. Evans, George Eangstaff were escorted up town by a great concourse of people. The next stop was made at American Fork, where the bodies of Samuel and David Padfield were left with their relatives. Lehi was the only town along the whole route that had no one there to assist in taking care of the body of John Kirtoii, but this can be accounted for from the fact that the deceased had not lived there for so long a time that he had passed from memory.

Salt Lake was reached at 6:30 where a stop of fifteen minutes was made, while the eight caskets were being placed in the undertaker's wagons. When the train proceeded on its way it bore the remaining twenty-one bodies, as follows: For Ogden. John Hunter, David, William, Adam and son, John, Robert, and James A. Hunter: also Frank Strang Sr. and Frank Strang Jr. For Coalville, Charles Edwards, Samuel Livsy, Richard Dixon, David Illmgsworth, William Clark, Jr. William Ullathorne, John and George James, George, William and Walter Clark. The committee which left Scofield to assist in the distribution of the bodies en-route consisted of James W. Dillej', William Hirst, Pat, Sam and Ed. Wycherly, William Stones, George Crompton and James Walker. In addition to the bodies sent north on the special, the regular train that left Scofield a few moments before the special carried the bodies of Harrison A. Miller, Isaac Miller and V. R. Miller for Helper, Robert Wilstead, William Willrtead, Robert Farrish, Thomas Farrish, W.T. Evans and a man named Franklin.

When the special arrived at Oifden there were pathetic scenes at the Union Depot when the horror of the Scofield accident was brought directly home to the people of Og-den. The funeral train bearing- twenty-one bodies arrived at eight o'clock. There were large numbers of the dead miners relatives and friends in the passenger coaches. They were the fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters who had gone to Scofield at the first news of the disaster and they were bringing home their dead. On the depot platform were the remaining friends and relatives and when they met these on the train all seemed to lose control and there were enough pathetic incidents to fill a book. John Scowcroft and Sons had been telegraphed and asked to prepare a lunch for the people on the train, and when they arrived there, arrangements had been made at the restaurant to give every one their supper. Those who were not able to leave the coaches were provided for and a large box of sandwiches and hot cofi^ee was served to them on the train. Eleven of the bodies for Coalville were transferred here to a baggage car on the regular train of the Union Pacific, that had been held for the transfer.

The ten that were left at Ogden were taken in charge by the three undertakers of the city, and conveyed to L/indquist's. These were buried the next day from the tabernacle. President L. W. Shurtliff conducted the funeral services over the ten bodies. The three leading undertakers of Ogden with all their employees assisted at the funeral of the ten brothers of the Hunter family relatives. Mr. Lindquist had general charge, Mr. Larkin attended to the seating of the relatives and other mourners. Mr. Richey, with one set of pall bearers, took the bodies from the conveyances to the door, where Mr. I^inquist, marshalling" another set, took the caskets inside and placed them in their station. The caskets contained Adam Hunter, John Hunter, Robert Hunter, James A. Hunter, William Hunter, David Hunter, John Hunter, F. Strang, F. F. Stang, and and Richard Stewart.

The Rio Grande Western special train bearing the Provo victims of the Scofield disaster arrived at about 5 p. m. An hour or more before the train arrived hundreds of people began to yather at the depot, and when the special came in there were fully 1,000 anxious people on the platform. The Garden city was in deep mourning that afternoon. All business was suspended and an immense crowd of people attended the funeral of William Parmley, D. D. Evans, George Iv. Langstaff, and the three Gatherum brothers, Thomas, James, and "William, all victims of the terrible disaster at Scofield. A great crowd was gathered at the depot when the funeral train arrived, and sadness has deepened in the city since then, as preparations for the funeral were made. Scores of school children were busy all forenoon bringing flowers to the stake tabernacle, where the funeral services were held. The edifice was suitably decorated in white, with flowers everywhere. Young ladies of the fourth ward did the decorating. Although William Parmley and D. D. Evans were members of fraternal societies, it was desired to hold the services together and President Partridge, of the stake presidency, took charge. The building was crowded to its fullest capacity at 2 o'clock, when the services were commenced. The tabernacle choir furnished the singing. The opening prayer was ofl"ered by Patriarch C. D. Evans; the speakers were: Judge J. E. Booth, Professors George H. Brimhall and J. B. Walton, Mayor T. N. Taylor, Bishop J. B. Keeler, and President Partridge. The cortege was one of the longest ever witnessed in the city. Six light vehicles had been suitably draped all alike in mull, with black bows and garlands of flowers. The pall bearers wore bows alike, the order regalia being dispensed with in order that no distinction might be manifest. The bishops of the four wards of Provo led the cortege, and following the bodies came the mourners, city officials and the general public.

oalville's eleven dead were brought from Scofield on ;i special train, which reached here at eleven oclock last ni<,'ht. The bodies were carried to the Stake Tabernacle. Forty-three of the relatives accompanied the dead. Salt Lake people contributed a carload of flowers. Undertaker T. L. Allen met the train at Salt Lake and took charg-e of the bodies. The funeral was held today, the Stake Tabernacle b< ing- decorated with flowers and appropriately draped. There was a large attendance of people from adjoining towns of Wyoming. The Tabernacle was filled to overflowing. The Stake choir did the singing, while Mrs. J R. Smith sang in a touching manner: "O, My Father." The eleven coffins were placed in front of the stand and covered with floral tributes. B. H. Roberts delivered the funeral sermon and paid a tribute to the bravery of the deceased. The resurrection, etc., were topics of the brief remarks by President Clufi^ and Eldredge. These are the names, ages, etc., of the deceased: John James, born in Staffordshire, Enj;- land, age 41, leaves a wife and six children; Georg-e J. James, son of John James, age 19; William Ullathorne born in Durham, England, age 42, leaves a wife but no children; Charles Edwards, a native of England, age 44, leaves no children; David lUingworth, born in Yorkshire, England, age 48, leaves a wife and three children. Three brothers, as follows: Walter Clark, killed while trying to rescue his brothers, born in Utah, age 24, leaves a wife and one child; William Clark, born in Utah, age 26; George Clark, born in Utah, age 16; Richard Dixon, born in Durham, England, age 27, leaves a wife and one child; Samuel Livsey. born in Lancashire, England, ag'e 22.

Salt Lake Funeral Ceremonies

The overmastering g'^rief that has hung over ill-fated Scofield for nearly a week, was extended into a few Salt Eake homes, and yesterday the victims were buried, amidst the most solemn ceremonies.

The commodious Sixteenth ward hall was tilled to overflowing by those who had come to sorrow with the afflicted, and express their heartfelt sympathy for the bereaved. The obsequies were over the remains of the Wilson boys: Willie, James and Alexander. The young men were members of the Twenty-fourth ward, but Bishop Ashton, realizing that his meeting house was much too small, secured the more capacious building, but it was not adequate to accommodate the congregation. The room was draped in white, and a wealth of potted plants and cut flowers literally covered the pulpit and the three caskets. The services were conducted by Bishop Edward T. Ashton, and there were on the stand: President Angus M. Cannon, his counselor, Charles W. Penrose, Bishop George R. Emery, and counselor of the Sixteenth ward, W. J. Newman, E. F. Parry, Elder John Nicholson, and the pall bearers. The speakers were President Angus M. Cannon, Elders C. W. Penrose and John Nicholson. Elder John Nicholson, the concluding speaker, delivered a most excellent discourse, his words and sentiments striking responsive chords in the hearts of his hearers. He was a personal friend to the family.

and had crossed the jcean with William Wilson twenty years ago. and he knew him to be a kind and <i^enerous younr; man, whose hands were extended to the needy. After further eulogizing' the young men and testifying- to the worth of the family', he spoke on the subject of sympath3', characterizing it as the grandest of all qualities; that the man who has no sj-mpathy has no power, that he is wrapped up in himself and is a centre without a circumference. The services were closed hy the choir singing, "O, My Father," and Elder W. J. Newman pronounced the closing prayer. The flower laden coffins were borne to the hearses hy the following pall bearers: A. W. Chiverall, R. E. Currie, Thomas Marnane, Hyrum Myers, F. D. R. Gray, J. W. Sugden, for the local I. O. O.

F. lodge; A. Wilson, J. and James Barrell. Charles Dalton, Otto Kurt and R. Norman; J. H. James, E. Fletcher, J. H. Selley, Stephen Ried, Andrew Benson and James Davis, the sextettes bearing respectively the remains of Alexander, James and Willie Wilson.

"With the mating- birds in the cemetery siug^ing- a requiem amid the scent of freshly turned sod and spring flowers, the J03- ous sun shining over that pitiful knot of mourners, the Salt Lake victims of the Scofield disaster were laid away in their last resting place j-esterday. There were three funerals and eight burials. The new and spacious meeting house, Sixteenth ward, was yesterday noon tilled to its utmost capacity- by people of all classes, who had gathered to pay their last tributes of respect to the memory of the three Wilson boys - Willie, James and Alexander, who lost their lives in the disastrous explosion at Scolield, a week ago. It was a representative assembly that thronged the aisles and spread out into the street, unable to g^ain admittance to the commodious structure. The congregation represented almost every walk of life, from the successful business man to the horny- handed miner, with his face all pitted with powder burns. The dead miners were members of the Twenty-fourth ward. But owinj^ to the fact that that meetinj^ house was deemed too small to accommodate those who would assemble. Bishop Edward T. Ashton made arrangements to have the services in the larf:;-e building^. The Sixteenth ward meeting- house was draped in white for the occssion, while pot plants and banks of cut flowers diifused their fragrance through the structure By the time the three hearses arrived with their sad burdens the house was filled to its capacity, and Arthur Parsons at the organ was softly straying his fingers over the ke^'s among thf minor chords. By the time that the relatives of the three departed young men had taken their seats in the space reserved for them, the pulpit was occupied by President Angus M. Cannon, his counselor. Charles W. Penrose, Bishop George R. Emery, of the Sixteenth ward, his counselors, W. J. Newman and E. F. Parry, Elder John Nicholson, and various pall bearers, and Bishop Edward T. Ashton, who presided at the services. The ceremonies opened by the choir, under ihe leadership of George W. Timpson, rendering the hymn, 'Though Deep in Trials,' after which Bishop Emery offered up a supplication to tlie Almighty on behalf of the svidows and orphans who were called upon to mourn throughout the land. After the choir had sung the affecting hymn, 'Thou Dost Not Weep to Weep Alone,' President Angus M. Cannon arose to address the congregation. In his opening sentences, while referring to the calamity which had spread over Utah, the speaker's voice was choked with emotion, and there was hardly a dry eye in the building. Continuing, he bade those bereaved to be of good cheer. He said that at the present time the prayers of the united people on Fast day were being off^ered on behalf of those bowed down with grief, and proceeded to comfort the afflicted. After paying a tribute to the departed, whom he said he knew and was associated with in days gone by, the speaker went on to dwell upon the subject oi the resurrection, concluding his discourse with the blessings "God comfort you, my si-ster, and these relatives of the sterling boys who lie before us.'" Elder C. W. Penrose was the next speaker. He prefaced his remarks by saying: "In the presence of this g-reat calamity, I feel that words utterly fail to express the sympath3' that goes out to those who are at the present time suffering. While we cannot of course sense the sorrow of those afflicted, we feel that they are our brethren." Elder Penrose then proceeded to deal with the difficulty experienced by some under the conditions to reconcile these calamities which occur from time to time which is the eternal love and justice of God. Under these conditions, he said, there was a disposition to murmur and rebel in their hearts. The speaker held that there was virtually no such thing as death, as the ordinary world understood it; that what the world usually termed death is merely the changing of the being in the twinkling of an eye. He then proceeded to dwell at length upon the doctrine of the resurrection as taught by the Latter-day Saints . He exhorted his hearers not to blame God, for were it not tor such occasions there would not be any opportunity for the exhibition of sympathy, love and charity which at the present time drew all men together. Elder John Nicholson was the last speaker. After a preliminary reference to the occasion of the sad gathering, he stated that he. in conjunction with the other speakers had been requested to occup3' the time by the members of the family, from the fact that personally he was acquainted with the deceased miners, and had crossed the Atlantic with William Wilson twenty j'ears ago. Elder Nicholson said that he had occasion to remember the young man from the fact that he had always exhibited a willingness to assist those who were in trouble or were stricken in 3'ears. After dwelling on the good qualities of the Wilson boys, he referred to the international sympathy which had been extended to Utah in her day of mourning. Continuing, he said: "Sympathy is the grandest of the qualities. Without it there is no power, for an unsympathetic man is wrapped up in himself and is a center without a circumference."