The Center for Oral and Public
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Colorado Coal Mining Project
BARAJAS, Silveria (ca. 1903— ) Early life in Michoacan, Mexico; trip to the United States following the death of her parents; her marriage in Montana, and experiences living in coal mining camps of Colorado.
BAZANELLI, Victor (1891—
) Immigrant from northern Italy describes the
family’s departure from southern Europe because father was unemployed, and
their arrival in the United States in 1906; poverty and living conditions
in the company town of Ludlow, Colorado; working conditions in the coal
mines, where he started at fourteen years of age; union organizing
activities, and “Mother Jones,” a madam, who assisted the miners and
encouraged them to organize; different mines, miners, and supervisors
experiences during the miners’ strike of 1913; attack by the militia and
hired gunmen on the tent colonies of the miners and their families
resulting in massacre in 1914; activities of the IWW, the Industrial
Workers of the World in the 1920s. BAZANELLI, Victor (1891—
) A north Italian immigrant who came to the
United States in January 1906, describes the makeup of the coal mining
areas of Ludlow and Trinidad, Colorado; the company town of Trinidad;
working conditions in the mine areas including discrimination, explosions,
union activity, and lack of safety; the Ludlow massacre, militia, and
burial of the dead; activities of the Ku— Klux Klan; ethnic clubs and
organizations of the miners; and prostitution.
Italian immigrant who began working in coal
mines at the age of eighteen recalls his responsibilities as night foreman
and later fire boss; his survival from two explosions at a coal mine in
Hastings, Colorado; other aspects of the mining industry including working
conditions, safety features, unions, and strikes. BESHOAR, Barron (ca. 1890—
) Author of Out of the Depths and
personal acquaintance of union organizer John Lawson describes in detail
Lawson’s appearance, habits, personality, political views, his strategies
while working on behalf of coal miners during the 1913—1914 strike, and
his association with and expulsion from the United Mine Workers. Comments
on other union activists including Ed Doyle, Frank Harris, “Mother Jones,”
and the reactions against strikers based on feelings of racial
discrimination. BISULCO, Nick (ca. 1902—
) Italian immigrant and resident of Aguilar,
Colorado describes the life—style of the town, its entertainment,
educational facilities, and the local government; explains the credit,
shipping, and supply systems of the company store of Victor American
Mining Company where he became manager; gives some background and
eyewitness accounts of the 1914 coal miners’ strike including many
vignettes of personalities in the mining towns of Aguilar and Ludlow,
Colorado.
Daughter of a dairyman in Ludlow, Colorado
recalls selling milk to coal miners in Hastings, and Delauga, Colorado;
seeing, in Cedar Hills, Colorado the body of Louis Tikas displayed during
the strike of 1913; activities of the militia and regular army at that
time. Narrator’s daughter, Mrs. Elsie Hamm, is present during the
interview. COBO, Vicente (1900—
) Discusses immigration to the United States from Spain via Cuba in 1918, coal mining experiences in Colorado, strikes, question of discrimination in the mining camps, [Great] Depression, bootlegging, and the Ku—Klux Klan.
GIANNETTO, Antonio (1893—
) Retired Italian immigrant discusses prohibition, his bootlegging activities, and the “Mano Nera” gang; experiences as a miner during World War II including difficult conditions in the Colorado mines.
GORMAN, Lois Dam (1905—
) Daughter of a Colorado Fuel and Iron Company official briefly relates the fear of murder and kidnapping felt by her family in Trinidad, Colorado during the 1914 strike, miners’ problems, management’s lack of concern, and conduct of militia toward strikers.
GUERRIERO, Michele (1888—
) A coal miner for forty—seven years describes his migration from southern Italy in 1905; wages and working conditions in the Colorado coal mines before the 1913 strike; results of the militia attack on the tent colony in Ludlow, Colorado; effects of the [Great] Depression on the coal mining industry; being blacklisted; bootlegging activities in Aguilar, Colorado during prohibition.
LEKIC, John (1893—
) Austrian immigrant and miner of forty—three years who lived in the Ludlow, Colorado tent colony gives an eyewitness account of the 1914 massacre; discusses causes for the strike, scab miners, and working conditions in the mines at that time with modern mines.
LOPEZ, Aladino (1895—
) Miner and native of Aguilar, Colorado recalls his thirty—eight years as a coal miner; union rules, wages, and pensions; United Mine Workers; Ludlow massacre of 1914; and the Ku—Klux Klan.
LOUKS, Howard (1910—
) Son of a Nebraska homesteader who became a labor union organizer in the state of Colorado discusses the effects of the Depression on the economy of the small towns of Colorado, the Works Progress Administration, the cutthroat competition among the coal mine owners, the militant union activity and dangers of organizing in the 1930s including personal experiences as a union organizer.
MENDINE, Martin (n.d.) The manager of the company store of Colorado Fuel and Iron Company briefly explains pricing and credit systems, and the locations of outlets for the Colorado Supply Company.
MONTOYA, Alfred (1903— ) An employee of Colorado Fuel and Iron Company who worked forty—three years without having any lost time or accidents, discusses safety precautions taken at various mines in the 1920s and 1930s; union organization in 1933; and living conditions in a company town.
PANTAZES, Pete (1894—
) Discussion of relations between coal miners and company management, and a comparison of the Industrial Workers of the World versus the United Mine Workers of America.
RICCATONE, Paul (1912—
) A coal miner since 1935, raised in the mining camps in Verwin Canyon, Colorado describes housing, recreation, and schools in the camps; his parents’ efforts to make a living; the coal strike of 1925; personal experience in coal mines including wages, working conditions, and union operations.
SACCOMANO, August (1893—
) Italian immigrant from Grimaldi in the province of Cosenza in southern Italy who came to United States in 1910 to find work in the coal mines discusses living and working conditions in the Colorado coal mines, the "sciopero", or the strike, and the Ludlow massacre in which he was injured.
SEBASTIAN, Francis L. (1889—
) Priest at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Trinidad, Colorado gives a brief description of the area and the makeup of the population, effects of the mine closures on the economy, and some activities of the church.
VIGIL, Encannacion (1870—
) A century old longtime resident of Trujillo Creek, Colorado recalls the move from Huerfano, Colorado; living conditions in the area; confrontation with hostile Indians; her marriage, and ranch life in those days.
VIGIL, Fernando F. (1891—
) A longtime rancher and company store operator of Trujillo Creek, Colorado recalls school days and justice of the peace experiences, the Ludlow massacre of 1914, moonshining during prohibition days, and the Ku—Klux Klan.
VIJIL, Sunforosa P. (1897—
) A native of Aveyton, Colorado describes early childhood experiences; the decision for her to marry and her ten—day honeymoon harvesting wheat; homesteading; making wooden, prop beams for the coal mines; the area’s Los Penitentes religious movement, and the status of the local Catholic church.
ZAMORA, Ross (1905—
) Miner, born and raised in a coal mining camp near Trinidad, Colorado, explains mining methods used in Colorado and Wyoming; 1924 explosion at Willow Creek mine in Colorado; Ludlow massacre; hardships of the Depression era; pay scales; and living conditions in a company owned area. |
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