Memorial to the men who are entombed in the coal mine on the Colorado School of Mines Campus

On September 9, 1889, ten coal miners drowned in the White Ash Mine. Their remains are still entombed in the mine on the Colorado School of Mines campus.

White Ash Mine statute on the Colorado School of MinesPhoto byGenerations Found YouTube

The White Ash Mine opened August 21, 1877. At the time It was one of Colorado’s largest coal mines. It was named for the white ash left when its coal burned.

The White Ash Mine was one of the biggest employers in the area. Its coal was considered to be the best and hottest burning coal you could find.

Its mine shafts were dug to depths over 700-feet. The tunnels spread out hundreds of feet. This made the mine the deepest and most extensive mine in the region. Miners removed over 100 tons of coal per day. In today’s dollars, that amount of coals would equal $75,000 to $90,000 per day. That was a lot of money in the late 1800’s.

Have you ever heard this story? Let us know in the comments.

The Disaster

Adjacent to the White Ash Mine was the Loveland Mine. The Loveland Mine had been shut down in 1881 following a fire. The fire had damaged a 90-foot pillar that acted as a barrier between the two mines. After the fire, water from nearby Clear Creek had been seeping into the Loveland Mine. This is the same creek that is pictured on a Coors beer label. After eight years of deterioration, water and fire damage, the pillar broke. On September 9, 1889, this released gallons of water into the working White Ash Mine.

Miners of White Ash MinePhoto byGolden History Museum per Plaque at Colorado School of Mines

water from the adjacent Loveland mine broke through the wall of the two mines. It quickly flooded the White Ash Mine and under hundreds of feet of water, ten miners drowned.

The 10 men were working in the lowest level of the mine at a depth of about 730 ft (220 m). They tried to send the cage down the shaft, but it didn't reach the bottom. None of their signals from the surface were answered. When they raised the cage, it got stuck. The Foreman Evan Jones climbed down a ladder to 280 feet. He soon realized the mine was flooded.

The Foreman Even Jones again attempted to enter the mine. But he detected gas had entered the mine. Air was pumped into the mine throughout the night. By morning the men were presumed died. The ten men’s remains are still entombed in the water filled mine.

White Ash Mine Disaster Memorial on the Colorado School of Mines. The mine opening was just behind the memorial.Photo byGenerations Found YouTube

Thousands of locals helped the victims’ families emotionally and financially. Millionaire Horace Tabor donated half the proceeds from a performance at the Tabor Grand Opera House. The Odd Fellows helped the families of their members. A community memorial service was held at the Golden Opera House and an offering was given to the victim’s families.

The mine and its opening are on the Colorado School of Mines campus. You can visit the abandoned opening and the memorial across from the campus’ football field. You will now find the disaster commemorated by a bronze statue and an information plaque. Citizens and civic organizations raised money for the memorial statue, which replaced a small memorial plaque that had been dedicated in 1936 by Golden Mayor Albert Jones, son of Foreman Evan Jones (see more below). Colorado School of Mines donated the land for the new memorial, which was dedicated on October 29, 2016.

The memorial is dedicated to the memory of:

• Joseph Allen
• William Bowden
• William Collins
• John Collins
• Henry Huesman
• David Lloyd
• Joseph Hutter
• John Morgan
• John Murphy
• Rich Rowe

The hero Forman Evan Jones is now buried in Golden, Colorado. He lived into his 80’s and his headstone has a handful of gravel incased in the headstone. I wish I knew what mine that was from.

Evan Jones headstone in Golden CemeteryPhoto byFind-a-Grave.com

Evan Jones’ son, Albert Edward “Bronco” Jones went on to become Mayor of Golden, Colorado. Along with the accomplishment as a Major league baseball player (1898-1901). Albert was a pitcher for the Cleveland Spiders, St. Louis Perfectos, and the St. Louis Cardinals. As mayor, he erected a small memorial plaque in 1936 at the site.

Do you think they should recover the remains? Let us know in the comments.

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References

Colorado Virtual Library

1889 Report

Wikipedia

Find-a-Grave: Evan Jones

Find-a-Grave: Albert Edward Jones