1885 Mine Explosion

It is reported that in 1885 there was an explosion in Mine No. 1 of the King mines that killed a number of Chinese miners. The death toll clocked in at thirty-five persons, the bodies of which were reportedly abandoned in the mine rather than removed for burial and/or returned to their friends and families.[1] Interestingly, while four scholars mention this explosion, there is no available source material by which to verify the event. The original report is meant to be found in volume five of a History of Coal Mines in Colorado, which at one point was held at the Colorado State Coal Mine Inspector's Office. This book remains unlocatable, despite best efforts. In addition, interviews of South Park residents corroboraing the report were conducted by author Gerald Rudolph. He specifically names Tom Allen, who was the director of the Colorado Coal Mine Inspector's office in 1963.[2]

King_Mine_Plan_Beige_small.jpg
Map of Como Mine No. 5: "The dashed outline of the No. 1 Mine is indicated on the upper right side of the map." Used in presentation by Dr. J.G. Minke at the South Park Symposium III in Fairplay, CO.

It is a true mystery as to why there is barely any record of the 1885 explosion. A cover-up, to hide the fact that the bodies were not retrieved, does not seem sustainable given that Chinese miners with membership in Huiguan regional associations were assured of having their remains returned to China upon their deaths. By covering up news of the explosion, the mining company would risk conflict with the Huiguans, as they would be sure to notice if thirty-five members suddenly went missing. Perhaps the Rock Springs Massacre, which also took place in 1885, overshadowed the story of the explosion; but as there is no record of what time of year the explosion happened, there is no way to verify whether it coincided with the Rock Springs Massacre. Perhaps the mining company didn't see the explosion as significant enough to report on; perhaps they did report it and the newspapers didn't see it as significant enough to write about. While we don't know what kinds of stories the newspapers may have omitted, there seems to be consistent reporting on most events relating to Chinese residents of South Park, including deaths in the mines.

Regardless of why there aren't many sources that reference the explosion, and regardless of whether or not it happened at all, Chinese miners were present in the King mines until at least 1888. In addition to the 1885 explosion, there are two documented instances of Chinese workers in the King mines. In November of 1883, Fe Ling was "slightly bruised" by coal falling on him,[3] a lucky escape given that in March of 1888 Ah Wah was killed under the same circumstances.[4]

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[1] Gerald E. Rudolph, “The Chinese in Colorado, 1869-1911” (dissertation, 1964), 73-74.

[2] Rudolph, 73-74.

[3] John McNeil, First Annual Report of the State Inspector of Coal Mines to the Governor of the State of Colorado, for the Year Ending July 31, 1884, (Denver, CO: Collier & Cleaveland Lith. Co., 1885), 32, https://spl.cde.state.co.us/artemis/nrserials/nr930010internet/nr9300101884internet.pdf.

[4] John McNeil, Third Biennial Report of the State Inspector of Coal Mines of the State of Colorado for the Years of 1887-1888, (Denver, CO: The Collier & Cleaveland Lith. Co., 1889), 16, https://spl.cde.state.co.us/artemis/nrserials/nr930010internet/nr930010188788internet.pdf.