Takes over its new properties: Pacific Coast Co. assumes active control of Black Diamond mines

Originally published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 15, 1904

The Pacific Coast Company yesterday morning assumed active control over the coal mines at Black Diamond, a confirmation of which company’s purchase of the property from the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company was contained in a telegram to the Post-Intelligencer from San Francisco yesterday. Though the exact purchase price is not known, it is certain that the new owners of the mines paid in the neighborhood of $1,000,000 for the property.

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Black Diamond mine purchased

Originally published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 14, 1904

Pacific Coast Company pays more than $1,000,000 for property

SAN FRANCISCO, May 13.—(Special.)—Papers will be signed tomorrow transferring to the Pacific Coast Company the entire property and interests of the Black Diamond Coal Company, the owner of important coal mining interests in Washington. The purchase price is considerably over $1,000,000, but the exact terms are not made public.

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Coal miners take governor to task

Originally published in The Seattle Daily Times, May 13, 1914

Black Diamond and Cumberland local unions register protests against removal of John H. Wallace

Consider executive’s action unwarranted; assert deposed industrial insurance commissioner performed duties well and protected workingmen

By C.D. Stratton

Asserting that an injustice was done John H. Wallace when he was removed from office as a member of the state industrial insurance commission, the mine workers of Black Diamond, where Wallace once dug coal, today forwarded to Gov. Ernest Lister a letter registering their indignant protest against the executive’s action in requesting the resignation of their friend and former fellow workman. The letter was drafted by a committee of three appointed by Black Diamond Local No. 2257 or the United Mine Workers of America. The local is one of the largest in the state.

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Shots fly in rum raid

Originally published in The Seattle Daily Times, May 14, 1924

Woman and men caught; big booze stock found

Fifth suspect eludes federal officers after five-mile chase in automobile

Four persons, one of them a woman, were held in the United States immigration detention station and city jail on charges of violating the prohibition act as a result of the activities of federal agents and special detail police officers, yesterday and late last night. A fifth suspect made his escape from the federal agents after a five-mile chase in which several shots were fired at his fleeing automobile.

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Raymer’s Retreat adds new café to popular park

Originally published in The Seattle Daily Times, May 12, 1937

The new tavern café at Raymer’s Retreat Park, located east of Ravensdale, is now open. It is but one of the many new features at this popular outing park. The beautiful rock and terrace gardens are in full bloom and the cottages have been renovized and made ready for the season.

In addition to being an ideal spot for a rest, Raymer’s Retreat affords ideal boating, bathing, and water sports. A splendidly equipped picnic and playgrounds have community kitchens. Then, too, the large dining hall accommodates a crowd and there are a dozen other advantages to make it a popular choice to at least investigate. Investigation will make you stay.

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The mines left, but Frank stayed

By Lou Corsaletti
Times Suburban Reporter

Frank Grens at home with his dog, Tom — Staff photos by Kathy Andrisevic

BLACK DIAMOND—A faded, mahogany-stained crutch hanging on a wall in Frank Grens’ home is mute testimony to 27 years of work in the coal mines.

He’s been using it off and on ever since suffering a back injury December 6, 1941—“the day before Pearl Harbor”—when a roof beam in a mine tunnel near here slid and pinned him.

Grens said he was intent on quitting the mines then. But he stayed on until after the war. And he hasn’t been far from the area since.

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Phenomena of Flaming Geyser bewilders many

Originally published in The Seattle Daily Times, May 5, 1937

Flaming Geyser Park might well be one of the wonders of the Northwest. Many persons who have seen the phenomena do not understand the cause. It has been explained that gases constantly forming in the saltwater spring cause eruptions at almost clocklike intervals. When the pressure starts to increase, the gas is ignited with the resultant flame that shoots upward of fifty feet.

The salt water is diverted into a large outdoor swimming pool in the summer, affording excellent bathing. Beautifully terraced fountains and falls, with colored lights, add to the spectacle. The fully equipped picnic park includes community kitchens and children’s playfields.

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Black Diamond mines not sold

Originally published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 2, 1904

Contrary to a report quite generally circulated, the Black Diamond coal mines have not been sold to the Pacific Coast Company. Such is the statement made yesterday by J.C. Ford, vice president and general manager of the Pacific Coast Company.

“Negotiations have been pending for the past year,” explained Mr. Ford, “but have not been brought to a close. I do not even know that the purchase will be made. Nothing is settled yet.”

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College of Mines

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, May 1, 1930

The College of Mines Building on the University of Washington campus. See article by Professor Joseph Daniels.

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Saved miner describes 20 hours in tomb; two dead in Black Diamond coal disaster

Originally published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 30, 1924

Trapped worker is reached by life savers in strange disaster at nearby colliery

Hope of reaching Wise’s body given up after comrade describes fate; another hurt

By J. Newton Colver

Figure in Black Diamond mine disaster. These pictures, taken at the scene of the Black Diamond mine slide, show the officials who directed the rescue operations that brought one of three men alive from the depths of the mine, where they had been entombed. Above, from left to right, are: Ray Smith, chief engineer of the Black Diamond mine; Frank Koepfli, King County deputy coroner; D.C. Botting, manager of mines for the Pacific Coast Company; N.D. Moore, vice president of the company; Jack Parker, deputy state mine inspector. Below are Botting (left) and Parker in conference. Photos by Post-Intelligencer staff photographer.

Face to face with impending death for twenty hours, in the depths of the Black Diamond coal mine forty miles from Seattle, Manley Cooney walked forth at supper time last evening, free, unhurt, happy to greet his young wife.

Less fortunate were two comrades, caught in an earth shock and resultant slide, spoken of in mine terminology as a “bump.”

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