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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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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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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Buried alive, tells of rescue

Originally published in The Seattle Daily Times, April 30, 1924

Mine worker snatched from jaws of death

Manley Cooney calmly walks out of Black Diamond colliery after being imprisoned for twenty hours

Manley Cooney (left), who was rescued alive after being buried for twenty hours in a mine cave-in at Black Diamond. “I walked into the mine, and I’ll walk out,” said Cooney when the rescuers reached him, and he made his way to the surface without assistance. He was photographed a few minutes after he reached the mine portal. D.C. Botting, manager of mines (right), who directed the work of rescue.

How it seems to be face to face with death for twenty hours and be snatched back to safety just in time to escape an avalanche of rock and coal, was described this morning by Manley Cooney, Black Diamond miner, whoso two companions were killed Monday night in a “bump” in the twenty-ninth chute in the eleventh level of the Pacific Coast Coal Company’s mine, 1,600 feet below the surface.

The body of O.C. Wise, Cooney’s partner, was recovered at 6 o’clock this morning, about twenty-five feet from where Cooney lay uninjured for twenty hours. The body of Robert Doucett, third miner caught in the avalanche of rock and coal, was recovered yesterday.

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Miners protest at tent burning

Originally published in The Seattle Daily Times, April 22, 1914

Executive board of state organization wires President asking protection for brethren in Colorado

Consider test of employers’ liability; will ask organized labor to help in anticipated legal battle over extent of compensation for accident

Telegrams registering the indignant protest of the 6,000 union coal miners of the state of Washington against the burning of the strikers’ tent colony and the killing of a number of women and children in a battle between coal company guards and strikers near Ludlow, Colo., and demanding “at least the same measure of protection” for life and liberty in Colorado as the government of the United States insists upon in Mexico, were sent to President Wilson and each of the senators and congressmen from this state last evening by the executive board of District No. 10, United Mine Workers of America, with headquarters in Seattle.

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The Carbon River country: It flows with great magic

Originally published in The Tacoma News Tribune and Sunday Ledger, April 19, 1964

By Rod Cardwell

Left: Wilkeson sight, sculptor John Geise. Middle: Wilderness defeats man in Carbon River country. Right: Wilkeson quarry workers get a lift.

“Where the ladies’ rest room is now, they used to have a dentist’s chair,” said Eugene Wright, proprietor of the Carbonado Tavern.

The amiable, soft-spoken Wright, a Carbonado citizen for 49 years, was reflecting on the coal-mining boom days of another era … a hectic, happy, good-money time when the ache of a tooth and a thirst for a tall, cool one were treated under the same roof.

The magic of Pierce County’s Carbon River country is a spellbinding blend of faded greatness, of wild, mountain beauty … of mementoes Franklin D. Roosevelt … of tough, robust people who would live in no other spot on earth.

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Black Diamond Bank is state institution

Originally published in The Seattle Daily Times, April 18, 1914

The State Bank of Black Diamond, circa 1921. The former bank building is located at the intersection of Baker Street and Railroad Avenue.

The State Bank of Black Diamond at Black Diamond, King County, formerly a private bank, has been incorporated as a state bank with a capitalization of $15,000. The officers are Otto K. Stirzek, president; D.D. James, vice-president, and Charles McKinnon, cashier.

The controlling interest of the State Bank of North Bend, capitalized at $10,000, has been purchased by Strizek, who will act also as president of this institution. He resides at 5254 Fourteenth Avenue Northwest, this city.

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