Victor-American Hastings mine

Less than two miles west of the Ludlow Monument, a sad tale is told by a lone marker nestled in the weeds.

The owner of the Victor American mines was reputed to be the most anti-union of all mine operators in Colorado.

The date of the article, below, was 1917.

LUDLOW MONUMENT AREA

NO HOPE FOR MEN TRAPPED BY FLAME IN MOUNTAIN MINE

Hastings, Colorado, April 30 - Eight more bodies, making a total of 15, were found by a rescue
crew which came out of the Hastings mine of the Victor American Fuel Company late Saturday.

As soon as the first rescuers emerged another crew entered the mine to bring out the bodies.
Outside the mine scores of volunteers pressed forward, eager to go in.

National guardsmen were stationed at the entrance of the mine. Four crews of expert helmetsmen
worked in shifts, desperately striving to remove "falls".

Trinidad, Colorado, April 30 - There is no escape for the 120 or more men caught behind the
fire in the Hastings mine of the Victor American Fuel Company near Ludlow and it is feared that
all have perished. Rescue crews reported they cannot reach all the entombed men because of the
wreckage, the explosion having torn ceilings and walls of the main slope.

Five bodies were found by the rescue squads is after they had penetrated 2,000 feet into the
workings.

"One hundred and eighteen men are behind the fire and there is little chance of reaching them",
James Dalrymple, chief mining inspector, reported.

Superintendent Cameron said he had little hope of saving any of the men who were in the mine
when the explosion occurred. If the men still are alive behind the fire, it will be a miracle,
he said.

A list containing 119 names of mining men was given out by company officials. It included David
Reese, mine inspector; David William, pit boss, H. J. Millard, fire boss; 25 company men and 91
miners. Virtually all of the miners listed are foreigners.

The main workings extend 3,600 feet under the mountain where most of the men were believed to
be imprisoned.

The first indication of trouble was a cloud of black smoke which bellowed from the mouth of the
slope. Superintendent Cameron hastily organized a rescue force of five men and entered the
slope but the smoke and heat from the fire within was so intense that they soon were forced to
retreat. Another rescue force was organized and equipped with oxygen helmets. These men, eight
in number, again led by Mr. Cameron, again attempted to reach the entombed men.