Salida Mail Nov. 24, 1903
VINDICATOR SUPERINTENDENT AND SHIFT BOSS MURDERED.
Denver, Nov. 22 - A Republican special from Cripple Creek last night says: The explosion of an internal machine in the sixth level of the Vindicator mine as the cage was descending past the level resulted in the almost instantaneous death this morning of Charles H. McCormick, superintendent of the mine, and Melvin Beck, the shift boss, who were the only men on the cage. Had the elevator been crowded, all would have been killed. From the evidence obtainable, it appears that a box of dynamite was placed on the floor of the level beside the shaft, a revolver was fastened to a timber and a wire so attached that when the cage descended it pulled the trigger, and the shot exploded the dynamite. Superintendent McCormick had discovered something wrong in the level. Summoning the shift boss, the two went below to investigate and met their deaths. In this same level several weeks ago, Clarence Hager, an employee of the mine, reported that he had been shot at by two men who disappeared in the workings. Investigation found no marauders, and his story was discredited. Now the management, the sheriff and the military authorities are convinced that a plot has been forming to wreck the mine and possibly to murder some of those employed there. The order sending troops from Camp Goldfield to Telluride was countermanded last night. The property is under strong guard, and the civil and military authorities are cooperating in running down the murderers. The Mine Owners Association tonight issued a statement laying the blame directly upon the inner circle of the Western Federation of Miners and offering a $5,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the murderers of McCormick and Beck. From the story told by Master Mechanic Sheehan, Superintendent McCormick, while underground in the morning, discovered something in the sixth level that aroused his suspicion. It is supposed that he saw the dynamiters at work as the cage passed the drift, which has been abandoned for some time. He came above and sent immediately for the shift boss, Melvin Beck, to come to the surface. They held a consultation and started to go below, saying nothing further than to order the engineer to let them off at the sixth level and to go slow as the cage approached that station. The cage had hardly reached the level when a terrific explosion occurred. Douglas Bubar and Charles Johnson, miners working 200 feet below, felt the shock and heard the explosion and, feeling that an accident had happened, climbed the ladder to the station where, on each side of the damaged shaft, lay the mangled bodies of the two men. McCormick was still breathing. His lower limbs were torn from his body, and he was unconscious. Beck, although horribly mangled, managed to say: "I want everything to go to my daughter," then he expired. Both men were dead before they could be taken out of the shaft.
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
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Silver Cliff Rustler June 22, 1904
Charles H. Moyer, president of the Western Federation of Miners, who is now in charge of the civil authorities in Telluride, will be brought back to this city (Cripple Creek/Victor) and made to answer to the charge of complicity in the murder of Superintendent Charles McCormick and Shift Boss Melvin Beck in the Vindicator mine on November 26, last .
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
_____
Melvin H. Beck & Hattie Beck were married in 1886 and were divorced on April 16, 1902 in Teller County. His parents, Joseph and Martha Beck, were born in England. In the 1870 census, Melvin was 9 and living in Industry, Illinoi, with his parents and the following siblings: Olivia (10), James E (7), Grant (6), Alva (4), and Charles (no age...assuming a newborn).
In the 1900 census, Melvin is 39, and Hattie is 34, they live in Victor, CO, with their 12-year-old daughter, Grace. He worked as a miner.
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
_____
Melvin & Hattie were divorced on April 16, 1902 in Teller County, CO.
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
VINDICATOR SUPERINTENDENT AND SHIFT BOSS MURDERED.
Denver, Nov. 22 - A Republican special from Cripple Creek last night says: The explosion of an internal machine in the sixth level of the Vindicator mine as the cage was descending past the level resulted in the almost instantaneous death this morning of Charles H. McCormick, superintendent of the mine, and Melvin Beck, the shift boss, who were the only men on the cage. Had the elevator been crowded, all would have been killed. From the evidence obtainable, it appears that a box of dynamite was placed on the floor of the level beside the shaft, a revolver was fastened to a timber and a wire so attached that when the cage descended it pulled the trigger, and the shot exploded the dynamite. Superintendent McCormick had discovered something wrong in the level. Summoning the shift boss, the two went below to investigate and met their deaths. In this same level several weeks ago, Clarence Hager, an employee of the mine, reported that he had been shot at by two men who disappeared in the workings. Investigation found no marauders, and his story was discredited. Now the management, the sheriff and the military authorities are convinced that a plot has been forming to wreck the mine and possibly to murder some of those employed there. The order sending troops from Camp Goldfield to Telluride was countermanded last night. The property is under strong guard, and the civil and military authorities are cooperating in running down the murderers. The Mine Owners Association tonight issued a statement laying the blame directly upon the inner circle of the Western Federation of Miners and offering a $5,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the murderers of McCormick and Beck. From the story told by Master Mechanic Sheehan, Superintendent McCormick, while underground in the morning, discovered something in the sixth level that aroused his suspicion. It is supposed that he saw the dynamiters at work as the cage passed the drift, which has been abandoned for some time. He came above and sent immediately for the shift boss, Melvin Beck, to come to the surface. They held a consultation and started to go below, saying nothing further than to order the engineer to let them off at the sixth level and to go slow as the cage approached that station. The cage had hardly reached the level when a terrific explosion occurred. Douglas Bubar and Charles Johnson, miners working 200 feet below, felt the shock and heard the explosion and, feeling that an accident had happened, climbed the ladder to the station where, on each side of the damaged shaft, lay the mangled bodies of the two men. McCormick was still breathing. His lower limbs were torn from his body, and he was unconscious. Beck, although horribly mangled, managed to say: "I want everything to go to my daughter," then he expired. Both men were dead before they could be taken out of the shaft.
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
_____
Silver Cliff Rustler June 22, 1904
Charles H. Moyer, president of the Western Federation of Miners, who is now in charge of the civil authorities in Telluride, will be brought back to this city (Cripple Creek/Victor) and made to answer to the charge of complicity in the murder of Superintendent Charles McCormick and Shift Boss Melvin Beck in the Vindicator mine on November 26, last .
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
_____
Melvin H. Beck & Hattie Beck were married in 1886 and were divorced on April 16, 1902 in Teller County. His parents, Joseph and Martha Beck, were born in England. In the 1870 census, Melvin was 9 and living in Industry, Illinoi, with his parents and the following siblings: Olivia (10), James E (7), Grant (6), Alva (4), and Charles (no age...assuming a newborn).
In the 1900 census, Melvin is 39, and Hattie is 34, they live in Victor, CO, with their 12-year-old daughter, Grace. He worked as a miner.
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
_____
Melvin & Hattie were divorced on April 16, 1902 in Teller County, CO.
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
Salida Mail Nov. 24, 1903
VINDICATOR SUPERINTENDENT AND SHIFT BOSS MURDERED.
Denver, Nov. 22 - A Republican special from Cripple Creek last night says: The explosion of an internal machine in the sixth level of the Vindicator mine as the cage was descending past the level resulted in the almost instantaneous death this morning of Charles H. McCormick, superintendent of the mine, and Melvin Beck, the shift boss, who were the only men on the cage. Had the elevator been crowded, all would have been killed. From the evidence obtainable, it appears that a box of dynamite was placed on the floor of the level beside the shaft, a revolver was fastened to a timber and a wire so attached that when the cage descended it pulled the trigger, and the shot exploded the dynamite. Superintendent McCormick had discovered something wrong in the level. Summoning the shift boss, the two went below to investigate and met their deaths. In this same level several weeks ago, Clarence Hager, an employee of the mine, reported that he had been shot at by two men who disappeared in the workings. Investigation found no marauders, and his story was discredited. Now the management, the sheriff and the military authorities are convinced that a plot has been forming to wreck the mine and possibly to murder some of those employed there. The order sending troops from Camp Goldfield to Telluride was countermanded last night. The property is under strong guard, and the civil and military authorities are cooperating in running down the murderers. The Mine Owners Association tonight issued a statement laying the blame directly upon the inner circle of the Western Federation of Miners and offering a $5,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the murderers of McCormick and Beck. From the story told by Master Mechanic Sheehan, Superintendent McCormick, while underground in the morning, discovered something in the sixth level that aroused his suspicion. It is supposed that he saw the dynamiters at work as the cage passed the drift, which has been abandoned for some time. He came above and sent immediately for the shift boss, Melvin Beck, to come to the surface. They held a consultation and started to go below, saying nothing further than to order the engineer to let them off at the sixth level and to go slow as the cage approached that station. The cage had hardly reached the level when a terrific explosion occurred. Douglas Bubar and Charles Johnson, miners working 200 feet below, felt the shock and heard the explosion and, feeling that an accident had happened, climbed the ladder to the station where, on each side of the damaged shaft, lay the mangled bodies of the two men. McCormick was still breathing. His lower limbs were torn from his body, and he was unconscious. Beck, although horribly mangled, managed to say: "I want everything to go to my daughter," then he expired. Both men were dead before they could be taken out of the shaft.
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
_____
Silver Cliff Rustler June 22, 1904
Charles H. Moyer, president of the Western Federation of Miners, who is now in charge of the civil authorities in Telluride, will be brought back to this city (Cripple Creek/Victor) and made to answer to the charge of complicity in the murder of Superintendent Charles McCormick and Shift Boss Melvin Beck in the Vindicator mine on November 26, last .
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
_____
Melvin H. Beck & Hattie Beck were married in 1886 and were divorced on April 16, 1902 in Teller County. His parents, Joseph and Martha Beck, were born in England. In the 1870 census, Melvin was 9 and living in Industry, Illinoi, with his parents and the following siblings: Olivia (10), James E (7), Grant (6), Alva (4), and Charles (no age...assuming a newborn).
In the 1900 census, Melvin is 39, and Hattie is 34, they live in Victor, CO, with their 12-year-old daughter, Grace. He worked as a miner.
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
_____
Melvin & Hattie were divorced on April 16, 1902 in Teller County, CO.
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
VINDICATOR SUPERINTENDENT AND SHIFT BOSS MURDERED.
Denver, Nov. 22 - A Republican special from Cripple Creek last night says: The explosion of an internal machine in the sixth level of the Vindicator mine as the cage was descending past the level resulted in the almost instantaneous death this morning of Charles H. McCormick, superintendent of the mine, and Melvin Beck, the shift boss, who were the only men on the cage. Had the elevator been crowded, all would have been killed. From the evidence obtainable, it appears that a box of dynamite was placed on the floor of the level beside the shaft, a revolver was fastened to a timber and a wire so attached that when the cage descended it pulled the trigger, and the shot exploded the dynamite. Superintendent McCormick had discovered something wrong in the level. Summoning the shift boss, the two went below to investigate and met their deaths. In this same level several weeks ago, Clarence Hager, an employee of the mine, reported that he had been shot at by two men who disappeared in the workings. Investigation found no marauders, and his story was discredited. Now the management, the sheriff and the military authorities are convinced that a plot has been forming to wreck the mine and possibly to murder some of those employed there. The order sending troops from Camp Goldfield to Telluride was countermanded last night. The property is under strong guard, and the civil and military authorities are cooperating in running down the murderers. The Mine Owners Association tonight issued a statement laying the blame directly upon the inner circle of the Western Federation of Miners and offering a $5,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the murderers of McCormick and Beck. From the story told by Master Mechanic Sheehan, Superintendent McCormick, while underground in the morning, discovered something in the sixth level that aroused his suspicion. It is supposed that he saw the dynamiters at work as the cage passed the drift, which has been abandoned for some time. He came above and sent immediately for the shift boss, Melvin Beck, to come to the surface. They held a consultation and started to go below, saying nothing further than to order the engineer to let them off at the sixth level and to go slow as the cage approached that station. The cage had hardly reached the level when a terrific explosion occurred. Douglas Bubar and Charles Johnson, miners working 200 feet below, felt the shock and heard the explosion and, feeling that an accident had happened, climbed the ladder to the station where, on each side of the damaged shaft, lay the mangled bodies of the two men. McCormick was still breathing. His lower limbs were torn from his body, and he was unconscious. Beck, although horribly mangled, managed to say: "I want everything to go to my daughter," then he expired. Both men were dead before they could be taken out of the shaft.
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
_____
Silver Cliff Rustler June 22, 1904
Charles H. Moyer, president of the Western Federation of Miners, who is now in charge of the civil authorities in Telluride, will be brought back to this city (Cripple Creek/Victor) and made to answer to the charge of complicity in the murder of Superintendent Charles McCormick and Shift Boss Melvin Beck in the Vindicator mine on November 26, last .
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
_____
Melvin H. Beck & Hattie Beck were married in 1886 and were divorced on April 16, 1902 in Teller County. His parents, Joseph and Martha Beck, were born in England. In the 1870 census, Melvin was 9 and living in Industry, Illinoi, with his parents and the following siblings: Olivia (10), James E (7), Grant (6), Alva (4), and Charles (no age...assuming a newborn).
In the 1900 census, Melvin is 39, and Hattie is 34, they live in Victor, CO, with their 12-year-old daughter, Grace. He worked as a miner.
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
_____
Melvin & Hattie were divorced on April 16, 1902 in Teller County, CO.
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136) • [email protected]
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