Edwin Reddish, a coal miner, was killed while working in the Wasatch
Mine near Coalville, Utah. The Wasatch Mine was operated by the Weber Coal Company, a department or division of the Ontario
Silver Mining Company of Park City, Utah.
The
accident occourred on the 5th of October, 1895 at 2:20 PM. A slab of coal, loosened in a previous days blast, broke loose
and "...crushed in his left ribs onto his heart which
caused his instant death...".
The complete report can be viewed here, along with a number of other original documents relating to the accident,
death, and aftermath. (Click on each image to see larger
more detailed views.)
Accident Report (U.S.
Mine Inspector for Utah)
Accident Report filed by the U.S. Mine inspector for Utah, J. B. Rawlings,
on October 6th, 1895, one day after the accident.
F.J. Lewis Letter (Company Superintendent)
The letter below was written by F.J. Lewis, a representative or superintendent
of the Weber Coal Company and the Ontario Silver Mining Company. He sent this letter more or less as a "cover letter"
on October 7th, 1895, two days after the accident. Addressed to F.J. Almy, agent for the company, the letter explains that
the accompanying documents are the the report of the Coroner's inquest and the supporting documents and statements related
to the accident. He also stresses that they should be carefully filed in case a lawsuit is filed at a later date.
Coroner's Inquest Transcript (Questions & Answers)
Below is a complete period copy of the testimony (Questions & Answers)
asked and responded to at the official Coroner's Inquest over the death of Edwin Reddish held on October 5th, 1896 at Coalville,
Utah. This copy of the transcript was sent to the officers of the mining company to be filed with the other accident related
documents.
Newspaper Report of Accident (Coalville Times, October 11, 1895)
Below is the newspaper artilce from the Coalville Times October 11, 1895.
The report gives details of the accident, the feelings of the community, the anquish of the family, and touches on the events
of the funeral. Reddish was a family man, leaving a wife and five children.
F.J. Lewis Letter (Company Superintendent)
The letter below was written by F.J. Lewis, a representative or superintendent
of the Weber Coal Company and the Ontario Silver Mining Company. He sent this letter more or less as a "cover letter"
on October 18th, 1895, several days after the accident. Addressed to F.J. Almy, agent for the company, the letter explains
that the accompanying documents are another lot of documents related to the accident.
Deposition of John James (Edwin Reddish Accident & Death)
The official deposition of John James in the matter of the Edwin Reddish
accident and death.
Deposition of Andrew Pugmire (Edwin Reddish Accident & Death)
The official deposition of Andrew Pugmire in the matter of the Edwin
Reddish accident and death.
Deposition of William Parmley (Edwin Reddish Accident & Death)
The official deposition of Willim Parmley in the matter of the Edwin
Reddish accident and death.
General Realease of Marther Reddish
(Edwin Reddish Accident & Death)
Below is the original General Release document relating to the death
of Edwin Reddish. It is signed by Marther Reddish, his wife.
Following
the death and the official inquest, the wife retained an attorney to begin an action against the Weber Coal Company and Ontatio
Silver Mining Company. The action resulted in "negotiaions" going on for over a year. The negotiation resulted in
a settlement of $25.00 in the matter. By today's standards it seems a small sum, yet it was enough to settle the matter and
to "...expressly remise, release and forever discharge
said companies from all liability to me..." as signed by Mrs. Reddish and wittnessed
by W.D. MacLean and T. J Lewis, February 2, 1897.
Following settlement of the legal action, all of the above documents
were filed away in the company offices and most likely were never read again until they came into my possession last year.
I hope they have given a glimpse into this bit of Utah's mining history, sad as it may be.
_____________________
