"A cave in the Eureka coal mine, last Friday evening caught Mr. John
Treadwell, the owner of the mine, breaking one of his arms in two places
and bruising him quite severely; Louis Knudson, who had one of his legs
broken in two places; a man known as China, who was considerably but
not seriously bruised. Drs. Keys and Gordon attended the injured men
and they are doing well, Mr. Treadwell being able to go to Oakland on
Monday." (Livermore Echo, January 7, 1892).
"The taking out of coal from the Corral Hollow mines was commenced last
Sunday. Thirteen Livermore boys, who have been engaged to pick out the
slate which is mixed with the coal, went to the mine Monday." (Livermore Echo, March 18, 1897).
Reverend L. P. Walker was a Methodist minister from the Livermore Methodist Church and wrote about his
invitation to serve the Methodist congregation at Tesla.
"Editor Herald: I visited Tesla last Saturday, and was very kindly received. Mr. Graner, manager of the hotel,
entertained me splendidly. The hotel accommodations, especially the table, are the best I have yet seen in a
mining camp. Mr. A. D. Stoop kindly showed me about the works and introduced me to the representatives of
the company, all of whom were very courteous and kind. In the evening I was greeted with a good-sized,
intelligent and appreciative congregation. The mine is worked by the most modern machinery, the cottages
are lighted with electricity and the whole place is up-to-date in all the latest equipments. Most of the work
is done by contract and the men are thus paid according to the amount of work performed. The wages are good
and general satisfaction prevails. The pottery and glass manufacturing industries, added to the coal mining,
give promise and prosperity and permanence to this valuable property. We were highly please and expect to
accept the invitation to come again. L. P. Walker." (Livermore Herald, October 31, 1903).
"Chas. Carpenter has removed from Frytown to Bartnett Avenue." (Livermore Herald, September 22, 1900).
"The company has a well-equipped hospital and those unfortunate enough to be injured are given the
advantage of medical skill and excellent care. The rooms are kept as orderly and clean as those of the
most fastidious home, the surgery has every appliance known to science and the dispensary is well
equipped with drugs of all kinds. Dr. Jump is the resident surgeon, but he is at present away on a
vacation and his place is being taken by Dr. O. W. Steinwand. An excellent nurse in the person of
Miss Forsyth, is always in attendance." (Livermore Herald, September 8, 1900).
"Three Japanese who were working at the gravel pit were badly injured one day last week. They were riding
on a hand-car, which was running at high speed down a grade, when one of the men fell off and in falling
grasped one of his companions, who in turn grasped another and all three fell off, badly bruising the
whole party. The men are all in the hospital, but are said to be improving." (Livermore Herald, September 8, 1900).
"Two trains of about sixteen cars each are now used in hauling coal from the mines." (Livermore Herald, August 18, 1900).
"A black bear escaped from the Hearst place was seen on John Clark's
place on Cedar Mountain. Last Monday Dave Williams spotted the bear
near the coal mines and returned to the mines to secure 20 well-armed
men to go after the bruin. Mr. Frank Littlefield quickly dispatched him
and shot him with his rifle." (Livermore Echo, October 24, 1895).
"The town now building at Corral Hollow mine has been named Tesla--in
honor of the noted electrician." (Livermore Echo, December 16, 1897).
"A miner at Tesla was buried up to his neck Sunday, by a cave. It took
all the miners that could find room to work 6 hours to remove tons of
coal. The man was slightly injured and had shock to his nerves." (Livermore Echo, March 17, 1898).
"For a number of months past a mountain lion has been seen in the neighborhood
of the camp at intervals of a few weeks by various people. His latest visit was
last Sunday morning when at about 9 o'clock Book keeper Geil, noticed the animal
bounding along on the ridge above the office. He gave the alarm and a party
consisting of Arthur Duncan, Wm. Rogers and Clarence Barry armed themselves with
rifles and set out in quest of the lion." (Livermore Herald, January 26, 1901).
"An explosion of gas at the Tesla mine last Friday morning caused the
death of P. Sola, besides injuring several other miners. The explosion
was the result of carelessness on the part of a miner, who carried an
open lamp." (Livermore Echo, June 2, 1898).
"Tree planting is becoming quite a fad about town." (Livermore Herald, February 2, 1901).
"School will open early in September with Misses Lindsay and Whitney in charge." (Livermore Herald, August 25, 1900).
"On Tuesday, Will Ryan and Lee Brooks were hitching four horses to the
Tesla stage, at Tesla, when a whistling locomotive frightened the
animals, causing them to run away, and they knocked down Brooks
inflicting a number of painful bruises." (Livermore Echo, May 17, 1898).
"Last Friday one of the most faithful employees of the company committed suicide.
A mule became enraged at the stupidity of his driver, grasped the trolley wire
in his mouth, and was instantly electrocuted. Here is a chance for some one of his many
kinsfolk to get in and give him a write up befitting his degree and station." (Livermore Echo, December 8, 1898).
"William Jones, who had charge of a gang of men, struck one of them on
the back with the flat side of a pick because he would not obey orders.
The man was bending down when struck, and the blow knocked him to the
ground. His companions, thinking he was killed, became furious at Jones
and attempted to do him bodily harm. He was rescued from the mob of
angry men, arrested, and taken to Livermore, and fined 10 dollars for
assault. The man was not much hurt and was at work again in a day or
two." (Livermore Herald, December 8, 1898).
"Mine host Pray of the hotel has laid out a flower garden in terraces
on the hillside above the hotel. May rare flowers roses and ferns
will be planted. " (Livermore Echo, April 27, 1899).
"There is a great demand here for more men both for the outside
and underground. The demand for Tesla coal is much greater than
can be supplied, though the coal was never so abundant in the
mine as now. Tesla is fairly humming with activity."
(Livermore Echo, May 11, 1899).
"John Donahue has gone to Livermore to have his eyes treated.
He had a narrow escape from death. He had loaded a hole and set
it off, but for some reason it failed to explode. After waiting
a short time he returned and was cleaning out the hole when the
charge exploded, burning him severely. While his injury is
painful it is not serious." (Livermore Echo, March 29, 1899).
"The rain came in torrents Wednesday and filled our creek so full
that the teams had to lay off till the flood subsided." (Livermore
Echo, March 23, 1899).
"The Postmaster-General has awarded the contract for carrying the
U.S. Mail between Tesla and Livermore twice each day from May 15th,
1899, till June 30th 1902, to Sylvanus Allen, who runs a stage line
daily between the two towns. Following is a schedule of departures
and arrivals of the mail, as fixed by the government: Leave
Livermore daily at 11:30 a.m.; arrive at Tesla at 2:30 p.m.
Leave Tesla daily at 3 p.m.; arrive at Livermore at 5 p.m.
Mr. Allen will receive from Uncle Sam as pay for his services
the sum of $120 per annum." (Livermore
Echo, April 20, 1899).
"A new system of sewers is being completed in Jimtown this week."
(Livermore Echo, June 29, 1899).
"Conrad Steinbeuheul [sic], a miner, had his hand badly lacerated
by a piece of falling coal one day last week."
(Livermore Echo, June 29, 1899).
"Tesla School District is now entitled to two teachers as at
the last census one hundred and twenty-nine children of school
age were numbered." (Livermore Echo, July 20, 1899).
More to come . . .
Contact Dan L. Mosier at danmosier@earthlink.net.
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