LEJ: about that mining disaster and songs: I called Dad. He was born in 1916, so wasn't around for the really bad ones, but does remember a few men being lost every year while the mines were going. The worst ones he'd heard of were in 1903, 06, 10, 13/14.

He confirmed my memory: they used to point to the "hogbakc", a ridge of hills across the river, where the mines were deep in the earth. They would tell us not only how the fires still burn, but also that there were many men buried and never retrieved because of the danger, etc. I remember being fascinated with trying to imagine what that must have been like. I guess I was a little gothic as a child!

Anyway, he didn't remember any songs about those events. Had never heard of The New Castle Disaster. Figured it was probably too close to home for anyone there to want to write a song about it.

He did tell me a "crude" version of "16 tons" came out of the strike in Trinidad. And, then he was reminded of an old song still popular in the 30's, which I am now going to look for, for him, called "Take Me Back To Colorado"

It's been fun! Thanks for listening guys!

katlaughing