1

John Sawchenko (Character representation)

Credits:
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

2

Douglas Powell standing in front of the Western Gem Hotel wearing his father's mining helmet
1947
Drumheller, Alberta

Credits:
Garry Crittall

3

Seven miners outside the entrance of the Sunshine Mine
1925
Wayne, Alberta

Credits:
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

4

The main entry to a coal mine. Coal-the energy source that gave rise to the city of Drumheller.
Circa 1911
Drumheller, Alberta

Credits:
Wayne Community Association

5

I was scared?the dark just came over me and I couldn't catch my breath?I was gasping for air. With each gasp I could feel the blackness closing in on me.

The seam was only 32 inches thick, barely tall enough for a dog. That's not very high coal. I could feel the bumps in the earth underneath me and hear everything but nothing at the same time. Was the roof going to fall?would I die?

I did not notice the river of men all around me. What captured my interest was the black, and the uneasiness of it. Every sound?every air movement?every noise caused me to stop instantly in my tracks. No matter how hard you look into the darkness you could never see it.

I was so cramped ?.32 inches of space. My body was so cramped up I needed to stretch, to straighten my back ?..the only way you could was by lying down. You even had to lie down to drink; every sip you took you would bump your head.

I was alone?all alone?all I could hear were the creaks, bumps and cracks.

****************

6

Miner using a Sullivan 7AU coal cutter in extremely tight conditions
20th Century
Unknown

Credits:
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

7

Rosedeer Coal Mine, two miners at the coal face, loading coal into a coal car
Between 1912 - 1934
Wayne, Alberta

Credits:
The Town of Drumheller

8

I was working as a pusher. The boss told me to take the full car of coal out and place an empty car in for the miner. It wasn't hard?well after eight hours it was. I felt as if I was in another country down there. Every other man you spoke to was speaking in a foreign tongue. But some of them knew enough to communicate the important stuff or they would at least say hello or thank you as I passed them by. I didn't know what to do. I just kept pushing and pulling carts?.my back aching, my arms rubber and my lungs strained for air.

During lunch break, I finished quickly, so I was asked to round up a bucket of compressed air and some elbow grease so we could do some maintenance on the coal cars. So off I went into the darkness in the direction of Machine shop #4. When I arrived a gruff old man barely noticed me.I asked about the compressed bucket of air and the elbow grease, but he said they were all out, and that machine shop #3 might have what I'm looking for. It wasn't far. So I continued along in the darkness. When I arrived at shop #3 I was met with the same answer.

"Sorry no buckets of compressed air or elbow grease here. I hear they are storing that stuff down in the #2."

So again, off I went. It wasn't so bad I was beginning to get used to the black and the sounds?it was by no means comfortable but it was tolerable. It seemed like a long haul to the #2. I tried to estimate how far I had walked already and wondered if I would ever find my way back to my crew. Soon machine shop #2 was in my sights and I was just about to ask when someone said:
"Are you here for compressed air too?"
I said "yes" and that I was also looking for some elbow grease.
" Sorry, we're all out. You could try the number one but there are no promises."

Thinking that I was just doing my job, I continued towards the entrance. When I arrived at the #1 I was greeted with "Yeh really walked all this way for a bucket of compressed air and elbow grease! They really took yeh for a ride son! Did no one ever tell yeh to put some "elbow grease" into it boy? And compressed air in a bucket?? I could give yeh this empty bucket and you would probably believe me that it was compressed air when all it really is, is a bucket of nothing. Yeh gotta keep yer wits and yer head about yeh while yer down here. Those guys may have fooled yeh once but yeh better make it harder for them the second time round. Yeh take them this left-handed wrench and that should make yeh even."

"Hey wait?are there left handed wrenches?"

"Like I said keep yer wits and yer head about yeh".

9

Seven miners and one pony underground at Newcastle Colleries
1912
Drumheller, Alberta

Credits:
Newcastle Coal Mine Museum Ltd.

10

Underground portrait of eight men with teapot lamps and loaded coal cars
1912
Drumheller, Alberta

Credits:
The Newcastle Colleries

11

The gas just lets himself in?you don't know where he comes from, but he's there.
The black damp could put you to sleep for good you know. Like I said I was scared but I couldn't show it.

12

F. Smith Jr.'s first paycheque, signed by McMullen and Smith
4 November 1916

Credits:
Standard Bank of Canada