The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-27
BY HIS OWN EFFORTS.
How T. B. Corey Became a Fa-
nous Mine superintendent.
NEARLY 30 YEARS I'M HARNESS.
First Railroad Man. Then In the Coal
FIeIds-His Service To the Oregon
Improvement Company.

oregon Improvement Company TecaAs
some Of the most violent and some Of the
saddsst days in the history of mining in
this state. Mr.. Corey was so situated that
the qualities which commended him most
to his employers made him OBNOXIOUS 20
men who considered themselves aggrieved.
Without revfving the bitterness OF Incl
dents which were most deplorable IN their
consequences, Mr.. Corey must be accred-
tied with being an able manager OF mines.
a man who was always just TO those un-
der him as he saw il, and personally hui
name in his dealings with his fellow man.
Thereon Baldwin Corey was born at
Godfrey, Madison county, H., in 1876. His
father, now deceased. was a. A. Corey,
who for many years was the trusted and
respected financial agent Of the Mont.-
cello seminary, and was well known
throughout the state for uprightness and
integrity. Young Corey. surrounded by
educational facilities, early acquired
taste for learning. and after attending
the schools OF his native place, was sent
to DanOury, Conn, and later to Roxford.
Mass. He returned West at the end Of
four years. and attended college for one
year at Alton. where he finished mis- edu-
cation and prepared to enter into bust
ness.
lie struck out for himself at the age
OF is. and mis- first venture vas TO engage
in the lumber business. That was during
listed as one OF the To-day men, in Com
pany F. 1880 Illinois. He served in the
123d regiment exactly 1913 days. his coI1-
manding officer being Col. Phillips, who
died in this city three years ago.
Shortly after the close of the war Mr..
Corey became connected with the Chi
cage & Alton railroad. and remained in
the employ of that company for twelve
years. He earned promotions rapidly.
and finally became division superintendent.
In the meantime he had served for a
shortb time as train dispatcher and super
inteneent of the Chicago. Pekin & South
western. now part OF the Santa re sys-
tenn. When he left the Chicago & Alton
he bore away many substantial evidences
OF the esteem in which he was held. J.
G. McMullin. at that time general mana
ger and afterward president of the com
pany, said that during Mr.. Coreys term
OF office his duties had been performed
In a satisfactory manner In every part.cu-
lar. c. III. Seaver. assistant superintend-
ent. wrote to him thus: Should you con-
clude after a time, TO return 20 railroad
ing, I do not anticipate any trouble in
your being able 10 secure a good situa-
ton. l shall consider you as having CIV
en- me the refusal of your services
The reason for Mr.. Corey leaving the
Chicago & Alton was that the Wilmington
&, Vermillion Coal Company rendered him
the SupeFlNtenuenCy OF It's tIilus dl bldiu-
wood. the largest at that time In Illinois,
where from 1900 to $500 men were en-
ployed. The company also operated mines
at Streator, Seatonville and Loceyville.
and Mr.. Corey distinguished himself be-
fore the close of his tenure as superintend-
ent by making the most remarkable run,
all things considered, on record. On April
II 1872 tons of coal were hoisted from the
~ shaft. requiring 2,47s pit cars, averag-
ing 1881 pounds per car. That gave an
average of three tons and 4.3i pit cars
every minute, and total cage run for the
day OF 122 miles. No powder was used
In the mine. The vein was three feet
thick, mined on the long wall plan, under
cut and wedged.
During Mr. Corey's incumbency of
twelve years at Braidwood he never met
with an accident, but at one time he was
called on 10 assist at disaster in the Dta-
mond mine, three miles distant from
Braidwod, which had flooded. and in which
eighty-seven miners were drowned like
rats in a hole. Only twenty-seven bodies
were recovered, but the assistance Offered
by Mr. Corey on that occasion, and the
standing in which he was held by the
community called for the following tri-
butte from the local press:
From the first day of his experience as
mining superintendent he was highly
successful in establishing himself in the
has always been regarded by them as a
humane and just master. They also rec
ogniZed in him an able exponent OF their
rights, and they have always felt that
what was right he would uphold them in.
Were anyone DESTROYS OF finding out the
esteem with which he is held by the min
ing fraternity. they have only 10 visit the
scene OF the recent awful disaster at the
Diamond mine. and ask the widows what
he did for them In their time OF affliction
and distress. when the awful calamity was
first announced. Mr.. Corey was on the
ground. and in the terrible excitement Of
the first night was the calm, controlling
spirit that regulated matters and inau-
Curated assures to relieve the suffering
of those who had been so Sorely affiict Ted.
and. loath though he would he 70 admit
Il. he did more 20 relieve the agony of the
widows and orpans than any other per-
son, even those connected with the Dia-
mond mine itself"
Mr.. Corey was also a conspicuous ngure
In he great Brentwood strike. and dis
tinguiShad himself in the lamentable af-
fair. During his stay IN Braidwood. which
WAS place of about {, 900 people, Mr.. Corey
was elected president Of the board of edu-
cation. and shortly before he left for this
city, was chosen mayor. his opponent he
ing James G. Watson. The vote was a
tie. each candidate having received 466 hall
lots, and A contest CnSuCd in which Mr..
Corey was declared the winner His cleo
tion occurred April -. lSS9. about the time
tie left for Seattle, and aftcrwaTd fnding
himself established here. on July he
sent IN his resignation. lie was appoint
81 mine superintendent for the Oregon
Improvement Company by = W. McNeill.
resident manager in this city. To take the
place Of = \. Hin. resigned, and soon
found that mis- position here was 10 he
anything but a bod Of roses. There was
difficulty between the employers and the
employed and the friction promised no
easy solution The dispute which culmin-
8ted in the strike of the spring Of lsei
the importation Of co}ored miners and tn.
fatal riot " June =. 1891. ere too recent
history go need rcccu0;ing IN detail here.
M Corey has followed generous policy
81 dealing with the white men. and has
done bis best 20 heal the sores Left BY the
bitter contentious Of ne past. he has al
WAYS hai a remarkable influence over his
valaYeI Norkmen. an3 they have made a
practice % asking his help in az their
troubles ami % calling upon him % settle
thetr quarrels. and Rave rarely rppeaied
tn him in vain. While his policy brought
urea I'm tire antsgon.sm o. tae lsoor
unions. many labor UnioUisis G1 rot DENY
that ac treats has men WITH justice. though
he insists thst he sail run the mines
ard that they shall have no voice n tar
management
Franklin mine sustained .ts most serious
disaster 3n August. 1884. when ny an ex-
plosion IN the tf,1 lower level thirty
seven miners were slGoca-et- since rher
a succession ~ n .sfarfuaas has os-.-,s~re4
There ana a. Newcastle. bat they have
been such as TO human cetZg could fore
see or prevent. ana iu face o. them. Nfr
Corey has Qersf vere1 with the hearty SUP
pors 90 htS surcrl1rs. Ia improving me