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Obituary of Francesco IOB (Frank JOB) and Photos of Unidentified Trentini

Obituaries written during the early 1900's were generally quite graphic. The obituary below appeared in the November 4, 1906 edition of the Trinidad Advertiser, and tells of an explosion in an underground coal mine at Hastings, Colorado. This explosion killed Francesco IOB ("Frank JOB"), my grand-uncle.

PROMINENT MINE BOSS KILLED IN EXPLOSION

"Frank Job, one of the best known mine bosses in the Southern tier of the state, was mangled and killed in a terrific explosion in the Victor Fuel Company's mine at Hastings late Friday night.

In some way, the shot of dynamite that was exploded was heavier than usual. Before the blast was fired all the miners sought a place of safety. Job was fifty feet away -- a sufficiently safe distance to be out of the danger zone. When the dynamite exploded there was a loud detonation and chunks of coal were thrown in the air. Suddenly, from the powder point a huge block of coal was thrown straight at Job. Although nearly twenty yards away, so great was the force of the explosion that the rock was hurled against him with sufficient power to crush his ribs in and he fell dead in his tracks, crushed to pieces.

The smoke and dust prevented the others from seeing what had happened. Job had fallen without a sound. As the air became clarified they were startled to see him lying prone on his back. A closer inspection showed that the rock had caved in his whole breast in the region of the heart, as though it had been but mere cardboard.

Job is married and leaves two small children. He was 38 years of age and for many years ran a grocery store at Segundo. He was exceptionally well liked and his frightful death is deplored by the whole mining community.

The Trinidad Furniture Company of this city was notified and sent their undertaker, George Haugen, to Hastings. The body was last night prepared for burial. The funeral cortege will leave Hastings for Trinidad at 9 o'clock this morning. Services will be held in this city at 2:30 o'clock today at the Catholic Church and internment will be in the cemetery. To show the great regard that Job was held in may be shown by the fact that every available carriage in the city has been engaged for the funeral. The funeral in length will be one of the largest held in this section in years."

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