ABSTRACT
David M. Elias, who was the state coal mine inspector at the time, led a rescue party underground in an attempt to save any survivors. In 1890 the United Mine Workers of America formed a national labor organization that would prove attractive to coal miners throughout Wyoming. The United Mine Workers of America, or United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) as they were most commonly called, formed as a coalition allying portions of the old Knights of Labor and the Miners' Progressive Union. It was not until 1903, however, that the UMWA began organizational activities in Wyoming. The decade between 1910 and 1919 proved to be one of growth for the Wyoming coal industry. Coal was in demand throughout the nation. According to a 1913 government report, it was held that "The labor efficiency in Wyoming is among the highest in the country, usually showing an average production per man per year of over 900 tons."
