Today one of my cousins sent me some news clippings from 1897 about the death of our great-grandfather's brother. It's always nice to find out how our relatives died.
Publication:Daily Journal (Telluride, San Miguel County); Date: Jul 15, 1897;
Johnny Ismay Almost Fatally Injured by an Explosion in the Union-Smuggler Mine Last Night
Notice to Red Men
Odd Fellows Attention
The Improved Order of Red Men was a fraternal organization that didn't allow anyone who wasn't a white man as a member. It was an offshoot of The Sons of LIberty (who staged the Boston Tea Party) and its goal was to promote allegiance to the flag and maintain the customs and rituals of the indigenous peoples. Irony there. But it was probably an excuse to get together and drink. And dress up.
Anyhow, prior to these articles, we didn't realize our relative died in Telluride, we thought he died in Michigan. It's a beautiful place to die.