A Gold-Headed Cane for the Man Who Stayed on the Phone in a Burning Mine
Newcastle honored C.C. Anderson, who kept giving orders to trapped miners as the roof burned above him.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Mr. C. C. Anderson, assistant superintendent of the Oregon Improvement Company's mines at Newcastle, and Mrs. Anderson, his wife, were presented with handsome testimonials in Odd Fellows' hall last Saturday evening by the citizens of Newcastle, who turned out in large numbers in grateful remembrance of the heroic efforts made by Mr. Anderson in rescuing the miners from the burning mine December 17, 1894. The hall was packed with people of Newcastle, and preceding the presentation a brief and interesting musical and literary programme was rendered by local talent: Miss Mary Miller, Miss Mady Irvin, Miss Emelie Watson, Miss Nora Matson, Mrs. J. Agnew, Mr. J. Mazzi, Mr. Ben Atkinson, Mr. Thomas Harris, Mr. John J. Jones, Mr. Lloyd Jones and Mr. Thomas Hyde. Following this ex-Representative John McKnight presented to Mr. Anderson a gold-headed ebony cane, handsomely engraved as follows: 'Presented to Mr. C. C. Anderson, Asst. Supt. of the O. I. Co. mines at Newcastle by the people of Newcastle for so gallantly and efficiently performing his duty in rescuing the miners from the burning mine Dec. 17, 1894.'
Mr. McKnight referred to the heroic action of Mr. Anderson as one worthy of emulation by the rising generation, and recounted that when the fire first occurred he stood in the midst of fire at the telephone giving orders to the imprisoned men with the roof burning over his head, and that he risked his life a number of times during that day trying to prevent the bursting of the steam pipes that kept the fans going. Mr. Anderson made a feeling response, expressing his thanks for actions which he considered only his duty.
Miss Emelie Matson then presented Mrs. Anderson with a handsome set of silver forks on behalf of the ladies of the place, to which Mrs. Anderson made suitable reply. A social dance then wound up the evening's entertainment so pleasantly begun.
The idea of rewarding Mr. Anderson for his action first originated with two boys, Johnny Thomas and David Powell, and their efforts were soon seconded by others until the movement became general and resulted in the presentations made.
“He stood in the midst of fire at the telephone giving orders to the imprisoned men with the roof burning over his head.”
The Newcastle mine rescue is a reminder that the Puget Sound region was built partly on coal, and that worker safety was once a matter of life-or-death improvisation underground. Coal mining has largely vanished from the area, but the memorial impulse—honoring a worker who risked his life for others—still resonates. The gold-headed cane is gone; the story remains a rare record of labor solidarity and community gratitude.
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