Introduction

Growing Up

Striking Out

Taking Charge

Taking Charge

While working as miners, Bernard, John and Edward studied at home to become mine supervisors. In the 1910’s, Bernard, the oldest brother, became manager of all of the mines in Coal Creek. John became a pit boss at No. 1 East Mine. At the time, this was the biggest mine in the town. Edward became a fire boss in the same mine.

Illustration by Joce Thomas.

These jobs were very important. Mine managers looked after all the mines in an area like Coal Creek. They made the reports that were put out every year by the BC government.

Detail of underground coal mine map in the Elk Valley. Courtesy of The Crow's Nest Pass Coal Company Archives

Pit bosses were in charge of single mines. They took detailed notes of everything that happened in their mines, including repairs and accidents. They also measured the mine tunnels as the miners removed more rock.

Fire bosses looked after the safety of certain sections of mines. Each shift, they entered the mines before anyone else to check for dangerous gases. Fire bosses also checked labourers entering the mines for cigarettes or other dangerous items, and checked that their headlamps were safe to use. A spark from a cigarette or flame lantern could set off an explosion, killing many people in the mine.

Methane indicator. 4665 courtesy of FDHS

Gas indicator. 4696 courtesy of FDHS

In "company" mines, where miners were paid for each day they worked, fire bosses also set explosives to loosen the coal faces. The miners dug side tunnels, called "splits," so that the fire bosses could set off the explosives from a safe distance. The miners then moved in to shovel the loose coal onto conveyors.

The three Caufield brothers worked as supervisors for many years before retiring. The other brothers, William and Thomas, also worked in the Coal Creek mines for a long time. William remained a miner for the rest of his working life. Thomas usually worked as a lampman, checking and charging the miners' headlamps after their shifts. He later returned to Ireland to help his sisters look after the Caufield acreage in Rostrevor.

The last mines at Coal Creek closed in 1958. The days of underground coal mining in the Elk Valley were mostly over. The skills of underground miners and bosses like the Caufield brothers were also lost, but they had helped develop the coalfields of the Elk Valley so that their children could have a future there.