It's dark as a dungeon and damp

as the dew,

Where the danger is double and

pleasures are few,

Where the rain never falls and

the sun never shines,

It's dark as a dungeon way down

in the mine.

---Merle Travis, "Dark as a Dungeon"

 He had come into the mining industry in the hills of West Virginia as a boy. Running water for the workers on a night shift, and going to school by day. The son of a common mine worker in the fledgling industry.

The years past and he was there to see the mine turn from hand work to modern steam powered heavy mining equipment and machinery. And he was a clever lad with a knack for things mechanical. He gravitated to that part of things in the mine. Mechanic’s apprentice to full mechanic. Followed by promotion after promotion. But he had a problem. He had itchy feet and yearned to go west to the colored metal mines where the pay was far better.

He read all the industry journals sharpening his knowledge and skills, and one day spotted an ad for a mine superintendent if the Arizona territory for the Chicago Industrial Corporation.  He responded by taking the next train to Chicago. He presented his resume at a high level interview and was asked to wait in the outer office, when he was recalled. A rough draft of a contract he could not refuse was presented and accepted.

Within the week he stepped off the train in Copper Creek, Territory of Arizona. The new Superintendent of the CIC mines.

He wondered how he would fare with his private side of life in a rough western town.. He did have his penchant for the ladies and his home made brew, sometimes a fair amount of both. He also had a love for the mines. Only time would tell.