Montana History Club Speaker: Doug Ammon— A Darkness Lit by Heroes: The Speculator-Granite Mountain Mine Disaster of 1917
An unexpected fire deep in the main shaft trapped hundreds of miners deep underground, and they attempted to escape frantically by any means possible through adjacent mines as the smoke and poison gas invaded the tunnels. This is a mining story on the surface, but the real story is of the human spirit, revealing what our deepest nature is when we are suddenly thrust into life and death situations with no warning. The story allows us to see a mirror of ourselves, showing everything that humans can be, from the most frantic animal desperation to the greatest courage and self-sacrifice imaginable. One comes away from the story saddened at the tragedy, but inspired by the heroes who appeared in the darkness deep below. Refreshments provided by Pat Kidder, Marilyn Anderson, Ann Line, and Joanne Klietz. Presentation in the Large Meeting Room. 7:00 PM