Besides Americans from many states, the city had a cosmopolitan aspect representing many nationalities: Italy, Greece, England, Mexico, France, Germany, Yugoslavia, Japan and China. Many of the immigrants lived in boarding houses. During leisure hours the men entertained themselves with native games like soccer, and cooking their country's food for friends and visitors.

Dawson's long life was scarred by 2 terrible mine tragedies. The unbroken rows of uniform crosses in Dawson's cemetery are a vivid reminder of those events. On October 22, 1913 at 3:10 PM, a solid mass of fire catapulted from the mouth of Mine #2. Moments later 15 men stumbled out too dazed to know what happened. Two men from the Koehler Mine came to help and were asphyxiated during their rescue attempt, 25 more men managed to escape. The death toll was 265, including the rescuers. The other major tragedy was on February 8, 1923, at 2 PM. An explosion crumbled the reinforced concrete mine entrance of Mine #1. Miraculously 2 men came out alive, but 120 perished.

Compiled and editied by Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated May, 2016.

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