The Crowsnest Pass is famous for the tragic rock slide at Frank in 1903, but almost as famous are the many coal-mining tragedies that afflicted the region in the early twentieth century. With the discovery of a rich coal deposit in the region, the area underwent an economic boom & a spike in population that is still evidenced today. Unfortunately, with this type of mining, in rugged & often dangerous conditions, comes the threat of disaster & occasionally death. This book examines carefully the various calamities that have afflicted the area & considers the impact on the inhabitants & victims of these numerous tragedies. Using original source material such as grave markers, folk songs & oral histories, the author portrays vividly the psychological & sociological features of both the individual & collective responses to death & danger, giving the reader a unique picture of mining communities that is as true today as it was a century ago.