I think I've just discovered a rather unpleasant skeleton in the cupboard! Perhaps
I'll never find out the truth, but if I can perhaps get some historical context on
things it may help.
My Great Grandfther was a slate miner in Blaenau who went to Colorado, maybe on two
occasions, perhaps around the end of the 1890's and again maybe at some point between
about 1906 and 1912. He died in 1935 aged 64 following an illness that was blamed on the
poisonous gases in the Colorado sulphur mines. I had the feeling this didn't ring
true. His illness sounded more like some degenerative condition of the nervous system.
He was ill for 23 years, the last 9 years of his life he was bed ridden. From what I know
whilst he was able to walk he walked with a sick and gradually became less able to walk at
all. He also lost his sight.
The cause of his death was Locomotor Ataxia. That was the only cause - usually there are
secondary causes, but none given on this occasion. There was no post mortem. That
suggests to me that the medical people knew exctly what was wrong with him. I have looked
on the internet and can only see that Locomotor Ataxia is a result of untreated syphilis.
Such a shock, even all these years on.
What I'd like to know is whether anyone knows of other former slate miners in North
Wales going to Colorado and what type of mine did they usually work in? And does anyone
know anything about Locomotor Ataxia and indeed whether there are other causes apart from
the dreaded untreated syphilis?
Any help would be appreciated.
Linda
Flintshire