Antonio "Tony" Zullo

Antonio "Tony" Zullo
Lot 566 / Plot 1
Born 1861
Died November 11, 1903 - New Castle, CO
Brother - Domonic Zullo
Mine Report: Age 32 / Married / Nationality - Italian / Occupation - Shot Lighter
Tony Zullo died in an explosion at the Coryell Mine and his death may have inspired one of the most controversial events in New Castle's history. The mine owner, Perry Coryell, believed the explosion was due to sabotage by the United Mine Workers Union because Coryell would not cave to the demands of the union's request for higher wages. The union coal miners across the state of Colorado were engaged in strikes at most of the mines but Coryell refused to give any ground and continued to operate his mine. The Union denied the charges and argued that Coryell operated an unsafe mine.
On Dec. 17, 1903, a little more than a month after Tony's death, there were 4 houses and the 2nd floor apartments of the Hahn Building dynamited in the hours of 2:00 AM in New Castle. The houses and apartments belonged to local leaders of the United Mine Workers Union. No one was injured but 3 of the homes and the apartments were damaged to the point that they could not be inhabited. Perry Coryell was the primary suspect and it was believed that Tony Zullo's brother Dominic, who worked for Coryell, was involved in seeking revenge for his brother's death. The guilty parties were never discovered although it should be noted that 80 pounds of dynamite could not be accounted for at the Coryell Mine by investigators.

 

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