The first chapter of our story (from May 1) discussed John Edward “Jack” Inman’s immigration to the United States, his motivations to do so, and his securing work at the Silver King Mine. In April 1913, on the eve of his sailing from Liverpool, Jack promised his parents that he would visit them when circumstances allowed. Two years later Jack planned to honor his promise. Preparing for the journey, he reflected upon his accomplishments and all that had changed over the last twenty-four months.
Jack’s pursuit of the American Dream had become a reality. Unburdened by the class constraints of Great Britain, he flourished as a miner at the Silver King. His income afforded the comfort of a single room at the home of Mrs. James Neil (915 Norfolk Ave). His savings account at the First National Bank of Park City totaled $483.79 – approximately $15k in 2023 dollars. Jack achieved these financial accomplishments during a time when the average weekly income was $20, a total of $1,040 per year (or $31k in 2023).
Besides his professional success, Jack forged friendships with a group of Crown expats – Bert Thomas, Robert Leslie (Cappy) Roach, Herbert Kneebone, George Eddy Thomas and Mel Dingle. Mel had immigrated from Australia, the others from the same region of Britain as Jack: Cornwall. Cappy and George made their escape from class bondage the same year as Jack. They shared a commitment to improve their respective lives. Only in America could one dream so boldly.
The group shared another connection: they were members of The Knights of the Maccabees – a fraternal order providing low cost insurance (life, medical, and final expense) to its approximately 200,000 members. On Saturday March 13, 1915 the organization held its annual state convention in Park City. All six friends attended, “looking sharp,” according to the Park Record.
Credit: Park City Historical Society & Museum, Anderson Family Collection
In early April 1915 Jack began to finalize his travel plans. He met with A.P. Ridge, Union Pacific’s (UP) Park City station agent. Mr. Ridge was also the town’s mayor. He would be Jack’s point-person, working with UP’s ticketing personnel to arrange thru travel to the port of New York City.
The three-day journey would involve three different railroads. UP offered the most direct route to begin his travels. On Tuesday April 20 at 7:00 a.m., from Park City, Jack was to board UP’s train #225 arriving at Echo at 9:15 a.m. Next, he would catch UP train #6, the Omaha Express, at 10:23 a.m. The train would arrive in Omaha at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. From Omaha, Jack would depart at 7:34 p.m. on the Chicago and Northwestern bound for Chicago. Travel from Chicago to NYC would consume another approximately 20 hours.
His train travels secured, Jack cabled the Cunard offices on Steamship Row in NYC, booking third class passage on their premier Atlantic greyhound – the Lusitania. The ship would depart on Saturday May 1, set to arrive in Liverpool on Friday May 7.
But before leaving Park City, Jack needed to settle a few personal matters. Stay tuned for those details in the third installment of “The American Dream Torpedoed.”