Charles Edwin Loose

In 1882, Charles Edwin Loose, one of Bodie’s prominent residents, was shot by a mine watchman who thought Loose and a friend were getting too close to the Addenda Mine dumps. Loose known as “Ed,” or “Ned,” arrived in Bodie in 1876 and was the first owner of the “Bodie Mine,” one the most successful mines in Bodie. His brothers, Warren and William followed him to Bodie to help protect the claim from jumpers and eventually sold the mine for good price. After the sale, he continued working in mining circles in Bodie and according to a biography of his life written by grandson Edwin Loose Peterson, he “lived by a very rigid code of the West."

His participation in Bodie’s history meant he knew many notable residents. William H. Metson, a young lawyer in the law offices of Pat Reddy, was one of his friends. Metson went onto achieve prominence in legal and financial circles in the West. He said Ed Loose, “taught me everything I know outside of my law. He taught me to ride, fight, shoot, take care of myself and always be on the straight.”

The shooting incident in 1882 occurred when Loose and a friend took a walk up the bluff, “for no other purpose than merely exercise,” claimed a newspaper report. They walked by the Addenda Mine, greeted the watchman, Pat Curtis, and continued walking up near the dump. There, they stopped to look at the rock. That’s when Curtis approached, now armed with a loaded and fully-cocked shotgun and shouted at them to get away from the rocks. “What do you mean? You can order me off without a shotgun,” Loose is said to have replied. Curtis fired.

The buckshot “riddled the flesh and muscle of Loose’s right arm near the shoulder,” reported the newspaper. After Loose fell, Curtis discharged the shotgun again, with buckshot hitting his left arm. As Curtis began to reload, Loose and his friend quickly retreated downhill. Miraculously, Loose’s injuries were minor, with no broken bones. Curtis was soon arrested.

The grandson’s biography recounts the story of the shooting, although the name of the mine is different. And according to this account, Loose was interested in acquiring the mine. Still, Curtis’ reaction seemed a little extreme. In 1892, Edwin returned to Provo, Utah where he worked in mining, financial and political circles. He served as state senator from 1903-1906 and became vice-president of Provo Commercial and Saving Bank. He returned to visit Bodie frequently. “The grapevine would carry the word that Ned Loose is in town, and prospectors, miners, woodchoppers, etc. would beat it into town…to see their old friend,” states his grandson’s biography. One of his visits back to Bodie was to meet with his brother Warren about buying the old Syndicate Mine properties. The brothers bought the property and organized the New Bodie Mining Company in the early 1900s.

After an adventurous life, he died at age 76 and is buried in Provo, Utah.

Photo of Edwin Loose (seated) and William Metson courtesy of Ed Peterson.