The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-06-23
BY MrTCHENER & MATHEWS
HORRORS OF, THE COLLIERIES-YOUNG
GIRLS EMPLOYED IN COAL-MINES INSTEAD


Mr.. BrothertOR,
The petitioner has had OCCASION 10 visit many OF The
coal mines of Lancashire, where he has often been as
tonished 10 find numbers of femaes employed, OF ages
Varyng from eight years and upwards. Their occupa-
ton is chiefly in pushing and drawing tubs or small
wagons full of coal from the place. where it is hewn
down to the wagon ways. The Goals are generally
drawn along the wagon ways TO the pit mouth by po>
nieS but down the bays boards (he passages rrn~
ming on the rise and dip Of the seam) which are often
at considerable inclination. sometimes as much as two
feet in fve and very low, these animals cannot be
employed, so women are made Of in their stead At
first view it is difficult 10 distinguish the sexes emp 10y
cd IN mine, since both, when dressed are clothed in
rough miners ffocks and Howsers, and it was only by
the exposure of the upper parts Of their persons and
their voices that your petitioner first noticed the females
BACKED and dressed as they were The men, IN deep
mines, where the atmosphere is very hot, generaiY
work without any other article of dress upon them than
slight neither garment The employment of the ie-
males, az before stated is in conveying the Goals from
the workings down to the wagon ways each Oft them
ia provided with souto belt fastened round The lower
part of her waist to the front Of this 10 attached strong
chain which lastens by hook to the wagon or tub
When drawing the empty tubs or wagons up the IN"
clined plane the chsn passes between the legs oi the
woman, who creeping her legs and arms d:ags them
up very steep ncIinations, the whole length of the
ways or boards. On pushing the laden wagons down
the wagon way, the cham is used in steadyng them
Your petitioner will now give narritive of visit
made by himself to mine in the county OF lancashire
in the latter part of the month Of September lie was
dressed as MINER and went down into the pit in such
manner as 10 see the workings such as they are gem
eneralIy carried on, and without The coliers or their
employers being aware of his character as visitor
The shaft was two hundred yards deep. About thirty
boys and grls wero Employed the former being Of ages
from eight to fourteen years Of age The boys were
mostly engaged in driving the Wagons. The girls
were of ages varying from ten years and upwards, and
were employed as already described Your petitioner
after proceeding up thu moline, went into wide bay
where there were three PERSONS namely, an old man
Of about fifty years of age. and two young men-The
coal was in this part being entirely worked out This
bay was from eight to ten yards long. and six yards
wide, and no props or punches were usedi the seam
of coal was near FIVE feet in thickness. Your peti-
TONER entered into conversation with the elder man,
who was an intelligent person for his class, and re'
marked that the bay very wide to be worked with
out props or punches being used. He replied, that it
was perfectly SAFE as the roof good and falls in
the mine were not common. While engaged in this
conversation, child not four years Of age crept out of
a hole. The old lnan said that he was his son, and
that he would not be fit for work for year. On your
uetitioner asking the father why he brought such an
infant down into the pit, he replied that his wife and
daughters all worked in the mine, and there was nos
body at home to take of the child SO no brought
him there to be out of harms way. At this PERIOD
some pieces fell from the roof which caused your pc
iioner again 10 remark that it was either not very safe,
or there was considerable quantity of fire damp es-
Gaping through it. The man stated that he considered
the roof good and after few observations your petl
toner went down the incline about fifty yards to the
wagon way. Here he was engaged in observing The
women and girls pushing the tubs full of coal down.
and dragging empty ones up the inclines The dis
gusting nature of the employment Of these poor crea'
lures was bad enough of ITSELF but to hear the awful
swearing, obscene conversation, and filthy songs
would make my person believe that he was in liant
Of savages rather than in civilized England. Your pc
dioner had been IN this place about five minutes wher
dull heavy sound was heard, the mine shook, ant
was all as death. This silence not Of more thar
few moments DURATION when several heavy souLd
followed. cry that bay had fallen ia
and scene ensued that.defes description. The peI
prayed, the women howled and screamed, and SOM
aran one way and some another, making towards the
shaft Alter a short lapse Of lime, some Of the mer
proceeded to examine the bay which had fallen in, ant
found it that which your petitioner had left but
few minutes before. The two young men, being nea
the side Of it, had escaped; but the poor old man ant
his child had been crushed DEATH and buried under
some hundred tons Of the roof Your petitioner
viuced that the employment Of females in coal mines
10 be attributed to the early age at which children
ntrod uced into such places by their parents. The pa
rents having spent most Of their lives in mines, ant
being thoroughly accustomed to the they witness
see no improperly in them. The female children
brought down in early infancy, have no correct idea
ofhe dangers Of mine; the scenes Of vice and wick
edness or the disgusting and laborious nature of the
employment. Amidst the scenes described are chill
dren at the tender ages Of eight and ten years. Their
they pass their days until they become wives and mo
Nthers. Can such emplOYmentS as they are engaged in
and such scenes as they continually witness, t then
to become good wives and mothers. and make tn
poor nians home comfortablOl Golfers are often &C
cpsed Of being an ignorant and disordery body ofms
without any inquiry being made as to the cause Of lhe
ignorance and dsOrderly CONDUCT