Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-08-12
HORRIBLE DEGRADATION OF WO-
MEN AND CHILDREN.

has recently been called to practice Of en-
ploying women, and children of both sexes,
in the coal mines and, incredible as it must
appear to those who have unboundcd faith in
English philanthropy, it seems well ascer-
tanned that one-third of the tens of thousands
employed in the coal mines are under EIGII-
teen, and onc-third of these less than Tll1R-
TEEN years of age p!
1t also appears that at five years of age
very many Of these children arc buried in
these mines, and that cases have occurred
where children Of only THREE years Of age
have been daily taken to The mlncs and kept
there during the entire working hours 10 hold
IA candle for the parents At this moment
there are probably FIFTY THOUSAND women,
girls, and children under THIRTEEN, working
tcn twelve, and even sixteen hours day in
coal mines, up to their ANGLES in mud and
water; and in very many instances toing all
day long, and drawing immense weights on
their hands and feet, without even getting an
opportunity to stand erect Girls of eleven
years of age arc made to carry from 10 to
100 lbs, and women frequently 800 weight.
Husbands have even been known to scverly
injurc themselves in lifting the weight of Goals
to be placed on the backs of their infant
children
In short, the extracts which we find in the
London Quarterly for June, and the West
minister Review for July, from the report of
the Commissioners, appointed in relation to
this subject, to Parliament, exhibit state of
things in the colierios as much worse than
Slavery has ever been depicted in the West
Indies, as it is possible for the mind to con-
ccve. We arc pleased 10 learn, however,
by the last arrival from Europe, that Lord
AsIilcy's bill, to amciorae the condition of
the golfers, has passed the Lords, and will
doubtless become law.
In some parts Of the mines, where the
seams Of coal are thick, the miners life is
comparatively an easy one, as horses and as
scs are used to draw the coal out oithe seams.
But IN most of the mines the seams vary
all the labor Of men, women, and children,
is done in sitting posturc-trequently in
an almost horizontal position. We copy
from the QUARTER description Of the life
, of IA trappcr of eight years Of age, promising
l that they arc frequently still younger -
= ". Y. Courier.
"The haPper, Child of eight years Of
= AGE, awakened by his mother at bali pasttwo,
4. NJ, puts on his clothes by the cver-bIaz-
= ING fire of Golfers cottage, filled his tin
bottle with coffee, and starts with lump OF
! Tread for the pit he is let down the shaft,
! and walking in the bowels of the earth for
= more than mile along the horsc-way, he
reaches the barrOC rag, used by the young
:, men and boys who push their trans with
the tubs on the rails to the fatS-a debatca-
=, bic land, where the horse and barrow ways
;, ;, meet, and where the Goals are transferred tc
. the 'rolley,' or horse carriage, to be Ultimate
" " delivered at the shaft by means of the quad
rupcd, instead Of the biped who had hitherto
brought them from the newer. The chile
takes his place on one Of the barrow ways
, in a small hole scoped out for him of the sizC
"a OF chimney nool-his duty is to sit by til,
~ side Of the door or trap,' which closes th(
- way, and 10 open it the moment he hear
~ the l'atter running up his tub for lively,
" hours he squats down with the door strinI
y in his hand, without light, and without dar
- ing to move from the spot. lie sits solita
7 nv, aud has no one to talk to him, for in til,
- pit the whole of the people, men and boys
are as busy as in sea-fght.' Ills fathe
l. &, Il. I.
o candle, but the boys daily wages of tel
- pence is soon not thought enough to spar
Nv Nv three Lalipcnce for light He may take t
- - his collec-b bottle and bread, but should he ia
ro asleep, a smart cut with the 'yardwand' fror
a deputy overman never fails to rouse him
IA mild punishment as compared to that whic
the puttcr would have inflicted had he ioun
'''' the door closed, and his tram stopped
-, got my hammers tCice, means, was twic
SO beaten. app. !. p. 3S| Thus tn
Ia young creature soon learns practically TN
',, on him depends the lives of the whole con
"s munty; on the closing of the door the vel
tlation Of the mine hinges. AT four o'cloc
, ~ a cry of Loose, loose !! is shouted dow
in the shaft, and carried on by signal voices f
= many miles through roads and passages
the very extremity Of the mine. The traI
per hears it, but must wait until the last pu
i've ter has passed with his tram, and then
AT. pursues his journey to the foot of the shat
as. wa its his turn for ascent, and returning
a his fathers cottage, finds dinner of potato
and bacon, large fire, and, it is hoped,
quiet home he is then thoroughly wash,
,art in hot water and put TO bed. lie avoids
in game with his coevals, lest he should f
f asleep the mex, day at his trap. The Satu
pay day after pay Friday is holiday at Il
y pit, which is spent by him in sleep till min
aud then in picking up horse manure on 4
highways for his fathers garden. Sunday
but in many places at least, devoted to his scho,
and 10 his church, to his walk with lis pla