The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-03-05
From our Travelling Correspondent.
SHAMoK1N, Pa, Feb. II, 1870

Mr.. EDITOR Having remained silent
for quite long time, l Thought | would
torture you with a line or two from my elc-
waited position e story in the mountains.
Here snow is plenty. gratis; coal plenty 1T
So per ton. The merry laughter of these
mountain bellies, intermin.ling with the
jingle of the bells of brass, makes one feel
glowing in shade of red, the heat of which
must be felt to be Appreciated | envy
them not their hilarity i'll such weather.
There is to DC general strike in the coal
mines on the LIST of March throughout the
entire coal district of Pa, with IL view of
advas cling the price. BY the way, what
goes with the difference between $40 and
the retail price in your town? A margin
for somebody, sure.
Business is the dullest of the dull-the
like never was known. This town of Sha-
nokin is emphatically coal town. They
grow nothing here except coal breakers,
goats and babies the latter too numerous
TO mention. The town has 700 Inhabitants,
the goats not ceunted,) IS churches, $
stores mountains on all sides: the only
way to see ont of town is by looking up
directly over head. Negroes scarce and
Irish plcnty-thc plentitudc accounts for
the scarcity.
These are dreary regions for one accus-
toned to other vicinities ; the people almost
entirely Irish or WEIGH, with sprinklin.
Or intlictien of the everlasting Jew. The
contractors grow wealthy, while the delving
miner, i'll most cases, grows poorer daily,
rs his family and expenses increase. They
work about six months in the year, six
hours per day, for which they get from four
to five dollars per day, all Of which is spent
in improvident and riotous living. until 4
strike occurs then their condition is pitia
ole in the extreme, suffering the pangs Of
hunger almost to starvation. Necessity,
sometimes, and of late not unfrequently.
prompts the male member to go to the road
on his own hook, take his life in his own
hands to obtain the means to sustain his
starving ones in his hut at home and Woe
to him who meets him in these mountain
passes, and refuses to surrender to his crav-
ings. "Sthopr' said Pat to our driver
On Friday night last. while three others
held a bead on our wagon, close to my
neighbours head. sect eout y'r monash -
sud voice of German accent. | don't
like the "swcet German accent, or rich
Irish hresue" any more. "Sthop" That
word is in my ears yet. l see that gun lev
-led still, Ill my dreams. Well, got my
change out of my pack, 81 cents in money.
rwo conductors drawback checks, 30 cts.
more-all gone into the miners fund. My
ncighbor says he lost $14.5G. Well, we
thought that cheap; S17.G7 for a permit to
eat another supper i'll the land Of the living !!
console myself with the idea that my
trade. 1t is one that will not pay heavy
interest, and it's Pats last chance. His
toll is too heavy; the risk too great on
Pats route. | don't like his pass weird
Truly, these people may he classed as ont
laws. In some districts they kill at will on
some imaginary cause of wrong. and it is
impossible to convict. They have a major
ity, and the law cannot be enforced because
they are the executors of that law in ali
cases. The law-abidins citizens being
in the miEority, hold no offices, hence. to
use general term, it's pretty rugged here,
I'm inclined to think. I've taken my last
carriage ride in the mountains hereabouts
would say, if any of Cecil's SONS desire
to enjoy the society of these mountain
guides they should come with two pocket
books; enc to give up as peace Offering.
the other to be carried by an Express Co,
else he may lose both his money and life
CONSERVATIVE.