The New York herald., 1871-03-19
THE COAL MINERS.
How They Live Under Ground
and Over.
The Habits Of the Germans and Irish Conver-
sations With Miners and heir Families
Irish and English the Greatest Suffer-
ers-"Do Contingent Fund" and
How 1t is Used.

ASHLAND Pa, March II, 1871.
Ihe miners. IKE all other people, show their true
natnres when overtaken by adversely. have been
much Interested IN these comparatively isolated peo-
ple during the past two months. Their patience IN
suffering and distress, their true manhood and un-
complaining quiet demeanor under the evils that
aillict them have all impressed me with the convlc-
ton that ihey ARE more snned against than SHINING
II they were engaged In broils ana outrages
II they were complaining and fault finding
like other people placed III the same circumstances
1t would not be surprising, relieved they are to
great extent, from the obligations er citizens in
more popuous parts OF the country For some
unaccountablc reason public Oplnloa Is against
them; an outrage Or murder Is committed by
one OF their nunber-there are bad men among
them, as there are in all classes Of societyand the
whole community is blamed FOR the afiar, and tins
Is the way puoc opinion against them is strength
ened. Residents OF cities read an account OF an
AFFAIR OF more Than ordinary barbarlty, ard
Immediately the cry is raised against all the
miners Ia the coal regions. The great majority
OF miners l believe TO be peaceable law-abidng
people. They go to their work IN the morning deep
In tue bowels of the earth, and amid dangers not
dreamed OF by the more fortunate tollers above
ground. where they pursue their hazardous occu-
patton.
There are extra gangs for night work. Some
men prefer working at night--t makes no difference
whether they WORK by day night IL Is all the same;
the little "hreny attached to their caps TO light them
on their dubious way Is no more eueetua in the day
time than at night. The blackness OF darkness en-
compasses them the year round.
REruRNrKG FROM HIS LABOR,
he strips, and the good vile gives him scrubbing
from head TO foot; every time he comes from the
mine this process is repeated. little shany at the
back or rs larger shaaty, with a tub fun OF hot
water, awaits him on each return from work. ana here
he retires in COMPANY with his helpnate, and the
scruobing begins. Having been thoroughly cleaned
he sirs down with his numerous lamlly-and
miners do have numerous families-the humble
meal IS partaken OF and the head or the family
retlres 70 enjoy that special solace OF the mlnera
smoke from MS dudheen, TO talk politics or dis
cdss the latest news lron the old country.
-, pad visit TO miners shanty this morning
The man OF tue house no. at homc, but MS wife
was. Wneu entered she struggling through
rhyme 10 a oca paper abusive OF Irish laborers.
Paddy IRON Cork Is wantin': he's wantn his rights
bad cess to them, they're atther keepin the bread
from GnG cblluer'S mouth: they 're-----H
seed save YOU, sir Did you want PathrlckYr
she was waxing very wroth over the 'pome''
When entered, and locked up and saw me standing
above exclamation.
"No, don's care particularly to see Patrick. 1
merely wish to see how you are gettiug along dur
Ing suspension"
lt's mighty poor we're getn along, then It's
naru tilneS, these, tilatS on S0rra oil o. meat
has KEN over the doorstep the las. Two Weeks.u
"How do you manage 10 live ?'
"Weei, we just struggle along the best we can.
We're horIn' tae 'byey WIN go 10 WORK soon; but
they have been idle TWO months am I'm learn the
thing is pettln' worse, sir.o
'IIow many children have your
'.Nine; an meDee wen have more before spring.
Yes never can tell whatli happen. The Virgin only
knows.n
'Aine children and nothing to eatl No meat or
Hour ~
"lcs we've had a scrapln' o. -four; but bless ye,
G. inst trll
weeks since rasher of bacon Or pound
OF beef crossed the step; we have
few petaees LETT. but thims most out. Did We hear
OF the three cbiider tnat was found by a docther
near Potisvle
NEARLY STARVED TO DEATH,
and their mother poor thing. lynn sick in the beds
koy It's tie thrufh though. The docther was called
skeletons, an they toud the oocther they had been
lv,n' on some scrapns OF meal lor over three weeks.
Hear that now, ani rel me II min didn't suffer.
AT this momenj her husband entered, ana the good
woman lnlormed hinl tIaG was looking round TO
see how the miners Jared during the suspension.
"We. YOU may believe me or not but so tnrue as
I'm a iyin maa those the hdrd times. Do you
think there Is any show Tor goln' 10 work. SAID the
man OF tUo house.
.Ihat remains with yourselves. Neither you nor
the operators propose TO give to one another,
until this is done ! don't well see how you can
resumeh
''1ioth, that's so; but mebbe thcyi give up soon
ana we can reslme work Bddy. dld ye AK Tie
have any, WON'T ye, sirt Wen. suppose every man
knows fwat he wants best; not that i'm dhrinkini
man myself but Just kare 1t on hand tor lear the
cGders or the ouid woman might be tux SICK
suda,nt.n
Couldn't You get some store orders rom your old
bosses 10 Keep you cut TIL The pressure Is ~
"Store orders, Jid ye say. an from thlm? NOT a
bit OF II. Some OF thlm are tight pushed them
hecrd at the cfossln the day. Some OF The bosses
lnaming some o. the leading operators here) told
saith OF the hotel, tnat the was gon TO give him
Their notes Tor their months board tn month. 'ce
Jasns, ii you do,' says Smith, III thin notes
up Tor soup. an see how yen Ike it. ye'il not be
fI.arw
the tnlng quick thought Barry o'Shea would kill
hisseif laughln whea / tod nlm aboutit.n
During the time this dialogue was being carrie q
on the DERALD reporter had ample time 10 notice
that the furniture Of the cottage looked rather sn
that the dishes were thrown, rather ihan placed
with regard 10 uniformity and neatuess, III rue
closet. and everything within The house bore an
mistakable ar Of careessness. On the table were
'patnricK's" wife was btsily engaged in uarning,
that tney might at least be whole. 4
We're ' near the stove ana ana eaunt sUe hunary gps
looking DOG was stretched out near the hearth.
What re could ind around that house to make it an
inducenent to board there cannot imagine. The
c1nuntrum Is beyond my comprehension, ana |
give IL ~. Not the lrsl sign OF that indication
wnere, neither did see anything fhat resemDled
chicken. The first twoweeks OF the suspension had
suspended their animation. Tney iau indeed
GONE wHERE TILE GOOD CaIoKEss GO.
IL cannot lie denied that there aie times when
miners make very good wages-as high as six dol.
lars per day. yet these imes are generally 0. short -
ration: but for al ihat the miners can stand
proseer,y; lhcy win ges their husbands money and
20 down town ana spend nearly every cent OF IT
lor dresses and iancy goods before they
stop. sometimes the miners themselves spend most
oil their month's salary-aways after paving tnelr .
DEUS 10 the grocer ana butc!er-lor "a nights or
weeks drunk; buS these last cases are rare. The +
wlic is generally tie disDur-er. Anything they
want they uuy without any special regard 10 price.
They are for the most part very mprovident. The 4
Wcisn ana Germans are more saving: t3ey ire
qucnty save enough money 10 buy a house or farm 4
OIL their own besides this tney gcGeraiiv nave some
money ~ Dank Tor sudden eergeneies ike the pre-
the neCe.saries OF life are comparatively hight yet
all arc suffering mere or less.
From mY experience thus far am led to conclude |
thai there II more absolute
SUFFERING AMONG TIE IRISH
anu English miners tnan anlcng The Scotch ana !
Germans. am quite sure there Is no absolute sur.
lerIng among the Germans. uut tI.e IRISH anl Eng.
lish nave. fear, heen rather inrrovIdent What I
tneY did not spend FOR wniskCy beer their wives
haze spent for ne clothes or other nxures Tor we