The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-12-18
FR1M KENTUCKY.

RocKPoRT, Ohio Co, KY, Dec. 3.
FRIEND CAMERON l left home ON Dec.
1, en- route for the coal fields Of Tennessee,
to view and report, IN accordance with
duty imposed by the Miners National As
suclatlon, and met Mr.. Slney In Louis
Vile. Mr.. $. had got there ahead Of me,
and had found friend Robert GIlchrist,
true labor reformer. and chief Of the po
lice force Of this city. Friend g. showed
us around the city, and introduced us to
B. Du Pont, Esq, President Of the Louis
VILE, Paducah and Southwestern Railroad,
who urged us to 60 by way of his railroad
and see if We could not find some coal
lands along it fit to purchase. Mr.. Du
Pont in turn introduced US 10 L. NJ.
PAYNE, a coal mine operator, Oh Green
River, on the line Of the railroad. Mr..
Payne insisted on us stopping off at bis
mines. that we would find his brother
there. who would take care Of us, as there
was no hotel near.
Being obliged to wait several hours IN
Louisville for the train, We were shown
around town by Brother GIlchrist, through
the City Hall, the Museum, and other
notable places | found many beautiful
fora Of the coal measures in the museum,
and began discussion with the geologist
in charge, on the age OF man. | nam
tanned he had been on our planet 100. OW
years, while the geologist declared he had
not been here longer than I 900 or S,OOt
years Messrs Sney and GIlchrIst, feel
ing hungry, and more anxious to supply
the present wants Of an than t. investi-
gate his probable prehistoric age, moved
an adjournment TOT dinner, and 50 our
debate was cut short.
We took the cars at p. NJ on the "a,
for Green River, arriving there at mid
night We knocked at the door Of George
Payne, Esq, in accordance with instruc-
tions received from his brother in Louis
vile, who had assured us we would be
warmly welcome l, and most cordially en-
tertained Master George raised the win
dow and demanded who we we're and what
We wanted. We replied we had been sent
here by his brother, as there was no hotel
near. He said he would not keep US, as
he had company Mr.. Siney feeling his
blood rise at such treatment, was beginning
to open volley of wrath, but | suggested
that discretion was the better part Of val
or. and he cooled down. 1t was dark as
pitch; you could not see your finger be-
fore you. and it was also raining Across
the liver we were told there was hotel,
and so we started for it down the railroad.
We had not gone 200 yards before We en-
countered the trestle work leading to the
river. We could not see, to have gone
forward was impossible, and so facing
about, we took contrary departure. We
passed forward q mile, crossing a number
OF cattle guards over which we CROPPED IN
mortal fear, for we could see nothing At
length we came to a switch, and following
il we encountered some loaded cars. Pass
ing forward we saw a light, and hallooed
with all our might, but got no response.
We resolved to get on Top Of the dump
and find the coal mine. SIney sad. as
was inspector, should make an eIamina-
ton and report. found a ladder, and
cropping my way up, found myself on one
platform, but my new stOve-pipe hat,
bought for this special trip, kept humping
the ceiling, and further up | could not
get. After multitude Of efforts | found
another ladder, and mounting, reached the
dump house, the President at my heels.
We both I.early fell into the shutes, and at
length passing all danger, came up to the
mine. 1t proved to be a shaft. We cried
aloud IN such tones as might have raised a
dead man. and we're rewarded with an an
.wer from the Waterman, who true to his
post, was lying asleep on top OF the boiler.
We reused this worthy, who told US there
vas no place to get put up-that most cf
he miners we're niggers and one might |
tay where we were all night if we liked, |
md we we're glad Of the chance. We sat
Town and began telling stories, repeating
,oety, etc. Siney wished often that A. z.
cameron was here to keep us company for
he night Said Siney, what does 1t avail
-ou Mr.. Roy to be inspector Of mines Of
hs great State Of Ohio" Said ], John,
that advantage is 1t 70 you to be presl-
emit Of the most powerful labor organi1a- !