Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-08-12
The Spanish Miner.

A REVIEWER, speaking of Hugh James
Roses . Untrodden Spain and the Black,
Country saws: Decidedly the most char
acteristic part of Mr.. Roses book is his
account of the black country" or mining
districts, of which he had considerable
experience The Spanish miner is as
rough and reckless as those of his calling
generally, but he has many OF the most
sterling qualities Of his country people,
with more than ordinary Spanish light
heartedness. He works exceedingly hard,
but he lives tolerably well, although but
poorly paid according to English ideas.
MI. Rose gives vivid account of his days
occupation from the start at early morn
inc, when he breaks his fast on cakes, cot
fee and aguardiente bought at the stalls
set out along his road, to the more solid
supper with his family of an evening,
when he relaXes after his labor with music
and merriment. He is fond Of song, and
improvises freely as he goes along to his
work, choosing the subject Of his monoto-
nous refrain from any casual incident that
may strike him. Like all Span
iards he insists on reIigiously cele-
brating any number of festas, although
his manner of making holiday is apt
to degenerate into debauch. For
the morality of the mining districts
is as low as may be- and the certainty that
their lives will be short seems to induce
the miners to make the most OF them in
their own way. Their work is often dan
gerous, for the native mine-OWners pay
little attention to the internal economy Of
the mines, and the strongest constitutions
succumb to the unWhOlesOme atmosphere
the miners inhale The quicksilver mines
of Armada are, of course the most deadly.
In these the salvation is excessive, and it
is said to be almost as bad among the cop
per veins of Rio Tinto. In the lead mines,
strange to say, the action Of the mineral is
more gradual but pulmonary consump-
ton, fever and Z" lead cOlic'' are the most
fatal complaints. The miner seldom lives
to greater age than thirty -four, and it is
a common saying with the girls in the
neigh bOrhOod: ct is hard to marry a
miner, for he must leave US so soon"
That proper sanitary precautions might
do much to prevent this mortality is
proved by the experience of for
eign companies. But in Spain, as
everywhere else. the workmen object to
restraint and regimen, although death and
painful disease are the penalties of neg
lecting them; and the native mine propri-
etors, with the national Indifference, leave
their people to do as they please. AL
though the miner takes his copa Of strong
liquor after his coffee, or corrects with oc-
casional stimulants the foulness of the at
moSphere he breathes, as rule he is not
addicted to drunkenness. He is content
with poor wages and is cheerful on coarse
fare; and if he must be called superstitiOus
rather than religious at least he makes life
endurable by cultivating a cheerful fatal
ism. These men Of the "black country
are naturally among the toughest and
least educated classes of the population,
yet Mr.. Rose pronounces them to be g Ma
lures gentlemen" He says, talking of
the miner: HE could not say or do
rude thing To walk with the stranger;
to relieve him of any load he may be car
rying under a burning sun; to offer you
and the offer is meant-a share of his sim
pie meal, if you chance 10 come upon him
when dining, is simply his habit"