The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-09-07
A MINER ON THE TRAMP.
MINERS HOME" STARK Co., o.,
Aupugt 10 1875.

Editor National Labor Tribune!
| am miner by occupation, and ma
tive of the great State of Illinois, a harm
less individual, and have done some
splendid mining In the land of prairie
flowers. My working tools consist of
thirteen picks, each nine pounds weight,
besides the "smasher," which use
when cars are plenty, it weighs twenty
two pounds, and has a handle seven feet
long, My sledge-hammer is ninety.two
pounds weight, and / have four wedges
each two and half feet long. usually
use horse-rake for cleaning the Goals,
and my average days work is digging
and loading twenty-four tons of clean
coal, Times becoming rather slack in
the prairie State, longed to come East,
and bidding my widowed mother fond
adieu, started on foot for the great State
of Ohio. All my picks were showed down
behind my back, inside of my coat, after
the manner Of my forefathers, who were
Scotcbmen, and noted for drinking whisky
and "howking" Goals. carried my sledge
over my left shoulder, and the wedges in
my coat pockets, and after many days
wandering | landed footsore and weary
at the State capital of Ohio, called on
Governor Hayes, and found His Excel
lency reading an account of the Massil-
lon riots, and the bravery of the gallant
soldiers, who for many long and weary
days guarded twenty-one blaCklegs from
the fury of the savage miners.
"How is your Excellency?" said seat
ing myself in hickory chair, II want
work, being an humble son of subterra-
mean toll"
The Governor received me kindly, and
asked me what influence his action in
the Massillon troubles would have on
the miners vote. | replied, that not be-
ing citizen of Ohio, could not say. he
gave me note to the mine inspector
Mr.. Roy was not in his Office, being in
the Maholing valley, but a small boy
told me to 60 to the Boanerges colliery,
in Stark county, aud / would be sure to
go On. ! started out at once, and reach
ed the mine aftera forced march of three
days and three nights, and presenting
myself before the boss, asked him if he
could give me start. He eyed me cur
iously, took two or three of my picks in
his hand, and finally said l should come
back in three days, and he would give me
definite answer. The three days pass
ed, l meanwhile having found an old as
sociate of former years, who went seCur-
ity for my boarding at the Miners
Home" where whisky and beer flowed
in abundance, Notwithstanding the hard
times. On presenting myself the second
time to the boss, found he did not rec
ognize me. He was new one, the other
fellow having been discharged for saying
| he favored a checkweighman if the mi
ners wanted one. Well, the new boss
could not put me on, but asked me to
call again in a week, That was long
and weary week, but the miners told me
to bear it patiently, and so did. They
said no man dare now complain or he
would be black-listed. Again presenting
myself before the boss, found still an
other new one in charge of the mine,
boss No. 2 having been discharged for
asserting that the MassillOn soldiers ran
on hearing that ten old women would at
tack them. The company said this Ian
guage, though true, was melting more ri
oting and lawlessness among the miners
and that unless this spirit was suppress
ed, no mans life would be safe. Boss
No. said he had no place, but he ex'
pected his cousin from the country, and
his wife's uncle from Indiana, and theil
claims were paramount to all Others
But, said he, if you will wait till month
after next / may haye room for you.
thanked him, saying, / would travel fur,
ther. With my tools all securely around
me, my picks as usual down behind my
coat, started down the railroad for the
Mahoning valley, when | met a man
walking up towards the bank:
"Do you want employment ?" said he
"if so, come with me; tomorrow l as
sumo the underground management OF
the great Boanerges shaft, and | will give
you an entry"
NY blood boiled at the mention ofthat
shaft, and throwing off my coat, while
my picks were scattered in all directions,
/ said:
"Vanish rapidly, sir or l will unfit you
for bossing for even five days"
He sought safety in flight. In two
hours afterward / was arrested and taken
before the Squire on the charge of MUIR
der, but was acquitted. Next day the
MassilIon EraggeratOr and Truth Deter,
the great daily paper, had an in1amma-
tory heading as follows:
Attempted Assassination of a Mine
Boss !"
"Another Strike Among the MinersW
"The Military to be Called Out"
l have sold all my picks, my sledge,
and four wedges, and paid my board bill,
and tomorrow l start on foot for the
State of my birth. | cannot understand
Ohio ways. l was told also that | looked
like a labor agitator, and was perhaps a
Union leader, come to organize miners
union.
Farewell, Mr.. Editor. Farewell, Ohio
I hope to tramp my way back in safety
and if once home will take my good old
mothers advice, and remain under the
paternal roof.
Yours, &C.,
! SAMUEL PRAIRIEFLowER.