Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-03-21
" R0bbing the Pillars"
A PERIL OF THE COAL MINES.
BY WALTER FENTON.

When a coal mine is being worked
large masses of coal. or pillars, are left
at intervals to support the roof, and af-
ter the mine is worked out" these
pillars are mined away. The operation
Of removing them is technically called
"robbing the pillars" and il is the
most dangerous work known to the min
er for the roof caves in as the sustain
ing columns are removed, not unfre-
quently burying the miner forever be-
meath o mountain of rock and earth.
With this brief explanation of our IT,
tie we proceed to narrate an incident of
thrilling nature that recently occurred
in Pennsylvania coal mine.
The night is bitterly cold, and the
singing north wind bowls and whistles
about miners hut in the Pennsylvania
coal regions. Ever and anon a violent
gust drives the drifting snow beneath
the door, and through the many crew.
ces of the rudely constructed cot, and
each wild blast seems to shrek in the
ears of those within that abode of pow
erty the dread word: Famine! fam.
incl faminep
A man and woman are crouching
beside smoldering fire, and in cradle
between them an infant is sleeping.
Hunger and want have stamped their
dreadful signs upon them. Their faces
are thin and pale, their eyes are hollow,
and the wolfish glare OF starvation
flashes in their glance. The mans
head has sunk upon his breast, and his
attitude is that of sullen despair his
long, slender fingers, which he extends
over the poor fire, work nervously, and
. dark frown rests upon his brow.
The woman rocks the cradle, and in
q weak, plaintive voice chants a nursery
hymn |; while, with Look of agony and
yearning such as only the devoted
mother can bestow, she gazes upon the
skeleton face of her starving child.
The infant awakes from its troubled
sleep, and its cry of hunger breaks
upon that poor mothers ears, and
wrings her heart with anguish, for she
has no food to give it. Mechanically
she takes the baby to her breast, and
strives to give it the nourishment for
want of which it is perishing, but the
iount is dry, and the little one looks up
into its mothers face with great piteous.
wondering eyes. Then that mother
fortitude gives way, and she sobs aloud
ina despairing burst of awful grief while
to her breaking heart she clasps the
furnishing babe.
In silence the man has looked upon
the heart rending scene, but all the
sacred emotions of the husband, and of
the father, are stirred within his breast,
Can he calmly look upon the awful
grief of the woman he loves, and upon
the suffering of his only child? No. he
springs to his feet, and standing erect.
and at his full height, he smitss his
clenched hand upon his breast and
tiercely cries
By heavens will have food for Won
this night! The good God never made
man to starve in this land of plenty if
he is willing to work. Wife, 1 am 90
ing forth to seek food, and I'll get il.
Yes, I'll get it, and if in no other way
then l ,ciH steal IL. am desperate I
am wolf now, and I would tear the
throat of him who dares to come be-
tween me and the food seek for nv
starving family"
As he spoke he drew his thin and tat.
tered clothing more closely about his
eraaciated form, and strobe toward the
door.
"Oh, John, joint" cried the woman
rising and following him. "Where
are you going?" What are you about
to do I? Stay. do not go forth into the
storm tonight. Wait until morning
comes"
Wait! I tell you, Mary, the babe is
starving. No, no, must go now"
But, John, help may come to-mor-
row. have written to my father, I
have told him that THAT L and nv
babe are starving, and he will not-can.
not refuse to help us now"
" All. Mary, when you became nv
wife he drove you from his home. dis
owned you, because 1 was poor. He
wished you to become the bride of a
wealthy man he is hard, cruel faith
er, and your hopes will prove ground
less. Mary, would work until / fell
dead at my task, rather than accept his
charity. But there is no work. the
mines are idle, and day after day / have
sought in vain for some labor by which
could earn our bread"
"Oh, if my father does not aid us
then God help us! Oh, must my baby
die ?-must we starve-must We starye ?"