Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-05-10
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COAL MINERS.
How They Provide for tho widows and
OTphsns.-msrry Out Of Generosity.

n hIINlIH
Wilkesbarre, Pa. says: Accidents In
the collieries of the middle district Of
the anthracite coal fields, Of which this
city is the center, made last year nearly
one hundred widows and over five
hundred orphans. But nOtwIthstand'
ing the frequency Of fatal accidents
and the absence ofany organized chari
ty, the larders Of the widowed families
are never empty, none go naked, the
household fires are not extinguished
and the little home Is never stripped
by landlords warrant. Kind hands
see that food Is provided each day, and
the men returning from their work in
the mines do not forget 70 carry 10 the
widows home lump Of anthracite foI
the next days use. Communism in q
peculiar sense prevails among the coal
miners Of Pennsylvania. The lucky
divide with the unlucky a. readily and
as cheerfully as if they belonged to ono
family. However much all may
quarrel on abstract questions of poll
ties or religion, all discussions are
dropped at the appeal Of charity.
While, rs has been said, no organ
lied relief societies exist among the
colliers, there is a general system in
vogue which does its work well and
promptly. Every printing Office in
this region is visited weekly by persons
wanting raGle tickets. These tickets
cost one dollar a hundred, and are
headed 'Raflie for a cooking stove" or
clock, bureau, quilt, table, or some
other article Of domestic use 1t is an
nounccd that the raiilc IS for the benc-
fl Of a widow or injured miner, and
on the might after pay day" The
price Of the ticket is generally fifty
cents. The raille is in charge Of a
committee whose names appear on the
ticket. Take the case Of a woman
for instance, lately made a widow.
She has been left pcnnilc,s, as miners
widows usually are. Everybody un-
| dcrstands this. and the hundred tickets
ar" promptly disposed Of among the
miners, who pay for them On pay day.
/ On that night the widow gets so cash.
/ The night Of the raHle comes. and, pos
sihly, onc-afth Of the ticket holders
assemble 4 fiddler, kcg Of beer,
and a little hard shtuT' form the elc.
mcnts Of the entertainment. The
young lads join in a dance with the
la,scs the old men sup and smoke
their pipes. and the old women recount
the virtues 81 the deceased miner.
About midnight the TaHle begins
The names OF the ticket purchasers
are put into a hat and well shaken.
| Whoever secures the prize at once
I turns Il over 20 the beneficiary. The
company breaks MP happy over the
good time they have had. and the kind
deed they have done That $50 goes a
long way in keeping the shadows from
{ 20 little house. II will sometimes
pay a whole years rent. and il only re-
quircs one or two more rafics to keep
the victor's poor larier stocked, for 1t
must bc understood that potatoes cab.
hages. and meal, form the staple arti-
clcs Of diet in these humble homes.
4 year is long time for a comely
and thrifty woman to remain a widow
at the mines. no matter how many
children she may have. jim is killed
to-day. and possibly before the summer
ends, Jack. who was Jim's best friend,
insists upon marrying Jim's widow
Jim's babies become his. And If YOU
60 below the surface vou will find the
foundation Of Jacks action TO be pure
charity. II is a matter Of record that
when the terrible Ayondale disaster
occurred so many widows and helpless
ones were left that the matter Of caring
for the former speedily was discussed.
1t was quickly settled by propositions
~ marriage. and within very short
time after the calamity the household
Of every victim was protected. This
same spirit exists in every mining
community to-day, and is a shield
against much distress
Efforts have been made from time to
time 10 induce the miners to abandon
custom that prevails among them.
Whenever a man is killed in mine
while at work. every man in the col.
licry where the accident occurs stops
work. Frequently 1900 employees turn
ont and remain out for two DAYS
There appears to be deep superstition
that prompts that peculiar exhibition
r