The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-03-12
THE HUNGARIAN MINERS.
SOME INTERFERING FACTS CONCERN
ING THEM.
How the Newly Imported J.nborcrs Live In
the Coal Regions.

A letter from Uniontown, Pa, to the
IVorld, says The importation Of Hun
garian laborers in large numbers by
the proprietors of the large coke works
in this region has produced great deal
Of dissatisfaction among native miners |
and iaborers. The first party OF these |
cheap livers and cheap laborers was
brought here little more than three
years ago by the propretors OF the More
wood Coke Works. The miners EN-.
poyed ut these works had threatened to
strike, and anticipating the trouble the
managers sent an agent to Europe and
brought these people over, landing
them here shortly after the strike begap.
They were very tough-loolSing set OF
people, dirty, ignorant and squalld, but
they were willing to work and they were
Immediately put in the mines. Many
of them had never been underground be-
fore and at first were terribly frightened.
All sorts of threats were made against
them ut that time, and various precau-
tons were taken by the operators to pro-
tect them from their more civilized fell
w-workmen. Serious trouble was,
however, averted and from that time
until the present fresh detachments have
continued to arrive. There are now i'll
the neighborhood Of 1000 in the whole
coke region.
so far they have only attempted the
commonest kind of labor, such Ms draw
ing coke and digging coal in the former
occupation, and also that OF "iorking
cars" which consists in throwing the
finished product of the ovens into the
railroad cars. The women assist the men,
and do fully as much work. You see
them everywhere at work among the
men, their stumpy little figures and
peculiar dress making them everywhere
distinguishable. While at work they
wear little coarse shawl thrown over
the head, concealing all save patch OF
dark skin and a pair of small, bright
eyes. A mans coat, with the arms cut
oil, frequently adorns the shoulders and
body, while short, thick WOODEN or
flannel petticoat completes the toilet to
the knees, where it is met by par OF
mems top.boots. Armed with n steel
pronged fork, n woman will fill box OF
open car with coke in something over
five hours, for which her husband, or the
man she works for, receives 81. 30
,, Then shouldering her fork and taking
the shawl off her head she trudgcs toth'
company's store to make her purchases
,, for the kitchen, or rather the pot =
for nearly everything these Hungarian
/; laborers cat is boiled in this "pot,
which most of them bring with ther
= from Hungary.
In respect to the economy and fruga
ity they display in their mode OF Iii
: they greatly resemble the Chinese. On
|, of their number will walk miles, if nece'
3 sary, to butchers shop and carry of
with many expressions of regard and dc
Q light, the olfal aud refuse OF the butche
l. shops and slaughter-houses. They coo
Il these in the "pot, together with waite
g and beans. This, with bread or crackers
d make up nearly their whole diet. Oh
- of q pay of $45, the average pay p,
i month, they will draw S32 or S33
y money, the balance being consumed
I, store orders. The American or IRIS
II workman receiving the same pay will
T. pay day, owing to his more luxurioI
r. living, most likely he several dollars
'rs debt to the store.
OK The Hungarians consume Va
Ell quantity of the cheapest whisky, viii
Ter they drink like milk. They are favori'
with the operators because they ne'
ler grumble about the rent, nor the price
III the kind of groceries they consun
"a They do their work not only cheerful
lie but gladly, and never strike.
10 Capt. Schoonmaker, who is the larg
he individual coke manufacturer in the
n8 gion, remarked. "The Hungarian con
ne here to work. He IL anxious to We
no and eager to save. If the wages {
!" low, he regulates his expenses so MS
save even then, and there are ma
things that American and Irish wol
men might learn from him with prof
- There has been some improvemt
,n among them since they have been he
W. The women wear longer dresses a
e. cleaner ones than ut first. Many
IS them wear shoes now instead OF boo
,;a and although the men still drink whis
l'in they drink il Mt home in their hou
~ and not on the streets, They come h
h;e among the very lowest OF the popula'
M of southern Europe, and probably
r., offspring of scris and slaves. They
i Ho on every we'll dressed man they see u
IN In their arrival us lord or prince. Or
, T, the paymasters here says that nur
INV of them tried to kiss his hand whe
nn Ie first paid them. All of them save
, Gn,' money they make and many OF
I, =. send it back to Hungary to bring
u, their friends and kindred.