Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-30
MISERY AT THE MINES.

picturesque squallor.
The Panther Creek mines probably
present more of outward signs OF want
and suffering than is to be
witnessed n the entire coal region a
visit paid by The Aet0 York Herald
correspondent to II mining-patch now
on strike revealed chamber of hor-
rors, as it were, that would try the
,toutest heart and nerve.
When the correspondent Wis ted Pan
her Greek he asked miner who was
Gaming against Il broken paling, with a
lace white with an utterly dispirited
mind and an ill-fed stomach. if there
VAS much sickness abroad.
He gazed inquringly, as if endeavor-
NC to decide whether the speaker was
an cmis>ary of the coal operators or
r end. Every miner is snsp cious and
lstrustful. He constantly is on the
lookout for enemies. and he finds them
)ftcner than friends.
After pause the man said in a low
Foice Coon with me. and then he
ed the way to an adjacent cabin.
The building was constructed of
'ough boards which one day had been
painted dull red. the same color and
description of paint used on the iron
hinges aud Lighthouses Of railways.
The boards were fastened on the frame
90 rs To leave a crack between each
ont, which was covered by narrow
)atten loosely nailed on. The sun had
warped the green wood and it had
fitted so "a 10 permit the penetrating
Wind to find entrance TO the interior.
A thin. implanted door opened directly
nto the living room. 1t was small
Affair. perhaps twelve feet square.
The walls were the reverse side Of
he covering boards of the house. Time
and perhaps the careless habits of the
occupants had blackeued the walls. so
that they were but a shade less grmy
han the gloomy cod-breaker without.
A Pennsyvan farmer, in this state
If great, roomy, comfortable barns.
would not stable his cattle in such a
len.
A cheap stove stood red-hot in the
center of the room.
"Ihe super lets us get refuse from
III
.he visitor glanced toward the stove.
A tall, raw boned woman, shabby
dressed i'm a calico peticoat and loose,
faded sacque of the same material.
ousird herself about the stove and cast
anxious chances toward an open
doorway leading into an adjoining
room. She was frowsy and unkcmpt
out her face was honest and her ewes
we're yearn no and sad. With cor
Ter of her skirt she brushed oil the
seat of splint chair which she profler-
3D.
NO said her husband. "he's COON
% find out about the sick.
Three half-naked ch ldren played on
he floor One. a little girl of >, had
Toll. And such doll, Oh. We children
IF luxury. Her father was the manu-
'acturer He had Whitfield n block of
oine wood so a to leave the impress
lion Of face. Then with some black
material the eyebrows and hair were
.udely represented A single bit of
lrtt calico wa, tied around the
piece of wood so "a TO form the gown.
Had il been a French doll, with Il
wardrobe costing 500, the little rcd
haired child could not have regarded it
With greater interest as she sat hold
nc it i'm her arms w tin an air Of pride
md pleasure.
In the next room were two beds.
On one Law two children. One. girl
If Is. rolled and tossed her head about
IN dirty pillow. The eyes were wide
open and staring as expressionless as
he eyes of an IDIOT.
She's got the fever" said the moth
sr. "She's been sick three weeks
The other child was convalescent
rom severe attack of d ptheria Both
we're wasted aud thin. The eldest was
evidently doomed
How do YOU get on? Do YOU have
enough TO eatP'
"Sorry living we have" answered
he woman. We've had - during
/ Inc last month. 1t came from the
{ WON ne miners contr button, | sup
pose
Her voice was as sad as if coming
rom tomb.
How long have YOU been without
work p the man was asked.
IL went out with the other boys last
j icar -
He was one of the Lehigh strikers,
who have now held ont against the
operators nearly six months.
Suppose on all get the advance you
claim and GO back. how long will YOU
have to work before YOU make up what
you have lost during strike?
The question was too abstruse for the
miners arithmetic. He puzzled over
a moment and Their replied:
s dts the rnciple, like, of the thing
, we're fight ting for. We W u lose. We
always lose in fights with the bosses.
out we know we re right, and we mean
o fight TO the last.
How about your suffering families?
You yourself are only half fed. You
i are pun shing ourself and your chill
{ iren Those two sick ones in the 9TH
sr room need medicine aud nouriShin Q
'ool. Can Won not obtain help b.
going TO work.
A dark shade passed over the rug
= ged features OF the strik NC miner. II
[ ] Il