The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-16
THE LAND OF KING ARTHUR
ANOTHER LETTER FROM CORNWALL.
DIr. wakeman Describes the Cornish Min
ers-Under and Above GrOund-A
brave, sturdy Charaeter-HOw
He Lives-His Religion, Etc.

a
the reader with Cornish mining statistics
or history. The former is accessible in all
well-made encyclopedias The latter, one
would have to begin on good ways be-
hind the Christian era. But the Cornish
miner himself is worth coming TO see, to
know and tell about He is such brave,
sturdy, clearly, religious fellow that you
can not help having power OF respect
for him; and then, though an "out-and-
outer" of the sturdiest kind, he is so
warn-hearted, loyal and hospitable that
he wins your whole affection, if you have
not even half won his trust and conf
denee.
For myself had always imagined some
dark tales could be truthfully told about
these miners labors and lives. Tragedies
and doors among them are many, it is
true; but the damnable injustices COM
mon to humanity begins in the great pits
of Pennsylvania, and which ruin and de-
populate entire communities within the
sound oi ehurch-bells, as in Illinois, are
not knoTn and never have been known
within the mines of Cornwall. Two facts
reveal the reason for this. The first is
race s-ubborness and independence,
which, drawn from the very Arthurian
blood, as at leastt the miners themselves sa-
crediy cherish as a truth, has never permit
ted that subtle encroachment of money
force and legal power which invariably
finds its ultimate in the serfdOm OF labor.
The secOnd-a fact which American mine
owners might study and adopt with
profit from interested helpers and
contented. instead of ever glowering
and rebe lious, labor-iS in a system
which from time immemorial has made
the Cornish miner an enthusiastic sharer
IN mining profits, or patient and sympa-
thetic bearer OF mining losses. | refer to
the tribute" system, as it is universally
known in Cornwall. This system, invari-
ably employed in the actual breaking
down and extraction of tin and copper
ore unites the interests of the miners and
their EMPLOYERS. There is no other sort
of labor in vogue in the Cornish mines
save in the dead work" carried on for
trial and discovery, for which the miner
IS paid a fixed sum per fathOm
for his labor. The ''tributers" then,
are the miners, all OF whom re-
ceiye a certain per centage on the
actual value of all ore taken from
Cornish mines. Therefore the quality of
all ore raised is as important as the guam
tity, and every stroke of miners ham
mer or pick is made with precisely the
same careful and mutual interest as it
could be were the tools in the hands of
the mine directors themselves. At every
mine there are a number OF overlook
ers," captains or agents whom the miners
call 'kepens." These meet six times each
year and determine on the detail OF the
to Nc aof, 4fv,rr
months, and among themselves form an
idea of what price should be paid for each
separate item of excavation. Setting
Gay, or cOntTact-letIlng day, follows.
The plan is practically an auction OF
petty contracts. Each piece of work is
called in turn, and bidding is done by the
men who begin at the highest price or
per centage they may hope to gain, and
falling from this until satisfactory terms
ere made. This little contract has not
been taken by one man. MATES" or ''paird-
ners" of three, four and sometimes half a
dozen miners. these parties universally
designated score" (corps) in Cornish
mines, combine their labor. They have
undertaken on a certain pitch" to blast or
break the ore, which they call "hure,"
wheel it, and pay all expenses of candles,
blasting powder and all other materials
necessary for the work. Every month all
ore PATCHED TO grass" that is, raised to
surface, is assayed and the "core" receives
IN lump, and divides between its men,
bers as may have been agreed upon. their
stipulated per centage or tribute" The
'core" may at any time throw up the con-
tract on payment OF an agreed fine. As
pitches" are constantly growing richer
or poorer, the result to the miners is con-
stantly variable. But it seldom falls below
living English wages, and occasionally
IN two months time gives the miner
handsome reward. Instances have been
known where a ''core" of "tributers"
have made 81 900 by single bargain.
There is no doubt that the system has
contributed through generations TO the
moiding of the Cornish miners self-reli-
ant, manly character. They are constantly
called upon to exercise forethought, inge-
nuity and the faculty of Invention. They
are thus given an individuality and man
hood. Indeed, they become part proprie-
tors of the mines-adventurers, in the
best sense, spectators with their own
combined capital of labor; business men
In way which fosters the growth of the
best qualities, assiduities and motives.
In all Cornish mines there are practi-
cally six cores" or "shifts" of miners in
two divisions of three "cores," each of
which labors eight hours continuously.
The local nomenclature and hours of these
are: First division, First core by day."
working from 2 to 10 a. m. second core
by day." 10 a N. to 6 p. m and "frst
core by night, from 8 p. m. to a. m.
The second division reliefs are: "Fore-
noon core" 6 a. III. to p. M; afternoon
core, from , to 10 D. m; and "last core
by night" from 10 p. m. to 6 a. IN. This
adjustment OF "cores" provides each gang
or shift fair chance to send their ore ito
grass" or surface and to follow a miner
through one days experiences, which are
practically the same as those of ali work
ing days OF the year, will be found inter-
esting as key to his life and character
But before we do that we must take q
peep at the Cornish miners homes.
They are seldom found clustered in dirty
villages contiguous to the mines as in our
own country. do not recall a half dozen
instances OF this sort in all Cornwall. Two
three, four, very seldom dozen, NAV be
found together. They are everywhere, on
the road or off, Like the Irish cabins.
you will find them usually at the back in
stead Of the front, off somewhere or any,
where. Nearness to a mine seems to pos
sess no advantage. Few are as near as a
half mile; thousands are from two to six
miles away. "Pairdners" in a
core" may live in as many differ
ent directions, Jem and Jack and Jan
often occupying homes from six to ten
miles apart. But wherever the cottages
are their walls are all of everlasting stone.