Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17
HOW MINERS RESPECT WOMEN,
ChivaIry Is at n Premium In Camp When
Wives and Mothers Are There.

Wives and Mothers Are There.
Mr.. w. C. Tonkin, of Silver City, n
NJ, a mining expert and engineer, is at
the Midland. Mr.. Tonkin has spent Il
number of years in the Western wilds
and has met the American miner in al
most all of his many phases In the
course of a conversation with a group
of friends yesterday the qies ion Of the
inborn gallantry of the American citi-
zen to the fair sex became the topic UNI
der discussion.
One gentleman remarked that lady
could travel all over the United States
alone and suffer no inconvenience or an
noyance, so long as her conduct did not
render her liable to the approach of the
masher. He mentioned the play of The
Danites, where group of miners are
waiting the arrival of the new school
teacher on the stage. They have bricks,
broomsticks, baskets, tin cans, and other
"weepins to make life pleasant for him.
The coach drives up and a neat trim
young lady gets down. The miners drop
their weapons shenpishly, smooth their
heads, and, taking i'll their uncouth ap-
pearance, sneak away.
"Thatreminlsm me, remarked Mr. Ton
kin, "of an instance in a mining camp
that illustrates the veneration v it'll which
these rough men regard a woman. A
few months after my marriage | was
sent through Lincoln county, N. NJ, to
survey some mineral lands for a railroad
company. My wife wanted to go with
me- 1t was u camp out expedition and
a case of 'roughing it and no mistake.
finally consented to her going with me,
aud we set out with an ambulance, cook
ing outfit, etc, across the plains, $50
miles from any railroad and into the
heart of the wilderness.
'One day a terrific rain set in and con-
tinued all night. In the storm | lost my
bearings and wandered about until 8
O'Clock at night, when I saw light |
drove toward it, and came up to a small
miners cabin. got down, knocked at
the door, and was admitted. l stated
my case and asked for shelter.
"'Come right in, stranger, and well
come was my answer
II glanced around the one room and
saw four roughly dressed miners. The
room had no floor, and only an open
fireplace, over which their frugal meals
were cooked. A few necessary articles
completed the entire furniture of the
cabin. My wife is with me- | said,
and is out in the wagon now Here,
boys. bundle out O this and help the
stranger in with his things. Be lively,
now,' said the spokesman, pulling OFF
his hat and squaring things about.
They helped Us in with our goods,
got a roaring fire to going and then
forming in line near the leader said:
Yer kindly Welcome, mum. We ain't
got much to offer, but yer can take the
ranch Me an my mates'll git and roost
outside. Jess make yerself to home an
don't mind us.
"They were standing uncovered all
this time, and when the speech was
ended fled out of their cabin and stayed
out all night in TIL rain, in spite of tn.
earnest protests of my wife and myself
Those great big hearted rough men
vacated their home for lady and would
not let us remunerate them in any way.
I'VE don't see no wimmen folk in these
diggins'-the leader sad-'a an we feels
proud to know yer been here. What
we done amt nothin' to talk about and
we'd lick u mean skunk which wouldn't
do likewise for Il lady, Kansas City
Journal