The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-15

less cloud OF coat uuSJ IN WHICH ulsg
are enSeloped, requires less muscle than
lexterity. A screen, a kind OF riddle
OF iron bars, working on the principle
OF an endless chain, is constantly carry.
ing the coal, which has been dumped
upon it from the "tip" above, down
along nm incline ihtothe coal cars, or
wagons as they are called here, stand
ing upon elevated tracks beneath. AS
the coal passes along, the dust and fine,
coal used for coke-making falls into q
shute beneathwhichc carries the SCREEN
ings" to storage bins below. But here
and there are clogs Of dirt, bits Of rock,
pieces Of shale, and huge faulty" Jumps
OF coal. All the shale, rock and dirt are
picked from the screens by hand, and
the way they fly from these pit-brow
women'B nimble fingers is a won
der. A bystander is in danger Of a brok-
en- head and one cannot help thinking
what marvellous contingent these wo-
men would makein Belfast riot. They
also have in their left hand a. long
handled, tiny but sharp and stout spade
One crack or prod OF this, so dextrous
are they, will split into score Of pieces
the longest lump of coal, which is done
il it shows signs OF inferior quality. As
frequently mines discharge from 1000
to 5000 tons Of coal per day over this
double set OF screens, and every particle
OF 1t passes under theinspoction OF eight
women, four at epch screen, some
knowledge Of the wqnderful quickness
OF eye and movement on the part Of
these pit-brow women can be formed.
No ship stoker ever came up from the
coal bunkers more ebony black than
they all become after the first cage OF
the day's operation has been tipped"
The 'levelets'i or "tillers" attend to
the wagons or cars. Though the coal Is
carried into them direct from the
screens, much tumbles about on tho
tracks. This is thrown into the wagons,
and when they are filled the women
climb into or upon them and adjust the
coal In the same manner as the coke
makers trim the coke wagons. This
work is usually done by girls from Jour
teen to eighteen wears OF age. The
scramble under, between and over the
wagons with the agility of monkeys, and
every one has superb physical develop
ment / saw one place her hand upon
the bumper between the railway wagons
and with a light spring leap upon il,
and from this, In another motion, vault
into the loaded wagon five feet above.
CARRYING spade in her left hand, she
only had the use OF her right hand and
vet no professional athlete could have
accomplished tho performance with
more grace or apparent ease.
GOOD SATuRED GIRLS.
Having been fortunate, enough to
come upon the pit-brow lasses at yari-
GUS mines at all hours OF labor, in all
departments and conditions OF their
labor, at their hours for meals and rest,
on their way to the mines and to their
homes, and again IN their homes, | can
testify to their thoroughly good nature,
good heartedness and unusual respecta-
bility. / confess that expected to find
the most forl6rn- creatures bearing the
image OF women. All the illustrations
had ever seen portrayed them us hol-
low checked, hollow chested, scraggy,
sodden and beastly. They are nothing
of the sort. Physically they are the
finest formed women in England. 1t Is
Of course o startling thing to
come suddenly upon the plat
form above plymouth and
amid the deafening clamor OF
the engines, the crushing OF the cage,
as it comes from the abyss below with
terrific speed, the laundering OF the
iron trucks upon the metal floor as they
arc clipped" and hurled back into the
hollow Iron cage, with the endless,
booming OF the conl along the screens"
and into the wagons, while lodging the
flying rock aud sliatsstllatf Discern
these wierd, swarthy filfntes ofSWomen,
clad half lii mans and half woman's
attire, plubgihs here and there, as If
engaged in some bedlamish sNturnalia.
It ID one Of tile most picturesque
scenes OF labor l ever beheld, and has
the element Of wild and awful grandeur
in II.
But it has not thehopeiess tragedy in
it OF the certain wasting away OF hui
man life furnished by the mill or the
factory. English roses glow from Eng.
lish cheeks and flame through the pail
OF coal on the faces OF those pit-brow
lasses. You cannot find Plumper fig
ures, prettier forms, more shapely
necks and limbs or daintier feet, de-
spite the ugly clogs" in all OF dream
fill AndalusIh. There Is not harder,
firmer, finer flesh and muscle in any
prize ring. The sparkle OF royal good
health leaps from their splendid hazel
eyes. Their lips are like the cockney's
heart and spirits, CHERRY ripe" And
YOU never will find more dazzling white
or beautiful teeth in the Azores, in
Cuba, or with ouEtown coloted people
tho coat-dust performing the work OF
magnificent dcntritlce.
Their picturesque costumes varies ut
diflefdnt mines. At some they are a
rugged lot indeed at their work. But
at nearly all those pits, which are the
property Of single, OF partnership, own
ers, the "Blundell" costume Of the
great Pemberton mine, located two
miles from Wigan, is the main one in
use. This was originated by the late
Hon, Mrs. Blundcll, wife OF Colonel
Blunlell, NJ. p, owner OF the Pember-
ton, a fund being provided from the
purse OF tho deceased Indy to furnish
annually a free gift to each pit-brow
lassie ut that mine, one suit for work
ing use.
A DAILY BATH.
It'll Of stout blue serge, and consists
of a jacket, Which is sort of blouse in
shape, short petticoat reaching nearly
to the knees, pair OF trousers pre-
cisely like d mans, and clogs instead o.
shoes, Their hair Is first done lone, " T