The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-16
hasn't come. The begging committee
have done all they could for me-"
WTD0W THOMpCON, CTopV

WIDOW THOMPSON STORY.
The widow of Joe Thompson, color
ed, was the next person we called on
She has eight children, the oldest thir-
teen years of age, and is now in a deli
cate condition. In reply to my i'm
quiry, what has the mining company
done for you? she said: Saturday
night "a week ago they issued me some
rations. They gave me ten pounds Of
-four, ten cents worth Of sugar, ten
cents worth of coffee, and three pounds
of bacon. On January 9Th they gave
me ten pounds of -four, ten cents worth
Of sugar, ten cents worth of coffee, and
pound and a half meat" She said
Mr.. Kissell and others had helped her,
and tears of gratitude stood in her
eyes, while she murmured a God bless
them"
\ gentleman who was present stated
that he had offered TO take her older
children on his farm, and provide for
them. But the company had declined
to permit this, unless they were paid
two dollars month rent for the house
occupied by the mother and the child
rem that would be left with her.
FOR THE FAMILIES.
At the next house We visited were
Mrs. Stork and Mrs. Monroe. The
former has three children, and the lat
ter four In the mine disaster Mrs
Stork lost her husband, and Mrs. Mon
roe lost her husband and son.
asked them what the company had
done for them. They said on Friday OF
the week before the company gave
| for the two families ten cents worth
Of coffee. ten cents worth of sugar, "a
half package of meal, a small box OF
baking powder, ard one and a hait
| pounds Of meat.
..But for Mr.. Kissell and some 9TH
ers," said one of the ladies, II don't
know what we would have done. We
both asked Superintendent Can't if he
wouldn't send us some coal or wood.
lie said there was plenty of coal at
| the mine, go tote it, We told him we
were not able to do so He replied,
YOU can do lots Of things you don't
| want to " hen YOU have To do them. :"
The poor, pinched-faced mother who
talked to us sat in Il broken chair,
nursing a young babe.
BUT RELIEF HADN'T COME.
At the next house we visited was
Mrs. Schambourg, n relative OF the
Bobbitts of this city. She lost her hus-
band in the mine explosion. She is
about sixty years of age, and is in a
very pitiable condition. She lives with
Mrs. Bentley, who lost her husband
and only son in the disaster. Mrs.
BENTLEY has one child. They both say
they got a message from the company
to stay where they were, and help
would be sent in an hour. Up TO that
time they said they had been given no
help by the company.
REFUSED TO HELP HIM.
In the same house with Mrs. Scham-
bourg and Mrs. Bentley, is fine-look-
ing young Pole, who got his leg broken
in the mine some weeks before the
mine disaster. He at once enlisted my
sympathy. He cannot speak a word OF
English. lie is in foreign land, with
out friends, and does not even under
stand the language. The company
would do nothing for him.
The kind-hearted physician who is
employed by the mining company was
appealed to by Mr.. Burns and Mrs.
Bentley, and set his leg. They claimed
at the house that the company refused
to become responsible for the doctors
bill for setting the leg.
NO HELP FROM THE COMPANY.
The last house we visited was that
OF Mrs. Morris. She lost her son in the
mine explosion. She has six children
left. The are all under IL years of age.
She spoke feelingly of the work of
the local committee, Mr.. Kissell and
others, and said the aid rendered by
the committee had saved the lives OF
herself and children.
She said no help had been given
them by the company.
'"These were all the houses that /
visited" said Mayor Russ, because !
did not have time to go to any others.
4 number of others were seen by Mr..
Pullen, who visited Cumnock the day
after / returned"
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