St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-23

today is better housed and better fed than
King Oswald of Northumbria, when that
gentleman lived in Wigan.
Quite true, said this labor tribune ''but
that is long time ago. Your most benighted
backwoodsman eats better food and lives In
a better house than did the Indian prince
Sitting Bull. for example. Notwithstanding
the truth of what l have said regarding the
present grievances OF the miner, yet his pres
ent position is very much better than it was
twenty years ago. Morally he is a better
man, financially he is better off, education
ally he is immensely improved. The average
miner Is not suspicious nor whimsical. He
will trust you fully. but should you deceive
him, he will cruelty you
IN THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH.
After I had said au revoir to Mr.. Woods
it was my good fortune to make personal
investigation of one Of the great coal mines
OF W1gan, in the company Of four gentlemen
more competent than whom it would be i'm
possible to procure for such undertaking.
Mr.. Downey, a leading business man of
the district, who learned his enterprising
habits in New Zealand, was the organizer of
cur party. Then there were John Cartwright,
under marager of what is probably the deep
est coal pit in the world. Mr.. Drowney en-
larged upon the social condition of the col
liers, whilst the other two gentlemen with
blackened faces and bright intelligences ex-
planned in off-hand fashion the technicalities
of the coal pit. The nth and last but by no
ueduS Tie ledSI meulD6T OIL our was
Thomas Barton, ]. P. This remarkable man
began life in the coal mines at seven years
of age and continued therein for twenty
seven years. He studied in the evenings
after work, saved some money, engaged In
business, is now wealthy. a justice of the
peace, and leader among his people. 1t is
surprising to hear this wholly self-taught man
discourse upon John Stuart Mill and his
economic theories. Just as it Is necessary to
dress for ball. so it is necessary to dress
for the exploration of a coal pit. The worst
suit of clothes one can find, and a cap not
hat should be worn. Each underground
ing stick. The latter is not quite like an
alpenstock. 1t is thick and unbeatable
stick, about eighteen inches long, upon which
the tourist leans when making his Journey
through the tunnel below. 1 have carried a
taper through a Roman catacomh but ii Is
only as the play of children to the labor of
blacksmiths compared with carrying a lamp
through Lancashire coal mine.
AS we passed the female workers on our
way to the shaft the manager, turning to me-
CALAMITY remarked, "You would not know
the pit brow girls when dressed from the
first ladies of the land
1t took a minute and a half to make the
descent, a distance of 800 yards into the
pit. The rapid motion, the dripping walls,
the smearing coal dust, the stygian dark
ness, and the narrow way cause a sensation
in the uninitiated which, though very thrill
ing, is far from pleasant The natural tenn
perature of the pit is So deg Fahrenheit But
this is very much tempered by current of
air which descends the shaft, traverses the
pit and finds it's way out through an apert-
ure.
There is an officers cabin below-some