Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-08-14
LEEDS, ENGLAND.
Lise and Death on the Coal Fields.

About nine miles to the northeast Of
Leeds the traveller by the Hull express
passes q little station named Micklefeld.
The station opens into village composed
Of three or four rows of small fiat faced
poor looking houses, built, as usual in
Yorkshire, in grey stone, some with gar
dens at the back and some without. A
portion of the land in the neighborhood is
evidently used for allotments; here and
there are pig styes and familiar smell. A
little way to the right rises the black
framework of the Peckfield Colliery pit
head. In the middle of the day the place
seems deserted, save for few children
here and there in quiet groups.
Micklefeld was an exceedingly common
place and uninteresting village up to the
last day of April this year Then an ex-
plosion in the neighboring pit lifted it up
on pillar Of smoke and fire, and called the
attention Of the public, if not to the pow
erty Of life on the coalfields, at least to the
daily dread and peril of death there. Once
more it was driven in upon the popular
mind that, however fortunate the lot Of
the collier might be in other respects, and
however freely he lavishes mutton chops
upon his ull-dogs and champagne
upon himself, he spends his work
ing day in constant danger of being
poisoned to death at the far end of dark
hole in the ground. That, indeed, is the
easiest ending he can look forward to in
case of accident, for after damp is very
gentle, painless, and sure in its effects.
But what must be the torture of the man
who finds himself crushed against the floor
by fall from the roof, pinned to the side
of the road by derailed corve, sawn in
| two by wire cable, OF burnt out of human
| shape by sudden blast Of flame? Even il
the collier did live on champagne and fat
geese, which is not true, he might fairly
claim to have earned them.
1t is now over three months since the
Micklefeld disaster and the public has n
short memory. 1t may be well to recall
some Of the facts, more especially as they
illustrate very fairly the conditions under
which the collier population of a large part
Of Yorkshire live and work And the place
has further claim on the particular atten-
tion Of Yorkshire people, because very
large sum Of money mas yet to be distrib-
uted among the families of those who lost
their lives. l venture to say that if this
money was subscribed for the purpose of
relieving distress, and not for the purpose
of providing the charity commissioners
mil a.
comes one Of interest to all parties con-
cerned.
The explosion in the Peckfield pit was at
tended with all the usual mystery as to its
causes. The colliery officials aver that this
pit was always regarded hitherto as re-
markedly safe. On the other hand, l am
informed that disaster was foretold as
certain twelve months ago by experienced
golfers, who did not hesitate to bring a
charge of carelessness against the manage
ment. repeat the statements for what
they are worth, and without offering any
opinion one way or the other. What is
certain is that sixty three men lost their
lives, Of whom forty one were married, and
thirty-si leave widows with families of
young children. In all, there are
102 children under the age of
10 to be provided for; with their
mothers, 1873 in all. The families range in
number from one child to eight and nine.
Most of them are residents of Micklefeld.
though some live in the neighboring vii
lagos of Garforth and Kippax. OF these
Micklefeld is comparatively quite new,
having been built by the colliery company
on their own land to accommodate their
own workers. The men, no doubt, appre-
ciate the advantage of living within five
minutes walk of their work, especially as
Garforth and Kippax are some forty min
utes off by road. Rents in the village range
from IS. Sd. to As. per week. There has
been no abatement of rent so far as l could
discover made in the case of any of those
families from whom the only bread winner
was so suddenly taken.
arrived in Micklefield on a sunny morn
ing in June, and received a comprehensive
and rather appalling general direction from
the stationmaster. ''You want to see
some of the widows?" he said "Well,
you'll find them in yon street, pretty near
every house you come to-" For various
reasons it may be better not to give the
names of those talked to, nor will space
permit me to give their sad stories at any
length. The following may be taken as
typical cases.
Mrs. A, aged 65, shared house at 3s.
Cd. a week rent with her married daughter
and one grandchild. Her husband, like
herself, was close upon the three score
years and ten, and had been SO unwell
since Christmas that nearly all his wages
had gone for medicine. AS both the old
man and the young had been working only |
two and a half to three days week for
months past, it may be imagined
that this was no light burden.
AS for herself, Mrs. A. had no plans
whatever In place like NEGLECTED.
every housewife has to do her own work.
There was no washing, charing or any
thing of that kind to be had, and even if
there was she was not strong enough at her
ape for much of IT, She had had two pay-