The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-05
LIGHT FLASH{D ON
COAL MINE HORRORS
firemen Worked Fourteen
TWeIve-Hour Days.
LIVES IN THEIR HANDS
Their Last Shift Twenty-four Hours Long,
Should They Fall Asleep During That
Vigil Fans Would Stop and
Gas Gather.
LIVES IN THEIR HANDS
(By the Associated Press.)


Scranton, Pa, Dec. AT today's
sessions of the Anthracite Strike Com
mission, the representatives of the mine
workers continued to call witnesses,
mostly practical miners, who told their
story of the conditions as they exist in
the HaZelton or middle coal fields The
miners tried to show by their witnesses
that the Coke and other companies had
violated the agreement entered into by
both sides when the commission was ap-
pointed, that the strikers should return
TO work and be given their old positions
back where they had not already been
filled. Some of the witnesses called testi-
fed that they were not given back their
Cd places and maintained that men
prominent in the union in the various
localities during the strike were dis
crimirated against.
The commission has decided to invite
the mine inspectors to appear before
them, because the miners claim that the
workmen fear to inform the mine inspec-
tors are usually accompanied by some
representative of the company who may
cause the mans dismissal This is new
point before the commission.
Rumors of possible negotiations to-
wards settlement outside the commits
sion continue to be heard. Lawyers
admit they have heard sucn rumors, but
say they know nothing about possible
settlement. Whatever is done will be
first decided upon in New York, where
those in authority to act are located
Several attorneys, among them w. w.
Ross, Of Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western Company, have returned to the
Metropolis. Whether or not it is in con-
nection with peace negotiations cannot
be learned here
The opinion still prevails here, and
rather strongly, too, that the operators
and miners will agree on most points
before the commission concludes it's
hearings.
Jackson Ansbach, of the Hazelton
region, was one of the most interesting
witnesses because he is the first fire.
man to appear before the commission.
He said he received $1.57 for day of
twelve hours, and his assistant $1.25. On
every other Sunday when he and his as
sistant shifted from day to night work,
hours straight without relief. This
statement caused a buzz through the
court room nd every commissioner
Strengthened up and became more inter-
ested In answer to a question put by
the commission he said he was off duty
one day every two weeks, thus working
six days one week and eight days the
following week.
"Supposing you should fall asleep when
you work in the long shift of "a huours,
what would happens" asked Mr.. Dar-
row.
Well" he replied, "if I slept long
enough the fans would stop, gas would
accumulate in the mines, and if an ex-
plosioa took place some men might be
killed; that's ALL"
Rev. James V. Hussie, rector of st.
Gabriel's Roman Catholic church, Hazel
ton, said he had lived in the coal regions
practically all his life.
"The conditions in this region" he
said, "are deplorable. The mine workers
are barely able to exist. 1 have been
in their homes. They are not homes, but
merely a habitation, resting place
They are frugal, conservative, reasonable,
and God-fearing people"
Families cannot be kept together, he
said. The boys are sent into the mines
almost as soon as they are able to tod
die out" and the girls are sent to mills
in the small towns in the vicinity or
drift into the large cities. He cited in
stances of poverty and said that it took
one man six years before he was able to
pay off a funeral debt of 5000. He ex
amined the tax lists of Hazelton, he said
and in a population of which perhaps 70
per cent was made up of mine workers.
only eighty mine employees out of 1,723
persons assessed owned their own homes.
Andrew Mattey, a Slavonian, said he
was the means of bringing fourteen Sla-
vonians to this country at the instance
of breaker boss at the Coke, mines.
They were promised $1.10 a day, but re-
ceived only 65 to 80 cents day. He told
how he had been paid to go to Hazelton
and meet the green horns" who had
been shipped by his mother from
Europe" Judge Gray evidently thinking
that the alien laws were being violated,
became greatly interested, and leaning
toward the witness, said:
when was thisB'
Seventeen years ago." repliedu the
Hungarian.
"Oh' said the judge, as he leaned
back in his chair, and a wave of laugh
ter swept over the court room. The COM
mission then adjourned until tomorrow
Today was set IS the limit for the coal
companies to answer the submission
, made by the miners. but thue Coke Com
rany's time was extended until tomorrow
the officials of the company being and
not prepared to make answer. Besides
the large companies which signed the re-
n,,nct r,nndn To proridnnt Innrnuolt for