The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-26
Work in Mines Shortens Life and
is Very UnheaIthfui.

the anthracite coal industry and the
effect employment in and about the
mines has upon the health of the mine
workers were the principal subjects
brought before the arbitration COM
mission today by the attorneys OF each
side to the controversy. While there
was an entire absence Of oratory or
brilliant cross-examination which
marked the proceedings during the
last few days, the cross examination,
nevertheless, closely held the attention
of the commissioners, and they gained
much information on the features
touched upon by witnesses.
The afternoon session was particular
ly interesting, but it brought out much
expert testimony on the question Of
the health of the mine workers. Three
physicians, who have practiced in
Scranton and Wilkesbarre, took the
stand for the miners and in substance
testified that the occupation of mine
worker was very unhealthfuP' and
shortened life.
One physician, DR.. Frank P. Lena
han, of Wilkesbarre, who says he
has had long experience among
mine workers, testified that fully SO
per cent of the men who work the
mines are anaemic. Their health is
impoverished and their general con-
dition is below par, thus decreasing
their earning powers. The principal
ills suffered by the miners, the
physicians said, were the miners
asthma, rheumatism, lumbago and
sciatica. The miners asthma comes
from coal dust, powder smoke and
vitiated air. DR.. John O'Malley, Of
Scranton, said that at post mortems
he had seen miners lungs as black as
anthracite itself, and DR.. Lenahan
testified he had personal knowledge of
man coughing up coal dust nine
years after he left the mines. He
said he had information that man
had coughed up coal dust fifteen years
after he had left the mines. 1t also
was stated that 90 per cent of the min
ers who reach the age of so years are
afflicted with some form Of rheumatism.
The ross-examination of the Rev.
DR.. Peter Roberts, D. D., of Mahanoy,
Pa, who had studied the anthracite coal
industry and had written a book on
the subject, ended today and he left
the witness stand shortly after the noon
recess. He began his testimony yes
terday. Copious extracts from his
book we're read and placed on record.
Ex-C Congressman Simon P. Wolver-
ton, counsel for the Reading Company,
read much of the matter pertaining to
violence in the 1900 strike, and also
read articles written by Dr.. Roberts
during the progress Of the late con-
test, in which he described in strong
language the acts of violence, intimid-
alton and boycotting committed dur
ing that suspension.
His articles spoke of some OF these
acts as brutal outrages, and he also
branded the unions action in calling
out the steam men in June as fool
hardy In explaining his articles
DR.. Roberts said that he did not wish
to infer that the organization was re-
sponsible for all the lawlessness COM
nlitted. The Doctor said yesterday
that newspaper accounts exaggerated
the amount of lawessness in the coal
regions, but Mr.. Wolverton's reading
of DR.. Roberts's description of seri
Gus acts of violence and boycotting
afforded much amusement for the at
torneys for the coal companies.
DR.. Roberts gave it as his opinion
that attempts to have non-union men
form separate organization were
instigated by parties opposed to
organized labor.
In attempting to show that careless
ness of the miner contributes material
ly to the danger of his occupation
Chairman Grey interposed with the
remark that margin of carelessness.
incident to human nature, must be
taken into account when estimating
the dangerousness of any hazardous
occupation.