The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-28

WILLIAM BANCHOP WILSON.
Whose Pretty Verses Have Earned
Him the Title of the "r~finer-Poet'
dictated the following brief outline of his
life:
IT was born in Blantyre, Scotland, on
April ?, 1852, came to this country with my
parents in September, 1869, and located at
ArnOt, Pa. l started TO work in the mines
at that place in March, 1871, and attended
the public schools on days when the mines
Were idle, and also night school, thereby
acquiring a common school education. My
taste for general reading was acquired
through being compelled to read newspa-
pers and books aloud for my fathers infor-
nation. He, though n poor reader, had a
wonderfully fine memory and the Scotch
trait for argument well developed. In this
manner 1 read Science and the Bible
Chambers's Information for the People,
The Peoples Book of Biography Nat
ural Law in the Spiritual World The
Wealth of Nations the works of Dickens,
Scott, Burns. Shakespeare, Moore, Camp
bell, Pope, Whittier, Longfellow. Artemus
Ward. 'Gibbons's Rome 'Macaulay's Eng
land Goodrich's History of the United
States the current publications of Mark
Twain and a number of other works on
various subjects, which 1 cannot hastily
recall.
I'm November, 1873. 1 became a half MEM
Der of the miners union, and in September,
1876. became a local secretary. In February,
1851, was dismissed and blacklisted for ac-
tivity in the union. Then worked at various
occupations and in the summer Of 1852 Sc
cured a position as a locomotive fireman
on the Iowa division of the Illinois Central.
In March, 1883, returned TO work in the
mines of Pennsylvania. On June Z, 1888, Miss
Agnes Williamson, of ArnOt, became my
wife. In August, 1884. was again discharged
and blacklisted for activity in the union.
From that time until 1898 1 worked at many
places in the mines of Pennsylvania, only
TO be driven from all of them by the black
list, and between times working at any
thing could find TO do, such as numbering.
saw-mill work, prospecting for coal, dig
ging bitches or doing farm work and occa-
sionally acting as national, district or local
official in the union. In 1898 was elected
check ~weighman at the mines at Landers.
Pa. In 1899 was elected president of District
No. 2. L. NJ. w. of A, embracing the noun
tain region of Pennsylvania. In 1900 was ap-
pointed national secretary-treasurer of the
union to fill the vacancy caused by the res
i~gnation of Mr.. Pearce."
You have omitted to state when you be-
gan writing poetry" 1 remarked, as ]
glanced over the sketch. But, perhaps,
that may be unnecessary" L hastily added,
as l recalled a couple Of stanzas addressed
to Blue eyes" and an album inscription
probably intended for the same blue eyes.
There are only two or three love poems In
Memories The last stanza of blue Eyes
reads:
Such eyes: In their limpid beauty.
So pleasant. and strong. and rue,
Urging me on when duty
Seems more than my strength can do.
/ toll and deem II a pleasure.
Yet pray that God may devise
For me a lifetime of leisure
To gaze in her sweet blue eyes.
A grewsome, but realistic poem, depicts
the horrors of "The Explosion" 1t is a true
description of a colliery disaster, written
by one whose experiences fitted him for the
task. Here are a few lines from the poem
which is a long one:
Hank! A rumbling in the distance
Strikes a terror TO the heart.
Oh! How well they knew the meaning
OF that distant. dismal roar.
Quick they drew their coats about them.
Threw themselves upon the floor.
Through the headings, airways, chambers,
Every open space ii came
With a voice more loud than thunder.
With a solid wall of flame,
Rails and sleepers, doors and ~brattice,
Cars and timbers. coal and rock.
Crushing. tearing. rushing. roaring,
Flew before the mighty shock.
Stalwart men were but as feathers
Driven with a cyclones ire:
Fast their flesh and sinews shriveled,
Scorched and roasted with the fire.
Some were hurled against the pillars,
Mangled, bleeding, dying. dead;
Arms and legs torn from the body
Bodies severed from the head.
It will be noticed there is a SAVIOR of thu
! style OF Longfellow's "Hiawatha' in TIL