The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-23
Executive Board United Mine Workers Appropriate $5OOO COMMERCIAL CLUB MEETS Committee of Nine Members Appoint ed By Commercial Club to Solicit
 subscriptIons--$2eoo Raised
 In Birmingham.

In the homes of the Birmingham district the voice of humanity has spoken in be- half of the destitute families of the dead miners at Virginia City.
 The people of this vicinity are respond ing magni1cently to the pathetic appeal. More than $10,O0O has been subscribed within the last twenty-four hours-ano the work has only begun.
 The executive board of Alabama Dis trict No. 20, United Mine Workers of America, has generously appropriated s5OOO out of the district funds to relieve the sufferers.
 Citizens of Bessemer raised $2126 at mass meeting last night.
 Mayor Scott of Ensley collected $4oO yesterday.
 In Birmingham individual citizens and corporations have sent in more than $26O0 in unsolicited subscriptions.
 Committee of Clergy.
 A committee ssf nine members has been appointed by the Commercial club to solicit conlrbutita.s to the Relief Fund. nhis comn4litee will get at work today.
 A committee of clergymen representing all religious denominations in the dis trict has been appointed to supervise the distribution of the money contributed by the public.
 The interesting features in yesterdays developments were:
 l. The meeting of citizens held at Il o'clock at the Commercial club.
 2. The meeting of the relief committee later.
 S. The conference of the clergymen's committee held at o'clock in the after 'noon.
 , 4 The splendid work done at Bessemer and Ensley.
 D. More important than all else, the ac- tion taken by the executive board of Alabama district No. 20 United Mine Workers of America.
 At the citizens mass meeting presided over by Maj. F. Y. Anderson, vice pres ident of the Commercial club, relief committee composed of these persons was appointed:
 w. D. Nesbitt. chairman; Dr. J. H. Phillips, T. s. Pound, Hugh McGeever, Eugene Fies, B. Steiner Felix Tarrant. T. H. Johnston and j. B. Wadsworth.
 These resolutions were unanimously Rdopted:
 "Whereas, the people of this city and district have learned with inexpressible sorrow of the great mine disaster which occurred at Virginia mines on Monday last in which scores of lives were lost and great suffering and anguish en- tailed.
 Therefore, be It resolved, by this mass meeting of citizens called by the Com- merical club that we extend to the fam flies and individuals affected by the dis aster our profound sympathy and pledge ourselves to do all in our power to re- lieve their sufferings and help them in their great distress
 An amount approximating $11O0 was subscribed by persons attending the meeting.
 The relief committee later in the day sent out this appeal
 Committees Appeal.
 On Monday, February 20, there occur fred at the Virginia mines, in Jefferson county, Alabama, one of the most terri ble calamities that has ever visited community By an explosion in the mines on that date, more than one hundred able bodied men, in the prime of life, working in the mines were instantly killed or suf- fered untold agonies in lingering death from suffocation and fire. The horror of the situation cannot be described. No one survives to tell the tale. There are today more than five hundred widows and orphans who have thus been suddenly deprived of their only means of support. In the ag0nleS or tnelr Br1SI on account of the loss of loved ones, they . have not yet realized the full measure of their calamity nor the added terrors of want which must soon confront them Many liberal citizens of Birmingham have already contributed generously; but a large fund is necessary to meet the emergency, and an opportunity is now given for every citizen of our common country, minor and adult, male and female, to contribute something, be it ever so little, and thus enjoy the privi- lege of responding to the call of suffering. The committee earnestly requests that the officers of all fraternal, religious, commercial and industrial bodies, includ- ing womens clubs. social and literary, notify their members at once and take immediate steps to aid us in securing quickly the funds that will prevent the addition of absolute want and physical suffering to present grief and anguish.
 Sorrow is the common heritage of hu- manity Let those of us who are fortu- nate and who still enjoying health and plenty in Gods sunshine do some thing at once for the relief of those who are now so sorely stricken and afflicted by the fearful disaster.
 This statement is issued in order that all no matter where their homes may be, shall have due knowledge of this dire need and an opportunity to express their