The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-12-13
THOUSANDS ARE now
IN NEED OF FOOD
The Living. Not the Dead, the
Problem at the Mines.
COAL COMPANY GIVES $4,000
Distressing Scenes When Twenty-six
Funerals Take Place To Bury Deadin
Trenches Hillside Yellow With New
ly Made Graves-Executive Asks for
Bread, Clothing and Shoes.

Fairmont, w. Va. Especially Not
what to do with the dead, but how
to care for the living, is the problem
of the hour at Fairmont. Fully 200
families have been deprived of their
sole support, fully $50 wives have
been made widows, fully 600 children
have been rendered fatherless. Mis-
cry has increased day after day. The
vacant chair, the empty room, the
little children who toddle out at
eventide to watch for father, who
never comes; the scant larder, have
combined to bring these impractical
women to a sense of their loss, and
they are sitting in their homes with
their heads in their hands.
With hunger, homlessness and rag
gedness the only prospect which the
future held forth, this would have
held forth, this would have been a
night of gloom for Monongah. 1t is
no pleasant thing to look upon wives
weeping for dead husbands, children
wailing for dead fathers, and to see
the terror with which, in their help
lessness, they face tho future. And
81 WHICH, NlO1odJ ~ WUSo tsAAAON~~NO~-
that prominent men connected in an
official capacity with the Fairmont
Coal Company had contributed $2O,-
600 to the relief of the widows and
orphans it was a rainbow of hope,
penetrating the gloom which has how
cred over the Monongah hills, while
the devcut priests, who have labor
ed with their people in their sorrow,
tho fII-
ture appeared wonderfully brighter.
Piteous Plea For Funds.
The contribution was made on pc
half of the Fairmont Coal Company
by Messrs. J. E. Watson, Ex-Governor
A. B. Fleming, S. l.. Watson, presi-
dent; G. w. Watson, vice president;
Jere H. Wheelwright, Van Lear
Black and L. L. Malone, who do
mated to the relief COMMITTEES. $17,-
500, while Senator Camden, on be-
half of the Monongah Company, au-
thorized by wire $4,000, making
total of $4,000. All of this has
been deposited in the First National
Bank, subject to the order OF J. e.
Sands, and will be distributed to the
proper persons at the earliest time
consistent. Mayor Moore, of Monon-
gah, is chairman of the relief COM
mittee.
While the coal company has been
most generous in its treatment or
the dead and suffering, and while
its contribution to the relief fund
was at once unexpected and liberal,
yet West Virginia properly feels that
the obligation of caring for the liv-
ing may not properly fall upon the
coal company exclusively, SO the state
accepts its responsibility and holds
forth it's hands to its citizens. Here
is her appeal:
To the people of West Virginia:
On Friday morning, December 6, at
1920 A. M, Monongah mines Nos.
6 and s exploded, $40 men lost their
lives; the major portion were mar
ried. At least 200 families will be
destitute and in need of aid. Many
of our best men are under the hills.
In this great calamity we appeal to
the people of the state for substantial
support. We deeply appreciate your
sympathy, but this will not satisfy
the hungry or clothe the orphans
and widows. We appeal to the may
ors, ministers, boards of trade, bust
ness men, leagues. ladies' aid societies
and all religious, fraternal and be-
nevolent organizations, as well as
busy, moneyed men, to send us aid.
Clothing, shoes and wearing apparel
of all kinds and sizes will be gra-
ciously received and greatly ap-
preciated; coffee, tea, bread-stuffs and
ali the necessities of life will be thank
fully received This is no time for
sentiment. Our homeless need sub
stantial aid. Let us all, men, women
and organized society, give assistance,
God still reigns and will repay you.
we never can. Address all donations
and make all checks payable to W..
H. Moore, treasurer. Respectfully,
w. H. MOORE.
ya Mayor.
S. B. MONTGOMERY,