River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19
RELIEF ASKED FOR
MONONCAK VICTIMS
COMMITTEE HEADED BY GOV.
DAWSON SENDS OUT APPEAL.
ASKS ABOUT 100000
Fully $50 Widows and 1000 Children
Left Without Means of Sup
port by the Mine Dis
aster.

Fairmont, w. Va, Dec. 1.-THE per-
manent relief committee, headed by
Gov. w. NJ. o. Dawson, to provide for
the widows and orphans IN distress
through the recent explosion at the
mines of the Fairmont Coal company
at Monongah, Sunday prepared an APP
peal for funds that is being sent TO
chambers of commerce and kindred or
CARNATIONS all over the country.
All newspapers are urged to aid the
work by receiving contributions, ac-
knowledging them through their col
umns and sending them to the treas
urer.
Contributions of clothing, toys for
the orphans at Christmas time, and
similar donations are to be sent to
w. H. Moore, mayor of Monongah,
and chairman of the committee look
ing after the temporary wants Of the
victims.
Text of the Appeal.
The committees appeal follows:
"At Monongah, West Virginia on
Friday, December 6, an explosion in
mines of the Fairmont Coal company
resulted in the death of approximately
$50 employees.
"Monongah is a mining town of
about 5000 inhabitants. This disaster
has destroyed almost One-half Of the
bread winners. The other half is COM
posed of the employees Of two other
mines of the same company and of the
usual stores. ETC., which go to make up
a purely mining community.
Fully ESQ widows and 1000 chill
dren are left without any means of
support. The most of these families
live in the company houses at MOnon-
gah the remaining families in various
countries of Europe. The company
has generously declared that the fam
lilies occupying it's houses may remain
until other provision is made for
them, but operations cannot be re-
sumed at the damaged mines until
these houses are available for the new
force Many of the resident families
will want to return to their relatives
in their native countries in Europe.
The other resident families must seek
a community in which they can earn a
livelihood.
aid must be given these families to
reach their new abOdeS and to help
them establish themselves; and the
families living abroad must be provid-
ed for until they can adjust them
selves to their new conditions.
Total of 100000 Needed.
"As near as can be determined at
this time almost $4,000 from all
sources has been subscribed. Upon the
basis of $500 for each widow, and 500
for each child under 16 years of age,
$4,000 will be required. At least
$4,000 will be necessary to provide,
on relatively the same basis, for the
aged dependents of the unmarried
victims, the many now unborn chill
dren and the undoubted accessions to
the married victims list when COM
plete information has been received.
THE committee feels that a basis
lower than the above will not be ade
quate to properly care for the needs
of the bereaved ones, and a total of
100000 will therefore be required to
carry out the relief worn on this basis.
"The immediate needs of the resi-
dent families are being amply met by
the company and committee of
women from Fairmont and Monon-
gah.
Too Big for State to Handle.
"The committee begs to express it's
profound gratitude for the contribu-
tons already so generously made, and
to earnestly appeal for the further as
sistance that it feels is SO badly
needed.
1.-The magnitude of this disaster is
too great for West Virginia to alone
render all the help required. 1t COM
mands national attention and the COM
mittee feels assured that its appeal
will be heard and responded to by the
nation.
''AlI checks should be made payable
to the Monongah Mines Relief Com
mittee, J. e. Sands, treasurer, Fair
mont, w. Va.
IN. NJ o. Dawson, Governor of West
Virginia.
"P. j. Donahue, Bishop of Wheeling.
John W. Mason, Judge Circuit Court.
,'W. E. Arnett, Mayor of Fairmont.
wv. H. Moore, Mayor of Monongah.
"A Howard Fleming, Postmaster of
Fairmont, Secretary, Subscription