The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-12-23
KOKOAl
MAKES APPEAL
TO ITS MEMBERS
PERSONAL Letter TO
Mr.. G. ,. MICHEL

Inc Uruer h0KOal, consisting OF
about $500 men connected with the
operating and sales departments OF
coal companies throughout the United
States, has been appealed TO person.
ally by Chas. e. Lester. Imperial Mo-
doc. TO aid the sufferers at Mouongah.
The following letter to Mr.. C. A.
Michel, who is in charge OF the 1908
Special Industrial Edition OF the West
Virginian. and the only member OF the
0rder Kokoal In Fairmont, is OF spe.
cial interest and self-explanatory:
The Letter.
Office Of the Imperial Modoc,
l Broadway.
New York. Dec, Goth, 1907.
Mr.. G. A. Michel.
Care Fairinont West virginian,
Fafrmont. West Virginia.
My Dear Sir:
have your favor OF the 10th. to-
gether with the copy of your paper
of Dec. 10th date. all OF which have
noted very carefully. | agree with
you In that this awful calamity pre-
sents 10 the Order Kokoal an oppor-
tunity OF showing In practicable
way that We are infused with the
spirit OF our motto. Come On And
Lift" and so thoroughly has this mat
ter appealed to me. that will under
take the task OF soliciting froms our
entire membership contribution to
this fund. by which hope that We
may be able to raise q sum which
will at least relieve the suffering Of
q few OF those =wldows-andJ children,
OF the men whose lives we're snuffed
out by this awful accident, and thus
reflect credit upon our organization.
This will be undertaken at once. and
| VIII thank you to kindly advise me
the name OF the party who Is at the
head Of this relief fund, with whom
should get into communication a lit.
tie later. when the results OF our ap-
peal have commenced to bear fruit.
! sincerely hope that our entire mem.
bershlp will respond very literally.
Very truly yours.
CHAS. E. LESTER.
The Appeal.
Dec. 2Oth.l9O I.
To Members Of the Order OF Kokoal:
Without doubt you have read OF the
dreadful accident which happened at
the Monongah mine OF the FaIrmont
Coal Co., recently. by which some $50
or more miners. and other mine en-
ployes lost their lives. leaving some
$50 widows and 1000 children practi.
caify without means OF support.
The work devolyed upon the Relief
| Committee will be enormous, as IL
Is estimated that fully 100000 will
be required to carry out the Relief
work on the basis of the proposed plan
OF giving each widow $4,000 and
$4,000 to each fatherless child, and
before the bodies Of the victims Of this
accident have been recovered We are
shocked by the report OF n similar ac.
cident at the Darr mine, OF the Pitts.
burg Coal Co., at Jacobs Greek, Pa,
by which 1t is reported some $50 min.
ers lost their lives.
II seems 10 me that In the history
OF our organization. composed as II is
exclusively Of men interested in the
coal business. there has never been
presented TO 1t an opportunity like the
present OF demonstrating TO the world
that our members are infused with
the true spirit Of our motto. Come
On And Lift" and In the capacIty ol
Imperial Modoc OF the Order, whfctl
office have the honor OF filling during
the present year, l appeal 10 YOU to
contribute whatever amount YOU NAV
be moved to give toward the fund for
the relief OF the widows and ORPHANS
OF these men stricken down In the ais
charge OF their duties. In my official
capacity 1t will give me pleasure to
undertake to acknowledge and forward
to the General Relief Committees ali
such remittances as may be received
and sincerely hope that every mem
Der Of our order will not only copsid.
er 1t duty. but will esteem IL n nriy
lege to contribute as generously as
possible to this fund.
beg to remain,
Very truly yours,
CHAS. E. LESTER,
Imperial Modoc
p. S.-No amount too small to h,