The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1906-1908, 1908-11-07
MINERS LIVE LONG
OCCUPATION SEEMS TO MAKE
FOR LONGEVITY.
Consumption Declared to Be Praetlc.
ally Unknown Among Men Who
Delve In the Earth-Tales
Told by Veterans.

r. S. Thomas, coal mine inspecto
Of Missouri, has a fixed belief tina
longevity and coal mining go together
You never hear Of a coal miner
having consumption" said Mr. Thorn
as, unless he contracted the disease
before he went into the pit; and even
then he finds the peculiar properties
Of coal mine beneficial to his lungs
and he often becomes well and strong
by reason of his work under the
ground.
We have a number of hardy miners
in Missouri who were taken into the
pit in the old country (Wales) at six
seven and eight years to act as trap.
per boys. These youngsters kept
steadily at work until they were pro.
NOTED to be miners assistants and
then regular miners, and thrived
nightly under conditions which in
most trades would retard their devel.
opment-I mean, beginning work at
that early age.
1T seems as II Providence had given
health to the miner as a recompense
for the hazard of his calling. Nearly
all of those who manage to dodge falls
of rock, breaking cables and other
dangers incident to the craft live to
green old age. They not only live
but they keep at work.
1T would surprise Dr. Osler If he
knew how many men far past so we're
yet working in the mines at Bevier.
Uncle Johnnie Grtfith, who died a few
months ago at the age of "a, worked
In the pit from the age of seven until
year before he died He began as
trapper boy in Wales, his father car
rying him to the mine on his back.
His last work was in Mine 81 of
the Central Coal company near Bevier,
and he made a full hand every day
for three years after he was so. With
the exception Of short time that he
ran hoisting engine Mr.. Griffith had
practically been in the pit three-quar-
ters Of a century"
Mr.. Thomas has made some re.
search at BeVier, the largest coal
camp In the state, and finds that there
are there number of men who have
been at work for half century or
more on coal mines and are still Wig
orous. ...-...- y.
And here's another thing" re-
marked Tom Williams, veteran who
mad to abandon the pit some years
ago owing to fall of rock, you never
hear miner puff and blow when he
runs. His wind is as good as an ath.
lete's. His lungs are sound, although
coated thick with coal dust.
Nearly everybody at Bevier burns
coal for all purposes, because 1t is
cheap. Most other towns In these
parts use wood for freplaces and
heating. Now in time the tops of the
Bevier houses become coated with coal
SCOT from their chimneys, and the
rain after falling on the roofs passes
into the wells and they drink 1t.
"A Bevier family doesn't like water
unless 1t is caught that way and goes
through that process; that's the only
kind of water tastes good to 'em.
Why? Because 1t has properties that
XIII pneumonia and typhoid fever
germs.
TITS an absolute fact that people
don't have such maladies when they
use water caught in that way. I've
lived among them a lifetime and Il
know that. l can't give the scientific
reason for coal SCOTS beneficent infiu.
snce on we'll water. but there's no
earthly doubt it has such influence"