The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-12-06
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I.P'|A!iI.DaH!|.E|:.R[||0:E'S | .R[||
Of / THE MINES
Mr.. NEIL ROBINSON MAKES AN
ELooUENTfTA TALK ON MEN THAT
HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN
THE EFFORT TO SAVE OTHERS.
names tt. .BE. REMEMBERED
INSTITUTE WILL TAKE UP MAT.
TER oFsHAviNG ACTS RECORD.
ED ON BRONZE TABLETS. AT
THE CAPITOL.

b. -sa
In his talk at the banquet held last
night in honor OF the visiting members
OF the West Virginia Coal Mining In.
fstitute on "Heroism in Mines" Mr..
Neil Robinson paid a high tribute to
the men that have lost their lives in
the hope and effort Of doing something
to relieve and rescue fellow! sufferers
who were the victims OF accidents.
He suggested that their names be In.
scrlbed on, bronze tablet or on some
other enduring way at the capitol In
Charleston. ,5 =,
Mr.. Robinson's speech was as fol.
lows:
A hero has been defined rs "a man
Of distinguished yalor with firm cour.
age which shrinks not amid the most
appalling dangers" z,
The literature OF all lands is filed
with the. heroic exploits OF sailors,
soldiers and coast guards; the greut.
est glory being given to those who
have yentured their lives In the hope
that others might live, and they. are
the heroes whose good deeds are re-
membered forever. 5.
Life in the average mining commun.
ity is more or less prosalc. Many Of
the villages are isolated. There is a
subtle danger in the work, but # is
borne mutely. The uniform OF the
miner is without gold lace or gilt but
tons. There is an absence Of the
spectacular to inspire men with
ithonghts brave actions. and life
goes onsfrom day to day monoton.
ously, each man on the pay rolls
/ quietly and honorably doing his part
in supplying the. world with ONE o.
It's greatest requirements.
But once. twice or three times in a
year, at some place in our broad land
the danger alarm will be sounded-a
serious mine accident will have ;oc.
Cured The quiet village wakes to;
action and forth from the crowd, un.
known and unheralded heroes appear
ready and willing to go where death
lurkes In every foot Of the way in the
hope that some one may be brought
forth alive. Many OF these brave res
cuers perish in the struggle TO help,
but not a tablet in our State. bears
witness TO the fact. and even their
names are frequently unrecorded in
our official archives. 90
Let me quote at random a few pas.
sages from the annual State reports:
six men started to come out when
they encountered gas and were suffo.
Gated. Three Of the fire brigade en-.
deayored to reach these men and met
the same fate" (l902 report, page
/, 143.) Il .3Fa $3.50
"on Saturday night an. explosion
occurred By which eight men lost
their lives. The explosion extended
into the adjoining mine where five
more men lost their lives. In an at.
tempt to rescue these men, after the
explosion had occurred. eleven men
entered the mine They. however,
We're lost in the second explosion"
(19O5, page 266.)
In the foregoing cases the rescuers
lost their lives. That they were, mod.
! est men, MS well as brave, strlying
to do good without. the hope OF glory
or self-advancement is evidenced by
the tone and actions OF those who
have lived to record, In simple lam
i ruape their own ventures into the