The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-05-09

""'S' iney coulu not see now they
could possibly live II not allowed to
work. SO they began to think how
they could get into the mines without
anyone seeing them. Hundreds de.
cided to dress in mems clothes and
go in like that. When they got in
they dressed again in their own
clothes and went to work az tney
used to do.
Such was the early life Of this
hardy old Scot, who. as we said, was
one Of the pioneers OF Utah and Lo-
gan. Now near eighty.fivo he talks
Of those days, when. at eight, he be-
gan work in the coal mines, as tho
they were but yesterday. lie remem.
bers clearly how he used to be low-
cred and raised from the mine in vii.
low baskets: how he hurried home az.
ter the days work TO the little two
roomed house for supper and rest.
This home was representative Of
those In which most Of the miners
lived. 1t was built of rock, covered
with a tile roof, and iioored with the
floor that nature gave It. This aoor
was regularly washed, however, and
was, therefore, much more sanitary
than one would at first expect Tor
this purpose wash was made of
kind of clay which gave 1t grayish
color. At one end of tile room 'Sos
a large fireplace at whica the cook
ing was done over sort Of crate
for you must know there were no
stoves in those days. The other in
dispensable piece of furniture was a
huge wooden bedstead
To this sort of homo the tired fam
lily of coal diggers came each even.
ing, and, after thorough washing
prepared the evening meal. In addi-
ton to the bread, which they got off
the baker, there was always a large
pot of oatmeal porridge. Sometimes
they might have bowl of beef soup,
but such Injuries were rare.
The country for miles around
where they lived was owned by Sir
John Hope. Due to his kindness CD
the young men might attend night
school after coming out Of the mines.
These schools were conducted by the
regular day teacher, and Of him our
pioneer learned to write and to read
the New Testament. II was that, no
doubt, that interested him in religion
and made of him one of the first set
tiers of Logan. The story OF any
pioneer is incomplete without refer
ence to his conversion to the religion
that has meant so much to him. We
should therefore note briefly some
interesting incidents connected with
his coming to Utah.
Paying his emigration fare, he was
asked IL he would be willing to do
nate that amount to the permanent
emigration fund. His reply came
quickly, and with the decision one
would expect of one who was convinc-
ed that he was called upon to do that
which God required of him. He would
be glad to do so, he said, providing
that 1t would be loaned him until he
would have time to repay It after he
arrived in Utah. This, Of course, was
granted him and he was soon on his
way across the sea and plains.
Arriving in Salt Lake City in Oc-
tober 1854, he procured work in
quarry and soon had all debts paid.
The spirit which prompted him at the
time of his donating of his emigration
fare to the church has ever been
manifest in his actions since arriving
here. For five months, at one time,
he left his home In Logan and jour.
neyed by team to St. George where
spent that length of time working on
the temple in that city; every day
of his work he gave freely to the
cause. Today he has been at the
Logan temple, as he has done each