La Junta tribune., 1917-06-14
DOWN IN A COAL NINE
Rev. Payne Visits Coal Camps Near
Trinidad and Tells Story Of
OF Conditions

It was my privilege and great
pleasure to pay visit to the min
ing camps around Trinidad last FRI
day, Saturday and Sunday. Appre-
ciative audiences were present At
both the lectures and preaching ser-
vices. Having worked fifteen years
in the coal mines. the scenes were
not altogether new to me. l was very
glad to notice the great improve
ment In conditions to what they were
twenty years ago. The coal compa-
nies are taking the physical, social.
moral and spiritual welfare OF the
men and their families into consid-
Grafton.
The miners homes in the camps
I visited have electric lights and wa
ter in them. The ground around the
home instead OF being a barren waste
is cultivated in beautiful and pro-
ductive gardens. No neater and bet
ter kept gardens can be found any
where in the land.
The company has erected wash
houses for the men where they can
take their bath on coming out OF
the mines and then 90 home In their
clean clothes. This makes life easier
and pleasanter for both the miner
and the house wife. as she does not
have the coal dust to contend with
in the home
The larger number of camps have
Y. NJ. c. A. buildings. well equipped
under the direction OF competent
secretaries. 1t would be very hard in
deed to find q more devoted. self
sacrificing lot Of young men. In
these buildings men Of all classes.
nationaiities and creeds mingls TO-
gether. The secretaries love them
all because they are men With great
possibilities for development fer good
In each and every one Of them. TAe
camps also have . community nurss
end q community social worker. .
Miss Davley By name. who gives all
her time and attention to the girls
and women OF the camps TO help
them In whatever way she can. At
secundo. Miss Dawley had instruct
ed the girls in sewing to such de-
gree OF efficiency that when they
graduated Just recently from tho
eighth grade each wore dress made
with her own hands.
So many people do not know the
miner. They think he is human
being o flesh and blood. but hardly
a soul. Once they know him. how
ever. they find out that he IL every
inch a man. full of courage and love
for his fellow man. This thought
was greatly impressed on the writer's
mind Sunday night at Valdez. ! had
made reference to the verse which
reads, Greater love hath no man
than this. that . man lay down his
life for his friends" AZ the close OF
the service Q man Of lean frame and
tall stature came up and spoke TO
me in . very unassuminG manner.
He told me Of how back In 1911 in
the cokedaie explosion he had at
tempted 10 saye the lives OF two
men-in fact. he brought them out.
but the poor fellows were 10 over
come with the after-damp that they
died. though they worked over them
for considerable time. His heroic
act did not pass unnoticed. William
Eastman. for such II his name. was
awarded the Carnegie Hero Medal
and one thousand dollars for his
brave deed. Bill Easton. - he II
famiiiarly called. has been with the
G. r. 4 I. Company for thirty.five
years and II now mine examiner At
vaides.
The same thing has been re-enact.
"a at Hasiinss By other men st the
recent explosioa. This 10 not only
true IN times Of sxplosion. Scarcely
. day passes but there is . cali to
the heroic In those noble fellows.
asd the response 10 always II the
affirmative. when you enjoy the
warmth and comfort Of your homes
IN the winter time. no not forget
the brave fellows who risk their
lives 70 make such . comfort pos-
slbis. Ny sympathy always vas and
always will b with tho miners who
are
Down In the coal mines underneath
the ground.
whsrs the rays Of 'sunshias never
can b found.
a.