The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-26


:. =. wears from this Christma'
season before SpanSier rcooNe''
from the disaster.
what disaSterg Can't recall III
well Il happened less than 1--WE
months ago-the explosion M th'
pslilv coal mine that killed - nv
r.r. ara injured IS more. You TO
member the headlines; Many Ter
~ A. Mine blast milne Death
-, fsrows.- ~Rescucrs Risk fivei
A. spangler.- widows and chiiafen
Mourn Mine Victims" and 'hen--
The world turns its attention te
other news.
Hut not spangier. There the rca
tragedy. the struggle for exis'ehe'
N tho living victims OF the disaster
w.s lust beginning. Fifty widows
and 200 orphans deprived OF the''
hreadwtnnersl Union dement's. staes
compensation. charity for whiie-
then whatf
Tb~ United Mine Workers OF
America paid tho regular oencfl.s
The state allows a maximum o. W
: week 10 A widow with small chill
3r~n for 500 weeks: afterward there
4 = rrsdiustment downward Ths
town OF Spangier and neishnorhooo
communities have helped but a.
best this IL not enough And uas
eav MS great as death stalks mosi
AZ these 50 widows with their soe
fatheriess little ones.
Mary shopo brcathes a prayer for
courase TO struggle on for tho sake
q her four small children. The ex
nlos,on smothcred out tho lives OF
her husband and two eldest sons
This came shortly after another son
had been killed In an automcoiis
wreck.
she had waited for hours AZ tbs
nav Of the mine Finally. De
ertmed. blaekened. semEsenselesz
youth was borne out Thank GOD
my Rudy" she cried but the aa
ms another woman's son. They
oold her the truth. Mrs. Grace Kelly
eloimed the lad. her Edwin
MAY God help me--but I'm glad
fnr her sake sobbed Mary shopo
ana staggered away to those OF her
Droed who were left
Mn. Kelly kissed her son rapsur
ousiy: then yielded him 70 tns
otrsfcher bearers who carried him
% the hospital
That morning she had put up
hznrh for him. HIS father and MS
brother. The father and brother
we're killed. Two uncies and two
ouussns also persisted.
hut Mrs. Kelly forced smile day
afser day as she visited Edwin ~
n hospital ward He muslin
know the worst: not TN he's WELL
che said
The lad Is IS. Tho Mrs. Keliy
has five other children. she II COINS
70 keep Edwin out OF the mine AND
oend hmm back TO school. That's
heroirm--like her husbands For he
died trying to save others.
John Hurey and John Pello were
pafs. They married sisters and tbs
families. with their six children
lived together. The men were Inn
urovinx the house. Then the disas
ter. and death for both. Some dag
an unborn babe viii learn that John
Hurey was its father. That VII
make seven children for the two
women to support.
Mrs. Mary Piutko II a widow
whose hope rested In three stalwari
sons. IS. IL and Fl. Their lives
were snuffed out. Now she faces
! fight to rear her three dependent
children.
~TlI manage Il somehow w
worked all my life"
This sentence epltomizes the cour
axe OF Mrs. Amelia Zurenko. Hei
husband was killed. She has sever
children. the eldest IL years. th'
youngest few months old.
Rosie Monac has several small
children TO support. for the min'
claimed her husband and her two
working sons. I'm pray and work
land pray" she says. "and III pu'
my trust in Providence"
Charlie Aeilo left widow VIII
eight small children 10 provide for
Tony VaIlala left a widow with
seven children. And there are othei
families whose problem Is as great
But there's one bright spot In th'
tragedy that win cast cloud ovei
spangier for the next Is years. III
pointed out by man who won wid'
praise for the heroism he displayed
IN the rescue work.
The real heroes Of Spangler HI
said. "are the women who are brave
" going about rearing their or
phaned little ones. To them thu
world should take off Its hat thii
Christmas--and maybe help thu
spangier relief committee a bit q
let In a little cheer where now gloon
n ftrs