Evening star., 1947-04-01
Notes Left by Miners
In Blast Reveal Last
Thoughts Of Families
BY the Assoeioied Press

CGN NxftfaIlk1, lll., npiA oAS
well notes, written in the darknes.
Of the coal mine after the las
Tuesdays explosion which cost tht
lives Of Ill miners, were found II
the clothing of 10 of the victims
and were published yesterday in q
copyrighted story in the Centralia
Evening Sentinel.
The final words Of the Is victims
who were found Saturday in the
extreme west end of the workings
where they had lived possible II
hours after the explosion, were
scrawled on pages torn from fore
mans time book.
On the rock face above theil
bodies was written: Look In
everybody's pockets. We all have
notes. Give them to our wives"
Writers Not Identified.
The writer's were not identified by
the Sentinel. Excerpts from some
Of them:
''To my wife: It looks like the end
for me. I love you, honey, more
than life itself. If I don't make 1t
please do the best you can and al
ways remember and love me, honey
You are the sweetest wife in the
world. Good-by, honey and Dickey, y
one note said.
Another, addressed to two boys
"Be good boys. Please your father
O Lord help me-"
Others:
Dear wife: Please; take care OF
the children. Leave all to my wife
Love-"
"Goodby. Give - family (sum
Of money!. Put toomstone on all
graves"
my dear wife: Good-by. Name
baby Joe, so you can have a Joe
Love all, Dad"
Forgives One Person.
'Dear Mother and Sister and
Brothers: I am fine at $50 pm
It looks better, getting some air
is in had shape, moaning and
going on. Take care of mother.
Tell I forgive her. See about
security insurance. We won't all get
out. We found a place in the air a
little. The smoke was bad. God
bless you all. Your loving son."
Everyone going, all are gone but
Joe Ballantini, Fred CUTLER, Nee
jackson of the JOY (refers to ma
chine) is here. Don't know about
the others"
Dear Sweetheart and sons: "It's
now 6 o'clock - Is feeling pretty
low, but honey, if I don't make it
sell the house and go live with youl
folks. Your MON and dad will take
care of you and the boys. Please
pray for me and join the church
for me. Tell dad to quit the mine
and take care Of nom, not like this
Well baby, and my loving boys
good-by as am feeling weak. Lots
Of love-"
Dear wife and sons: Well, hon
It looks like this is the end. Please
tell nom and dad I still love them
Please get the baby baptized and
sent - to the Catholic school
well, j lOfc yOu oil dlio PACooC cohS
care of them and raise them a good
Christian. love them. Love to all
Of you"
Lawmakers Criticized.
Driscoll o. Scanlan, State mine
inspector, said at news conference
yesterday Federal and State author
tiles "must shoulder lot of the
blame" for the mine explosion.
Mr., Scanlan said the lawmakers
were to blame for mot taking min
ing departments out of politics"
"All departments should be put
under iron-clad civil service, in
cluding rescue crews" he said. He
declared the first rescue crews, did
not reach the mine until four hours
after the explosion, and stated the
lapse was because crews are on a
volunteer rather than full time
basis.
They should be under civil serv-
ice, paid by the States and on a.
hour CALL" Mr.. Scanlan said.