Coal Mining

“Group of breaker boys.  Smallest is Sam Bellona.  Pittston, Pa., 01/16/1911
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-1948
 
 
 

Welch Mining Co., Welch, W. Va. Boy running “trip rope” at tipple.  Overgrown, but looked 13 years old.
Works 10 hours a day.  Welch, W. Va., 09/1908
 NAIL Control Number:  NWDNS-102-LH-70
 
 

Young driver in mine.  Has been driving one year.  7 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.  daily.  Brown mine, Brown, W. VA 09/1908
 NAIL Control Number: NWDNS-102-LH-136
 
 

“Shorpy”: a greaser on the tipple at Bessie Mines, Alabama.
Carries two heacy pails of grease and is often in danger of being run over by the cars.  Said he was fourteen.  11/19/10
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-1830
 
 

At the close of the day.  Just up from the shaft, 01/06/1911
  NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-1915
 
 

A lonely job.  Waiting all alone in the dark for a trip to come through, 01/07/1911
 NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-1920
 
 

At the close of day.  Waiting for the cage to go up.
The cage is entirely open on two sides and not very well protected on the other two, and is usually crowded like this.
Small boy in front is Jo Puma, S.Pittston, Pa., 01/07/1911
  NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-1925
 
 
 

View of Ewen Breaker of the PA. Coal Company.  The dust was so dense at times as to obscure the view.
This dust penetrated the utmost recesses of the boy’s lungs.
A kind of slave driver sometimes stands over the boys, prodding or kicking them into obedience.  S. Pittston, Pa., 01/10/1911
  NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-1938

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