re: Trapped coal Miners pen letters to wives (1902)

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I think that was pretty normal of baws at that time.

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Surely. Kind of pathetic though.

John Hendren tells his dad to pay his debts? Raised a little shite, he did.

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I think that was pretty normal of baws at that time.
Surely. Kind of pathetic though.

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Oh, I agree.

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On May 19th, 1902, 26 miners working at the Fraterville Coal Mine in Tennessee, were trapped underground. They wrote these letters.

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Right down the road from where I grew up. I remember hearing the story as a kid, and going to see the memorial in what was then Lake City (now Rocky Top). It is truly a sobering experience to see the notes. A total of 216 men and boys died in that cave-in, and these 26 survived long enough to write letters...

This would be something good for the outstanding TV show "Goodless" to incorporate into the series.

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Those guys probably had an extremely limited education. Now compare their writings to the average Twitterer.

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Not only that, they probably were dirt poor, yet how is it that their writing skills would probably embarrass a high school graduate of today, maybe even a lot of college folks? People of earlier days made no excuses, which is so unlike today when we hear nothing but reasons why they fail despite so many advantages!

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There was only 3 adult males left in the entire town after the explosion.

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Imagine the slaying they did. Lucky bastards.

George Hudson straight to the point.

“Bury me in the clothes I have.” Don’t go buying some fancy suit to bury me in. Don’t waste money.

“Do as you wish.” Wide open. No holds barred. I will not be here to care so don’t refrain from whatever makes you happy.