~6:00 pm, News Hour
In Cumberland, MD:
Miss Belle Jeanette and her party arrive as scheduled on train No. 14. It was planned that “immediately after the arrival…she will be brought to the Times office in the Franklin car of Mr. Daniel Annan, Jr., kindly driven by Mr. William Wilson.” Rather, she met up with these men at her hotel. (CET 12.24.07 pg. 8) (CET 12.26.07 pg. 1)
“Loading the papers and accompanied by the circulation manager of the Times, Mr. Hill, and one of the Times newsies, a quick run will be made to the Windsor Hotel, where a light lunch will be taken. After this Miss Jeanette will be her best to make up for lost time.” (CET 12.24.07 pg. 8)
“The party, which included Miss Jeanette, Mr. Wilson, Miss Jeanette’s manager, and Mr. R. Mason Hill, of the Times, started out at once and produced down Baltimore street, all along being given and ovation, as far as the Times office. Here Mr. William Wilson obligingly relieved his father as chauffeur, and a run was made to South Cumberland, where the party was enthusiastically received. After canvassing Virginia avenue, the parry then returned uptown and a little later finished the run in front of the Maryland Theatre…” where she and the company will play to crowded houses both matinee and night performances on Christmas day in the play, “A Child Shall Lead Them”. (CET 12.26.07 pg. 1)
“She will not work long time, but tomorrow will devote from 12 to 1 to meeting the people on the Baltimore street and selling her papers for the needy.” (CET 12.24.07 pg. 8)
Newspapers
Fairmont West Virginian:
Illustrated Monthly West Virginian offers subscription books “for one month are the property of the people of Monongah.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 2)
“We ask, however, the privilege of retaining 35 cents on each yearly $1.00 subscription to partly cover the cost of mailing, preparation, etc.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 2)
“Subscriptions will be received by the Red Cross Society of America, 500 Fifth Ave, New York City, also the local committee at Monongah.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 2)
“The next issue of the Monthly West Virginian will be the Fairmont number and will contain a complete and finished write up of the disaster, fully illustrated.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 2)
The joke column was one of the first spaces sacrificed for the Monongah disaster. They return for Christmas: (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 2)
“How different the feeling when a philanthropist like Mr. Carnegie passes off the stage of action from that felt when a miser like Russell Sage crosses over. The one uses his large means in helping mankind and thereby adds to his own happiness, while the other selfishly tried to appropriate his riches to his own use and only added to his misery.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 4)
“The West Virginian has adopted the rule of issuing no paper on the great national holiday, July 4, and on Christmas day, therefore no paper will be issued tomorrow. We wish all our patrons a Merry Christmas.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 4)
Clarksburg West Virginian:
“Mr. Sturgiss is deeply impressed with the Monongah mine disaster and he is desirous of preventing future disasters by endowing the colleges sufficiently that they can give scientific training make mine investigations and report to the bureau.” (CDT 12.24.07 pg. 4)
“In addition to this Governor Dawson is urging the United States senators from West Virginia to take steps for government inspection of coal mines.” (CDT 12.24.07 pg. 4)
“Such a plan as is suggested by Congressman Sturgiss and Governor Dawson would bring to the country a new department of government and there would be constant search and research and examination and re-examination until the protection of miners and mines would be an active science.” (CDT 12.24.07 pg. 4)
Evening Star in D.C.:
Washington Herald in D.C.:
Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier in Iowa:
“The relief committee has been formed by prominent citizens headed by Governor Dawson, to solicit subscriptions to aid the stricken families…” (OTC 12.24.07 pg. 3)
Twice a Week Plain Dealer in Iowa:
“State Mine Inspector Paul of West Virginia made a thorough examination of Mines Nos. 6 and 8 Friday. Until Mr. Paul concludes his investigation all other work at the mines has been suspended.” (TWPD 12.24.07 pg. 2)
Topeka State Journal in Kansas:
“Gasps of horror fill the air throughout the land over the terrible slaughter that has been wrought during the past few weeks because of explosions in coal mines in various parts of the country, and especially in the twin tragedies at Monongah and Jacobs Creek.” (TSJ 12.24.07 pg. 4)
“Slaughter it surely was for neither of these disasters were mere casualty. They are crimes and can be called nothing else.” (TSJ 12.24.07 pg. 4)
“But there is no question in these two latest disasters of the mysterious laws of nature. The laws whose neglect fell thus upon the innocent are known laws and the price of obedience is small.” (TSJ 12.24.07 pg. 4)
“Yet such is the greed and callous indifference of man that even that small price was begrudged. Grim death has collected a debt at a terrible price and one bringing sorrow and distress into countless homes.” (TSJ 12.24.07 pg. 4)
“Both the Monongah and the Jacobs Creek explosions followed shut downs. They were the result of accumulations of gas and dust, and these accumulations, as mining experts know, can be avoided by the simplest means. That is, a watchman passing regularly and at reasonably frequent intervals through the mine, opening the doors and allowing some movement of air, will prevent the accumulation of gas in pockets sufficiently large to create dangerous explosions. The simple and comparatively inexpensive device of a perforated pipe, from which a very fine spray issues, disposes of the danger from dust.” (TSJ 12.24.07 pg. 4)
“Murder by the wholesale, and that is the only designation that may be applied to these two recent disasters and many others which have occurred in times past, challenges the conscience of a nation.” (TSJ 12.24.07 pg. 4)
“These frightful calamities should teach us what crimes a cynical indifference and parsimony are guilty of.” (TSJ 12.24.07 pg. 4)
“Society is vitally concerned in the safety of these workers upon whose daily toll we all rely, whose conditions of labor at best are of the worst, who are in every sense society’s sacrifice to her own good. Justice, not mercy, demands of the state the protection of these men.” (TSJ 12.24.07 pg. 4)
Bemidji Daily Pioneer in Minnesota:
New York Tribune:
“The executive committee of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, meeting at Pittsburg, voted $35,000 for the sufferers from the Monongah mine disaster.” (NYTb 12.24.07 pg. 6)
“The number of bodies recovered at Monongah thus far is 344.” (NYTb 12.24.07 pg. 7)
The Sun in New York:
Palestine Daily Herald in Texas:
Daily Press in Virginia:
Times Dispatch in Virginia:
Bluefield Evening Leader in West Virginia:
“On account of the many recent mine disasters the Pittsburg Dispatch employed J.L. Dixon, a mining engineer, whose reputation as an expert stands high, to locate, if possible, the cause of the disasters in the Pennsylvania and West Virginia coal district.” (BEL 12.24.07 pg. 2)
Cumberland Evening Times in Maryland:
Detroit Free Press in Michigan:
Dayton Herald in Ohio:
“Readers of the Herald who aided in the collection of Christmas presents and cash for the Christmas of the widows and orphans in the horrible mining disaster may eat their Christmas dinner with an added zest tomorrow. Their thoughtful Christmas spirit has aided in relieving the distresses of nearly fifteen hundred people and they have been Sant Claus to over one thousand fatherless and practically homeless children. Others aided in the laudable enterprise, and for the day the Christ says to you, ‘In as much as ye have done it unto the least of thee ye have done it unto me.’” DH 12.24.07 pg. 4
“The same spirit which in the people of Dayton and vicinity prompted the general Santa Claus car load of toys and clothing for the Monongah Christmas, also prompted the hearts of many thousands of other, and many cars of necessities and many thousands of dollars are on the way to ill fated, but remembered, Monongah.” DH 12.24.07 pg. 4
“The kind hearted relief committee at Fairmont and Monongah will have a busy Christmas, but they can afford to postpone their Christmas for a day or two and enjoy the pleasure of relieving the necessities of the poor Monongans and giving them a little Christmas cheer.” DH 12.24.07 pg. 4
“But Christmas is not the only day that is coming to these sorrowing ones. The future is full of days—dark, gloomy days that will appear more gloomy perhaps for the little brightness of the one day.” DH 12.24.07 pg. 4
“We are glad to see formulating a plan for the permanent relief and assistance of these unfortunates. About fifty thousand dollars as been raised and is on the way to the treasurer of the committee. But this, it can be seen, will not be much in the distribution, only about thirty dollars to each person.” DH 12.24.07 pg. 4
“The coal company will permit them to stay in their homes until they are provided for in some manner, and the people who are looking after their welfare now will continue their efforts.” DH 12.24.07 pg. 4
“Some of the families desire to return to Europe where they can be with relatives. Others wish to go to some other section of this country where they can make a living. Non, of course, can stay in Monongah, for none can mine, and what few there are needed to sew and mend and wash for Monongah people are already there and were there before the disaster.” DH 12.24.07 pg. 4
“Plans are also afoot to aid the Jacobs Creek victims, who, however, are not so many, but whose needs are fully as great.” DH 12.24.07 pg. 4
“In the meantime, lawmakers should go to work to frame a law preventing recurrence of such disasters, if that be possible. That would, indeed, be a Christmas gift to the country equal to the country’s gift to Monongah.” DH 12.24.07 pg. 4
The Boston Globe in Massachusetts:
“Reports that disorder occurred yesterday necessitating the drawing of firearms by the squad of state police were without foundation.” (BG 12.24.07 pg. 7)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania:
“Among the victims of the latest mine explosion at Jacobs Creek are 12 or 13 miners who had been employed at the Naomi mine previous to the explosion there on the night of December 1, when 34 poor unfortunates were suddenly hurried into eternity. Within a few days after the explosion here the men began to leave, numbers going to their old homes in Europe. But a wagon load of men drove across country to Darr, besides a number who made their way on foot. There are now added to the number of widows and orphans here who will for a time have to depend on charity for a living many more as a result of this latest catastrophe beneath the ground.” PPG 12.24.07 pg. 1
“The families of the victims of the Naomi explosion are wanting for nothing, however, notwithstanding the fact that so far as known not a penny of the money raised for their benefit at various places has ever been turned over to them. The United Coal Company is seeing that they get everything that is needed, and will also provide for their future toa certain extent. Those who desire will be sent back to their native land. But few want to leave here. One widow is soon to become a bride, and another has already started a boarding house.” PPG 12.24.07 pg. 1
“Unlike the coal company at Monongah, the owners of the Naomi mine have made no appeal for the aid to outsiders. The order of Superintendent J.D. O’Neil are that no one is to be permitted to want for anything. The company is not merely supplying those whose support is gone with food and clothing, but the money is given tot hem that they may do their own purchasing. It is, in fact, discouraging outside aid, preferring to do all this work itself in an effort to make what reparation it can for the awful loss of life. A collection is being taken here today to give the orphans of the dead miners a merry Christmas.” PPG 12.24.07 pg. 1
“Henry Hobek, who is connected with the Austro-Hungarian consulate at Pittsburgh, has spent several days in this vicinity looking after the interests of his fellow countrymen. Twenty-five of the entire number of victims were natives of that country. Mr. Hobek found that some shark had already been among the people, getting the women and other relaives to sign powers of attorney or claim papers giving him the right to collect whatever money could be got from the company.” PPG 12.24.07 pg. 1
Baltimore Sun in Maryland:
Pittsburgh Daily Post in Pennsylvania:
“Secretary Wilmot’s first move on going to Jacobs Creek probably will be to perfect the organization of relief committees, getting them in working order for investigations and for the handling of funds. He will then return to make his report to the commission when another special meeting will be held.” (PDP 12.24.07 pg. 1)
More on How Death Gloated!
The Monongah Disaster 