~6:00 pm, News Hour
Fairmont West Virginian:
Secretary of State Swisher arrives for the Paint and Powder Club show. “Governor Dawson had also planned to come but was unavoidably detained at the last moment.” (FWV 01.06.08 pg. 1)
“Representative coal men from all the coal mining fields of West Virginia will meet at Washington this week for the purpose of discussing among themselves and the representatives of the United States Geological Survey, means for the betterment of the conditions of mines in West Virginia, in reference to legislation and regulations governing the mining industry in the State.” (FWV 01.06.08 pg. 8)
“Committees were appointed in the different coal fields who will make efforts to bring as many operators to the national capital as possible in order to discuss the conditions in general. The recent explosions occurring in West Virginia and other States have resulted in an agitation for better conditions in all the coal mining States.” (FWV 01.06.08 pg. 8)
The Committee for the Fairmont District: Ex-Governor A.B. Fleming, C.W. Watson and L.L. Malone (FWV 01.06.08 pg. 8)
Clarksburg Daily Telegram:
“The coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of the Monongah mine disaster began at Fairmont this morning, and the sessions are being held in the circuit court room, on account of the large crowd in attendance.” (CDT 01.06.08 pg. 8)
“The inquest is attracting experts and mine officials from various parts of the country, Coroner E.S. Amos is conducting the investigation but the county and state officials are looking into the matter from the state’s interest. Every effort will be made to get to the very bottom of the situation and to ascertain if possible at all, the real cause of the disaster…” (CDT 01.06.08 pg. 8)
“The Polander, the only man who escaped alive, will give his testimony, but this will not likely be of much value, as he was in the mine only a short distance from the opening hen the explosion occurred.” (CDT 01.06.08 pg. 8)
“The testimony of expert and investigators will be of vast importance and several days will be required to hear this. The inquest will likely continue for a week or ten days and probably longer.” (CDT 01.06.08 pg. 8)
The Detroit Times in Michigan:
The Evening Star in D.C.:
Evening
In Clarksburg:
The West Virginia Joint Legislative Committee is called together by the chairman to the Hotel Waldo.
In Fairmont:
The Paint and Powder Company of Baltimore plays a benefit performance at the Grand Opera House for Monongah Relief sufferers. (FWV 01.02.08 pg. 1)
Inside the opera house, “draperies are blended in the colors of the State of West Virginia – Old Gold and Blue – the State of Maryland, Orange and Black, Baltimore Athletic Club – Maroon and Blue, and Paint and Powder Club – Pink and White. The decorations are being carried out on an elaborate scale. Emblems of the two Sates and of the two clubs will be interspersed equal around the entire border of the house and curtain. When the lights are set aglow the color scheme presented will be as beautiful as any ever seen in this section. The intertwining of colors is a symbol of the closer tie that binds these two States…” (FWV 01.06.08 pg. 1)
“The general committee has had the eight colors…made into boutonnieres. All the men of the committee composed of the citizens and the ladies of the town who have offered and done much and are rooking towards the successful consummation of this entertainment have all donned these rosettes.” (FWV 01.06.08 pg. 4)
“Secretary Swisher’s box and Mr. C.W. Watson’s box were tastefully decorated in the colors of West Virginia with a sprinkling here and there of the State flower, rhododendron.” (FWV 01.07.08. pg. 5)
The P&P Club will be performing, “Don of Doraya”. (FWV 01.02.08 pg. 1)
“The actors not only possessed talent along the lines assigned them so that they could perform their work well but by long, hard, careful, superior training and by faithful work they were able to bring out the best that was in them and they created and art eliminating all that was worthless and retaining all that was valuable. Truly the boys were there with the goods without one thread of shoddy in it.” (FWV 01.07.08 pg. 1)
“Program was a pleasing on throughout and was just the right length. It was not so short as to make the audience feel that it had been skimped nor was it so long as was thoroughly enjoyed by the large audience and the actors responded liberally to the encores.” (FWV 01.07.08 pg. 1)
“The clever impersonation of femininity by the whole cast was carried out to a high degree of perfection and to many they appeared as real girls.” (FWV 01.07.08 pg. 1)
Some of the elite in attendance:
“The Paint and Powder Club has been accustomed to playing in the east where art is amply rewarded by its favorable reception by the people, but since the boys have visited our city they are cognizant that our appreciation of their work is as keen as that displayed in the cities they play regularly.” (FWV 01.07.08 pg. 1)
Night
In Fairmont:
“The special mine investigating committee will arrive here tonight and will remain during the inquest.” (FWV 01.06.08 pg. 4)
The Paint and Powder Club performers are treated throughout the night. “Tonight after the show they will be entertained at the Elks’ Home on Main street.” (FWV 01.06.08 pg. 1)
More on the Monongah Disaster of 1907
How Death Gloated!: A Timeline of the Monongah Disaster and Bloody December of 1907
Who is Guilty?: A Timeline of January 1908 and the Coroner’s Inquiry
The Monongah Disaster 