Testimonies from South
Wales Mines
Six
year old girl:
"I have been down six weeks and make 10 to 14 rakes
a day; I carry a full 56 lbs. of coal in a wooden bucket.
I work with sister Jesse and mother. It is dark the time
we go."
Mary
and Rachell Enock, ages 11 and 12 years.
"We are door-keepers in the four foot level. We leave
the house before six each morning and are in the level until
seven o'clock and sometimes later. We get 2p a day and our
light costs us 2 1/2 p. a week. Rachel was in a day school
and she can read a little. She was run over by a tram a while
ago and was home ill a long time, but she has got over it."
Jane
Peacock Watson.
"I have wrought in the bowels of the earth 33 years.
I have been married 23 years and had nine children, six are
alive and three died of typhus a few years since. Have had
two dead born. Horse-work ruins the women; it crushes their
haunches, bends their ankles and makes them old women at 40.
"
Isabel
Wilson, 38 years old.
"I have been married 19 years and have had 10 bairns
[children]:...My last child was born on Saturday morning,
and I was at work on the Friday night... None of the children
read, as the work is no regular..When I go below my lassie
10 years of age keeps house..."
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