HomeThe O’Rourke Family of Midland, Allegany County, Maryland
By Hugh Martin O’Rourke, of Westernport, Allegany County, Md.
In 1798 there was an uprising of the Irish people against the English Government. In much of Ireland the trouble was soon over, but major events took place in County Wicklow, as the histories of the day tell us. After much hard fighting and destruction, and at the cost of many lives and following hardship, the Irish were subdued. One figure in these events in Wexford and Wicklow was a young O’Rourke. I have not been able to find out much about him, but mention him here as possibly and ancestor or a relative.
Hugh O’Rourke (sometimes Rork, Rorke, Rook, etc., with or without the “O”) married Elizabeth Whelan. The lived in or near the town of Carnew in the Carnew District of County Wexford in 1840,or perhaps a few years prior. They are reputed to have had to older sons named Martin and Thomas, one of whom (Martin?) came to America during the Civil War and one story is that he was killed during this war. Another says that he was killed by Indians while driving a stage coach, but we have no record of where he lived. Traditions is that his parents were informed by a young lad that there was a letter from America at the Post Office, but on inquiring there the Post Mistress claimed there was no letter (1865?). At any rate no further news was heard of him. The other brother (Thomas?) remained in Ireland for some time, but on his way to Australia is supposed to have visited his brothers in Midland, and an old tintype supposedly show he and his daughter in America, the tintype preserved in Midland with other pictures taken prior to 1880. But we have no further information on them.
The younger generation recalls mention by their grandparents of Gorey,Enniscorthy, and other towns in their locality. Some years ago (1920?) there were O’Rourke’s living at a nearby town called Ballinbarney (I’m not sure of this name). Most of the people in the district were tenant landholders, renting from the wealthy landlords, e.g. the Powers family of Powerscourt and Earl Fitzwilliam. Most of the farm produce was taken to markets at Corey or Colnegraney. The older people also talked of a village called Ubey, or Urey, but I don’t find anything corresponding on the map. The village where O’Rourke’s lived, (perhaps Carnew itself) was a small one, just a few houses on a hillside along a main road. The cottages were stone, roofed with thatch in the past century, but modernized later and having slate roofs. One of the O’Rourke’s was reputed to be a fisherman, but the ocean is some distance away from Carnew.
Perhaps they lived somewhat out from Carnew, or possibly there was no Catholic Church there at the time, as they are reputed to have attended Mass and other services in Gorey, where a Pastor and a Curate were located; and sometimes that the mission church of Ballifad, which was attended by the Gorey priests on a scheduled basis. It may be that baptism, marriage and death records of the family in the first part of the last century are recorded in these churches.
Diary of Martin Thomas O’Rourke
(with occasional notes(italics) by his son, Hugh Martin O’Rourke, 412 Maryland Ave, Westernport, Md)
May 8, 1894 Ocean Mine (near Midland) suspended work this morning ( a strike). Mass meeting of the miners at Wright’s Crossing (near Frostburg) that same day.
May 9, 1894 A crowd went to Coney (Lonaconing) to try to induce those men to suspend work. They heartily acceded (correction) they partly acceded( or agreed?)
May 11, 1894 Frostburg assembly, with Midland, went to Coney to try to induce Jackson, Detmold and Kingsley (?) men to suspend work.
May 12, 1894 Barton, Coney and Midland assemblies marched on Hoffman Eckhard and New Shaft to try to induce those men to suspend work. They did not suspend.
May 19,1894 Midland mend with Barton men had a scrap with the Hoffman men from Vale Summit.
May 22, 1894 Another crowd marched from Midland in all the rain to try to induce Vale Summit men (who worked at Hoffman) to suspend work. They did not suspend.
May 23, 1894 A great mass-meeting was held on the Firlie property (in Midland?) to hear the report from the delegates who attended the Cleveland Convention (they were elected at the mass-meeting held at Knapp’s Meadow, May 9, 1894) Resolutions were read and adopted that the miners demand 50 cents per ton, a check-weighman, and abolution (abolition?) of the “Pluck Me” Company Store. The action of Mine Inspector McMahon was condemned, and the Lonaconing Press with the “Times” reporter was ejected from the meeting.
July 17,1894 We started to work in Carlos today.
July 18, 1894 Spot (apparently, James Coleman O’Rourke, his cousin) and I arrived in Shaw (W.VA.) today at 4:40pm. After having super we started for Elk Garden (W.VA) and arrived there at 10:30pm. We took a berth in the engine house.
July 19,1894 Next morning we went to Fahey’s Mine (these Faheys later, some still, resided in Westernport) and got work. Were to start that night, but owing to a wreck on the Railroad did not start until next morning.
July 21, 1894 We are boarding at the Levell House. We made a start tonight and loaded six cars for three (probably had to load three cars of slag or bone coal to get three cars of good coal) and had three different places.
Same Day Spot and I took a walk out of town today, and sitting on the mountainside, we took a gaze over into Maryland.
Oct. 11,1894 Started dancing school at Barton
Oct. 15, 1894 Started dancing school at Piedmont,(WVa) (He could play the violin. I understand he-while a good dancer himself-furnished the music, while one of his friends, possibly a Daley from the tri-towns, Piedmont, Westernport & Luke, or maybe “Schuyler” Melvin taught the steps)
Nov. 10,1894 Started dancing school at Windom, WVa.
Nov. 18,1894 Organized dancing school at Keyser, W.Va. and started to teach on Friday, Nov. 25, 1894
Mar. 1, 1895 I arrived in Shaw,W.Va. today and will start to work on the 4th.
Mar. 23, 1895 Local strike was started today
Mar. 30,1895 Will Robertson died and was buried Apr, 2, 1895
Apr. 3, 1895 Spot (James O’Rourke) left for parts unknown, today. (Note: eventually he settled in California)
Apr. 12,1895 Daily (or Daley, possible one nick-named “Gump”) departed for Elkins, WVa today and returned Easter Sunday, reported 36 pupils (for dancing school) but no job.
May 13, 1895 Moved from Sultzer to Rawlins today. (This may have been a change in boarding houses)
Mar. 29,1896 Bernard Murphy died today from a gunshot wound in the mouth.
Apr. 29, 1896 Started to work today at noon, on the new steel bridge at Knapps Meadow (near the Old Stone House, on the Georges Creek Railroad; abandoned and torn down some years ago.)
June 24,1896 Started for Leadville,Colorado today at 7:am. Arrived in Chicago Thursday at 11:30am. Separated from Chicago same day at 5:50pm. Arrived in Omaha at 8am on Friday. Bid Omaha good-bye on Saturday at 4:45pm and after riding all night I arrived in Denver on Sunday at 8:30am. Took a train out of there at 9:45am for Leadville and landed there at 6:30 on Sunday evening. On my arrival there I was informed that a strike was in progress. My luck, as usual.
Jul.4,1896 Leadville. This is as quiet a Fourth-of-July as I ever spent. My pocket-book is opposed to all and every kind of sport. See!
Jul.10,1896 The strike is still on. All the women in this state have a vote.
Aug 14,1896 I started to work tonight at the Gallager Mine. And after working thirteen shifts, was laid off
Sep. 2, 1896 This has been a very hot day. 118 degrees on the Avenue.
Sep. 3, 1896 Today Farrell (from Midland?) and I started for the Milltop Mine, eleven miles distant. We walked both ways. The mine is between 13,000 and 14,000 feet above the sea. We had all kinds of weather-Summer, Autumn, Spring and Winter
Nov. 29,1896 I took a train from Leadville this evening at seve o’clock for Butte City, Montana. Passed through Salt Lake City at 12:25 on Monday. Arrived at Ogden, Utah at 1:45pm, and got a train from there for Butte at 8:30pm, and struck Butte on Tuesday afternoon, December 1 at 1:45pm, and took a streetcar for the Hale House. I have been in only eleven different states up to the present time, to wit. Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Montana.
Dec. 24, 1896 This is (or was) Christmas Eve. In the evening Barry and I went to the opera, and from the opera to a Midnight Mass—the first Mass said in the church since the new wins were added to it. The church was full to overflowing—there was not even standing room left. The choir sang beautifully and the music was exceedingly fine.
Dec. 25,1896 Xmas Day. Was at Mass at 10:30 this morning and it was just a repetition of last night’s ceremony. I spent the day with Barry and Moore. Taking everything into consideration, and after considering everything, I have arrived at the conclusion that I had a Merry Xmas.
Dec. 27, 1896 I started to work today in a mine called the Green Mountain at $3.50 per day.
Jan 1, 1897 The first time I wrote anything in 1897, it was this-I worked today, New Years. Such is the custom of the place, and made my little three dollars and fifty cents.
Mar. 17, 1897 St. Patrick’s Day. Anaconda, Montana. I was in Anaconda today and took part in the A.O.H. (Ancient Order of Hibernians) parade. It is my first visit to this city and I don’t think much of it. Most all the private residences are small., one-story frame houses. There are some very fine buildings in the City, however.
June 14, 1897 Butte,Montana. This is “Miners Union Day” and all members of the trade unions were in a parade. This parade was an immense one, some thousands of men being in line.
June 20,1897 Butte, Montana. A.O.H. had a picnic in Anaconda today. I went down there with the rest of the boys but did not have much of a time. We traveled in a gang, and drinking beer seemed to be the order of the day. I did not have much fun, as drinking is not in my line. Took leave of Anaconda at twelve o’clock same night. I was so thoroughly disgusted that I swore I would never go there again.
July 4, 1897 Fourth of July. Rained all day. There is no celebration outside of the “small boy” and his firecrackers, and they are in evidence on every street.
July 5, 1897 Today we celebrated the Fourth. There were plenty of amusements in town, such as concert halls, opera, bicycle races and other sports. I celebrated by going to “The Opera” in the evening.
Aug. 10,1897 My time was turned in at the Green Mountain mine this morning. About nine days later I started to work at the Gray Rock. It was a “Cousin Jack” (Cornish and Welsh miners) outfit and they did not have any use for me. So, after working 14 shifts, I was fired.
(Note: These Western mines were not coal, but from what I recall of his conversations about them, they were mineral ore,-gold silver, copper lead.)
Dec. 6, 1897 Morning. I was fired from “the Mountain” and on Tuesday at 4:20 pm I left Butte for Leadville, Colorado; was in a railroad wreck at Pocotello, Idaho. Arrived in Leadville on Thursday at 1:15pm.
Dec. 25,1897 Xmas. This has been a very fine day for a place like Leadville, which is 10,200 feet above sea level. I was at a ball in the evening and had a good time.
Note: From June 24, 1896 up to Dec. 9, 1897 I have traveled 5,000 miles, had 5 jobs, was in two earthquakes, and one railroad wreck.
Jan. 1, 1898 New Years. Leadville, Colorado. I was at a ball tonight and had a good time.
Jan. 2, 1898 This evening I started to work in the Gallager Mine.
Jan. 21,1898 This evening I was laid-off again after working 9 ½ shifts. I would like to know what is the use in trying to get along and not being able to do so. Looking and looking for work and can not find any. Such is life, I suppose. This is the finest weather Colorado has had for a number of years-some days are like summer.
Mar. 19, 1898 Today I started to work in the Klondyke Lease, run and operated by Kelly V. Cunningham. It is not much of a Klondyke (gold strike) for the miners, as they are expected to do a hard day’s work.
Mar. 24, 1898 I was compelled to stay in bed all day yesterday, and when I went to work this morning I was told that another man was put in my place, and that I was fired. I was greatly surprised, as I did not expect it. I don’t think I ever will have any luck in this city of the clouds. I have my mind on Arizona—may go there, but have not decided.
Note: Hale House in Butte, Montana—the place where I stopped, was destroyed by fire and a number of lives lost. Not a suit of clothes was saved from the fire. Had I stayed there I would have lost everything.
April, 1898 Started to work in Yellow Medicine Mine this month. It is 12 miles from Lake City.
July, 1898 The place shut down and I went to Leadville. From Leadville to Victor, Cripple Creek, Montana. Then to Colorado Springs, Colorado City, Pueblo, Denver, Boulder-then back to Denver again. From Denver, I rode on the trucks of a passenger train a distance of 337 miles into Eliss, Kansas. Worked 3 days on a threshing machine, got tired and quit. From there I worked my way east to Kansas City. Was in Topeka, Salina, Junction City, Ottawa, Lawrence, Paola, then Kansas City. Stopped there two weeks, and went back to Colorado again. Then down into Raton, New Mexico—back into Colorado again. Worked three months at Trinidad; from there I started for Gunnison and was snowbound on Marshall Pass for four days. I arrived at Vulcan in time to participate in a hot strike. I escaped arrest, however, and got about two months work. From Vulcan I walked over the range to Creede. From Creede I walked back to Vulcan again. Then to Gunnison and Salida, from there to Leadville.
July 22, 1898(1899?) Arrived in Leadville today for the fourth time. I am not looking for work this trip. The smelter strike
Affects the camp. From here I went on a short trip via horseback, only 45 miles. I was good and sore and had to take my meals from the mantelpiece for a couple of days. From Leadville I made a special trip to Salida and back (120 miles) While in Salida, the smelter strick ended. Went back to Leadville immediately for my freedom and started for Creede.
Aug. 15, 1898 Leadville. Started for Creede tonight, after a little trouble and some disappointment, arrived O.K. Distance from Leadville to Creed, 150 miles.
End of this notebook
Additional Notes: Martin T. O’Rourke
Jan. 24, 1900 Connelsville, PA
Feb, 1900 Juniata, PA
Mar. 20,1900 Youngstown,PA
Apr. 16, 1900 Leamont No. 2, PA
July 16,1900 Oliver Mines
Apr.,1,1901 Ocean Mine, MD
Apr. 18,1901 Paul McMeny injured. Buried Monday, May 20th.
West Liseming Now2, PA. Explosion Feb, 1884
Jan. 29,1902 Skinny Edwards killed by his motor
Feb. 21,1902 John Grimes died
Mar. 2,1902 Nora Grimes died
Mar. 16,1902 John Green died in Baltimore
Mar. 24, 1902 Robert Izzit died in Myersdale,PA
Mar. 25,1902 Sand Smith killed in Columbia Mine
Apr. 7-8,1902 Snow is 18 inches deep
May 14,1902 Mine No. 8 dumped first coal, and shipped first car next day. (At Ocean, Midland?)
June 26,1902 George Sharp’s family leaves for Sisterville
Feb. 14, 1903 Started to work in No. 8
Concerning new house: Started to dig out cellar on April 27,1904. Foundation finished on June 26. Work done by Wm. Hill, price $175. Moved into new house September 12,1904
Nov. 19,1906 Started to work, i.e. transferred from No. 8 in Klondyke
Jan 4, 1907 Started to work after machines
Oct. 22,1906 Started to work in No. 7
Apr. 13, 1907 Patrick Duggan was found dead in creek near Opera House (In Midland?)
Apr. 17,1907 Martin Byrne fell from Bowen Hotel window and died from effects of fall.
Apr. 14,1907 Died at 2:27pm – Hugh O’Rourke. Was buried in Catholic (St. Michael’s) Cemetery in Frostburg,Md on the following Tuesday at 12 o’clock. He was born in Ireland in the year 1845; emigrated to America in April 1870.
Note: Additional details: The date of birth may not be correct. He was a good-sized man with large and soft dark brown eyes and coal-black shining curly hair. Place of death was his home on O’Mara Ave, Midland, Md. Mother had gone to early Mass at St. Joseph’s, stopped at the house on her way home, told Father that his father was worse. While Dad went to later Mass, Mother took my brother William and myself to see the old gentleman, our grandfather, we being small children at the time. I recall him propped in a sitting position in the bed, which had been moved downstairs to the living room for convenience, and in particular remember examining the pattern of the old fashioned quilt coverlet on his bed. He greeted us with, “How are me boys today?”, in his deep, rich brogue. It was the last I saw of him. Mother took us home, left us in in care of Jeanne Morgan, and returned to the old house. But on her way heard the church bell toll, a custom in Midland whenever the death of a parishioner was learned. Father had gone there right after Mass and was present when the elder O’Rourke, his sire, died. We have two old photographs (tintypes) of him, one showing him with his wife and son Martin (my father, author of this diary) about 1875; and another, taken some years later, of himself and wife with a younger son,William who died about age seven. In later notes I will give details of his place and date of birth, i.e. of this Hugh’s ancestry and history. Cause of death was always given aas complications arising from Miner’s Asthma.
Nov. 21,1907 Laid off at Klondyke (Ocean No. 7)
Nov. 20,1907 Started to work at Stoyer, Garrett Co., Md.
Dec. 21, 1907 Work suspended at Stoyer
Jan 18, 1908 (1909?) John Cavanaugh died this morning at 6:30. Was buried in Frostburg the following Monday. May his soul rest in peace.
Dec. 11,1909 Katherine Dunn, nee McVeigh, died after nine days illness. (Note: my Aunt Katie, mother of Edward, Harry and Matie Dunn. My mother’s sister, and wife of Uncle Lawrence Dunn of Midland,MD. Believe she was buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Midland)
Nov. 1, 1906 Married in St. Joseph’s Church in Midland, MD, Patrick W. O’Rourke and Elizabeth McMahon. (My Uncle Pat, i.e. Stump, brother to the author of this diary, and Aunt “Lizzie”, these being parents of my cousins, George, Hugh, Patrick, Alice, Clara, Isobel; of whom I will make later notes)
Note: Patrick Cavanaugh and Elizabeth Atkinson were married at Midland, MD on Nov. 21,1893. Elizabeth Atkinson was daughter of my grandmother O’Rourke’s brother. Her parents died while she was a child, and she was raised by my grandparents on O’Mara Avenue in Midland. Her husband was related ot my mother’s people, both he and a son being killed in a mins accident, which I think is noted later herin. She was considered as my father’s sister in affection, he having no real sister; and we know her as Cousin Lizzie who lived in a small cottage in Ocean, Md. Her husband and the son who were killed – Isaac was his name, I think- were fine people from the reputations they left. A daughter married Charles Sloan of Mt. Savage, now reside in Frostburg, I believe; also residing there is a son, Patrick. Cousin Lizzie died not too many years ago and was buried in Frostburg.
Born: Hugh Martin O’Rourke on Friday about 12:15 am of May 14, 1904
Born: William Joseph McVeigh O’Rourke, at 11 o’clock this morning of Jan. 12, 1906
Born: Patrick O’Rourke, on Sunday morning at 9:45 am, Sept. 6,1908
Born: Harry O’Rourke, Tuesday morning, Dec. 21,1909 at 2 o’clock. Baptised 12/25/1909; Sponsors- J.T. O’Rourke (i.e. Johnny, Dad’s 1st cousin) and Mrs. John Cummins (or Cummings, i.e. Aunt Sarah, my mother’s sister)
Born: At Westernport, Md. On Tuesday morning Sept. 12, 1911 at 8 o’clock, a boy. He was called John Francis O’Rourke, and was baptized by Rev. Father Flood. Sponsors were the child’s uncle, Henry McVeigh, and aunt Elizabeth McMahon, wife of Patrick W. O’Rourke, both of Midland, MD. Ceremony was at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Westernport, Md.
May 24,1910 Started at No. 5 (Brophy’s, Bakertown Seam of coal, Franklin Hill-outside Westernport, Piedmont & Georges Creek Coal Co. of Frostburg) as Foreman
June 27,1910 Moved from Midland to Westernport. (to house owned by McAtee family, on Craumer, now Cromer, Streeet)
May 23, 1914 Born a son, named Francis.
1915 Hugh A. O’Rourke, son of Hugh and Alice O’Rourke of Midland, Md, born 14 or 15th of April 1875. Left home September 1, 1915 for Pittsburgh,Pa. On Tuesday, November 18th he was stricken by pneumonia while at his boarding house. The following Monday he was taken to a hospital in Wilkinsburg, where about 10:30 the same evening he passed away, i.e. nov. 22. On Nove. 24th his body was shipped home, arriving on the 4:30pm C&P train. He was buried on Nov. 25th in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Frostburg, MD, in the same grave as his brother Willie, who was buried at least 34 years before.
1916 Alice (Atkinson) O’Rourke, widow of Hugh (Joseph?) O’Rourke, better known to neighbors and relatives as Aunt Allie, died on Monday morning, January 31, 1916 at her home on O’Mara Ave. in Midland, Md., at the advanced age of 82 years. Born in June 1834 (Killmacoo Townland, County Wicklow, Ireland), buried on Wednesday, Jan. 5,1916 in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Frostburg, MD.
1918 Catherine (Kate Cavanaugh) McVeigh died on December 24, 1918 about 5:30 am from the effects of Spanish influenza, or plain “flu” as it is called here, having been sick about three weeks before her death. She was 75 years of age, having been born in (or near Meeting of the Waters, Vale of Avoca, County Wicklow) Ireland in the year 1843. She was buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Midland, MD on Thursday morning, December 26,1918 (from her home in Paradise on the road to Dan’s Rock)
Dec. 24, 1918 Weather bad. Rain in the evening. Christmas Day was somewhat colder, started snowing about 6pm Christmas night to a depth of 3 inches in Midland, and got very cold.
Jan 1, 1919 Rain and fog all day
June, 1920 Hugh M. O’Rourke graduated from St. Peter’s School (Westernport, Md). He was 16 years old in May of the same year. Secured work at Cumberland & Pennsylvania Railroad (Railroad station in Piedmont, WV.) Hugh was operated on for appendicitis in Allegany Hospital by Dr. Hawkins, Aug, 1917. Later in November he had his tonsils removed in Allegany Hospital by D.r O’Neill of Cumberland. In September he started to work in the Big (Main) Off of W.Va. Pulp and Paper Co. in Luke, MD.
Jan, 18,1921 I (Martin Thomas O’Rourke) was given full charge of No. 1 and No. 5 mines of Piedmont & Georges Creek Coal Co, as Superintendent, by General Manager, John S. Brophy. I had been in chard as Superintendent Pro-Tem for some time.
Mar. 4, 1921 Hugh McVeigh, of Midland, Allegany County, Maryland died on a Friday. He was buried on Monday Mar. 7th from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 9 am. (He was the son of Henry McVeigh and wife, Jane Johnson) Born in Augh-Lee, County Antrim, Ireland. He came to America in 1866. Married Catherine Cavanaugh. (Wedding?)Ceremony performed by Rev. Father Morgan, in the old stone house at top of a hill overlooking Knapp’s Meadow on Jan. 13, 1867.
Dec. 14, 1922 Richard Creamer, formerly of Midland, died in Washington, D.C. Funeral services at St. Joseph’s Church in Midland. Burial in St.Michael’s Cemetery, Frostburg, Md.
Mar. 17,1924 We moved from Brophytown to one of Luke’s houses, No. 422 on Maryland Avenue (The Island) in Westernport, Md. A nice place with electricity, gas, hot water heat, bath, etc, and much closer to church and school.
Jan, 5, 1924 I left the service of Piedmont & George’s Creek Coal Co. Istarted with them as Foreman in May, 1910, and then to Superintendant, then back to No. 5 as Foreman. (as given in some detail later)
Sep 8, 1925 Pat went to St. Charles College today, about 10 o’clock in Kelly’s automobile. He was as unconcerned and not the least bit put-about, showing no concern or emotion, taking it as though it were an everyday affair.
Nov. 13, 1929 Burial of Billie Cummins, son of Sarah (McVeigh) and John Cummins, in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Nov. 17, 1929 Lizzie (Atkinson) Cavanaugh of Ocean was his and seriously injured by an auto, near her own gate and home.
Nov. 30,1929 Lizzie O’Rourke (Elizabeth McMahon), wife of Patrick O’Rourke, died very suddenly at her home in New Salem, Pa. At 10:30 pm today. Death apparently from effect of a goiter, died in about 5 minutes from the attack. She was buried in Frostburg, Md. on Dec. 4, 1929 on a bitterly cold day.
Dec. 25, 1929 Christmas Day. Very cold with six inches of snow. Midnight Mass, chicken breakfast and also chicken supper. No company. Everybody at hom but Willie, and I missed him considerably.
June 10, 1930 Patrick A. O’Rourke graduated from St. Charles College, Catonsville, near Baltimore, Md.
July 4, 1930 We all went to Ocean and had a very nice day.
Nov. 1930 Thanksgiving Day. Very cold, some snow, windy. All here for dinner and supper, except Pat & Willie, of course.
Note: At a later date I find a few more notes which may augment those given.
Mar. 21, 1922 Martin Condry had his wrist hurt today on the yart(?) at the foot of the mine plane while attempting to uncouple a car of rock from the train of coal.
Apr. 1, 1922 Entire county on strike, bother anthracite and bituminous miners. Georges Creek is idle from end to end, barring Luke (Devon Mine) and Pete Ross’ mine. Luke’s are paying a bonus of $.50 per ton and $1.00 per day. Ross’s is a stock company (i.e. each miner was also a part owner)
Apr. 3, 1922 Is quiet. A number from up this way were on on picket duty at Luke. Pumps going O.K.
Apr. 4, 1922 All quiet today. No new developments in this district. Luke and Ross reported working. Some places on the Upper Potoma reported as working.
Apr 5, 1922 Nothing doing; everything quiet. Luke and Ross are going strong.
Apr. 8, 1922 Strike is one week old today but not any weaker than the first day. Each party blames the other for the trouble. Operators won’t meet miners and miners won’t meet operators. Many men are tire of the strike but won’t start anything until a settlement of some sort is made.
Apr, 10,1922 Mine office broken into last night.
Apr. 11, 1922 Everything was scattered all over the place when I came in this morning.
Apr. 12, 1922 Put up one more set of timbers today and two permanent posts under another set. Run all motors and machines.
Apr 13, 1922 Strike situation remains unchanged in this locality. Everything quiet with no one trying to make a start. I was at No. 5 today—everything looking rusty and weather-beaten.
Apr. 14, 1922 Everything is quiet. Very few people around. Pumps going good. Pipe line in 2nd right busted again.
Apr. 18, 1922 Everything is quiet. On 17th put 2 pieces of discharge line in 2nd right. On 18th started pump and warmed up all machines. Hoffa (An Operator) took 22 men from Barton to Bracken, WVa.. Free transportation, old rates.
Apr. 19,1922 Crellin, near Oakland, Md., is working. Loaded 5 RR cars. Campbell’s place, Faherty’s car half loaded. Campbell is paying $.55. Mine 51 paying $.71.
Apr. 20,1922 All is quiet so far as it is possible to see on the surface. No sign of trouble in this section. All stock coal manifested out today. McDonald and Campbell working hard on their construction work. Tipple was put in place today. Porter and McCurdy paid us a visit.
Apr. 21, 1922 Snow today, ice at Frostburg
Apr. 22, 1922 Snow disappeared. Fruit probably all spoiled. No local news, all very quiet. Picketts were up to Crellin on the B&O—looking the situation over. Meeting called for Monday 24,. Some supplies distributed by the Union yesterday. Both pumps on again after considerable trouble.