Some Interesting Miner Folklore.
And Superstitions.
1. It was bad luck to enter a mine if you met a red headed woman on the way to work.
2. You never changed your job or moved your family on a Friday.
3. The howling of a dog meant the death in a family the next day.
4. Whenever a miner was killed in the mines, all the employees went home and did not return to work until after the funeral.
5. The crumbs left in a miners dinner pail were supposed to be gifted with supernatural powers.
6. Powder smoke was recognized as a cure fro whooping cough.
7. Pow wowers and Hex women were supposed to be gifted women.
A. If they blew their breath into the mouth of a child they could cure a sore throat.
B. The seventh child of the seventh son had the power to cure a fever.
8. Early miners celebrated the " Feast of Mary Goes Over The Mountain " and believed if it rained on that day it would rain for 40 days.
9. June 25 was " Mid Summer Day " and bonfires were built on hillsides and young girls would see the vision of their future husbands in the dancing flames.
10 White rats in the mine had talents unknown they got into the feed of the mules and stayed under ground their whole lives. They stole and thrived on the food from the miners.
11. The mine rat knew of impending danger, when they ran for safety so did the miners. If a man had six senses then the mine rat had seven or eight. Every time they ran there was either a fall of coal or a gas explosion.
12. They say a miner killed underground, his ghost will return to finish the job.
13. When an Irish miner died professional criers were hired to wail and howl at the miners wake. There was a saying " That to hear the Irish cry is to never forget it."
14. It was also bad luck for a woman to enter the mine, because certain women could put a curse on the mine.
15. Miners believed that mules could see ghosts and spirits, that the miners couldn't see.
Below is the pay scales for the Luke Fiddler Colliery. Included are the occupations/ the number employed/ and the pay scale.
The Luke Fiddler Colliery
Near Shamokin, Pa.
August, 1877
Payroll
OUTSIDE
1. Outside Boss 1 $ 66.64 per month.
2. Clerk 1 48.00 per month.
3. Civil Engineer 1 30.00 per month.
4. Stable Boss 1 40.00 per month.
5. Stable Helper 1 28.00 per month.
6. Watchman 1 1.08 per day rate.
1.50 per day rate.
7. Teamster 1 1.00 per day rate.
8. Blacksmith 3 1.83 per day rate.
1.58 per day rate.
9. Blacksmith Helper. 1.13 per day rate.
10. Chief Carpenter 1 30.00 per 1/2 month.
11. Carpenter Repair 2 1.46 per day rate.
1.37 per day rate.
12. Engineer 1 1.58 per day rate.
13. Fireman 2 1.25 per day rate.
1.08 per day rate.
14. Laborer 7 .83 per day rate.
1.00 per day rate.
1.17 per day rate.
15. Car Loader 1.17 per day rate.
16. Dirt Bank 9 1.04 per day rate.
.67 per day rate.
.91 per day rate.
.79 per day rate.
17. Rock Bank 2 .83 per day rate.
18. Tipman 2 1.17 per day rate.
1.00 per day rate.
19. Rollerman 5 1.04 per day rate.
.97 per day rate.
.67 per day rate.
20. Chute Boss 1 1.58 per day rate.
21. Slate Pickers 68 .42 per day rate.
.50 Per day rate.
.65 per day rate.
Luke Fidler Colliery
August 1877
During the month of August most of the pickers only worked a total of 8 days.
22. Mason Repair 1 $2.00 per day rate.
23. Hauling Timber 2 4.00 per day rate.
INSIDE
24. Inside Boss 1 80.00 per month.
25. Repairman 6 1.50 per day rate.
1.33 per day rate.
1.20 per day rate.
26. Bottom Slope 2 1.04 per day rate.
27. Runner 2 1.04 per day rate.
28. Plane Man 2 1.33 per day rate.
29. Driver Boss 1 1.50 per day rate.
30. Drivers 18 1.04 per day rate.
.84 per day rate.
.92 per day rate.
31. Oiler 1 .94 per day rate.
32. Door Boy 2 .67 per day rate
.62 per day rate.
33. Switch Boy 2 .62 per day rate.
34. Shaft Engineer 1 1.58 per day rate.
35. Pumpman 1 1.57 per day rate.
36. Top of Shaft 3 1.12 per day rate.
37. Bottom of Shaft 1 1.12 per day rate.
38. Miners in Gangway 4 1.25 per day rate.
1.04 per day rate.
39. Miners in Airways 2 1.21 per day rate.
40. Coal Car Pushers 17 .58 per day rate.
Gangways
41. East No. 9 Vein 3
Miner 2.50 per yard.
Miner Slate 2.00 per yard
Miner 33 cars @ .50 /car
Laborers 4 1.17 per day rate.
42. Short Plane 1
Miner 2.00 per yard. 22 cars @ .45 /car.
43. West No. 8 Vein
Miners 2 2.00 per yard.
31 cars @ .41 /car.
Laborers 2 1.08 per day rate.
44. Long Plane East No.9
Miners 2 1.75 per yard
29 cars @ .45 /car.
45. Breasts Chutes and Headings.
103 Miners.
.50 per car load.
.45 per car load.
Heading 1.50 per yard.
Chute 1.00 per yard
Platform .75 per yard.
Laborers 1.17 per day rate.
Breast 14 Chute 2.00 per yard.
46. Swamp Counter
Miners 3 .45 per car load.
Laborers 2 1.04 per day.
47. Car Agent 1 40.00 per 1/2 month.
