THE W.B.A.

An 1875 List of Union Officials Of The M&L.W.B.A In July 1875 Schuylkill County Area
It is interesting to note the names of the men in these different districts. As a historian I have always tried to disprove the theory that the Irish hated the Welsh, and the Welsh hated the Irish. As evidence you can see the different names of the officers both Irish and Welsh serving together in the same offices.
TAG ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE AND READ.



THE W.B.A.

THE WORKING MANS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION



Did you know the first miners union was formed in Schuylkill County? the first miners union, actually possibly the first trade union in the United States was organized in 1849 at a colliery in St. Clair, Schuylkill County, by an Englishman named John Bates, and is known as Bates’ Union. It hardly got on its feet when it went on strike for more wages. But within three weeks the strikers returned to their working places, beaten, and the union died within a few months. Others said that Bates ran off with their dues and money paid in?
In 1868 the anthracite miners once again found strength and united. The Workmen’s Benevolent Association, got its start this year in St. Clair, which gave birth to the Bates Union. John Siney became a labor leader of national reputation was its organizer. The W.B.A. as the old miners referred to it, lived a brief seven years, and they were about the fattest the mine workers saw in the whole country.
The W.B.A. grew stronger and bolder each succeeding month as it reached out to all parts of the anthracite region, and John Siney and his apostles talked of spreading the gospel among the great mass of miners in the western Bituminous fields. Meanwhile, there came from the operators insistent demands for reductions in wages which the union was able to resist in most instances until 1975.
What had worked to the advantage of the W.B.A. up to 1875 was the difficulty of the operators to unite against them owing to fierce competition for markets. Most of the strikes until then had been sectional affairs; when the miners suffered losses in a striking area they drew courage from their fellow unionists in sections where peace existed.
Parenthetically, this period marks the rise of that double headed dragon kind of corporation which brought vast coal properties under the control of a handful of railroad companies. The most powerful of these corporations was the Philadelphia Reading Coal and Iron Company incorporated in 1872. Under the Presidency of Franklin B. Gowen, the greatest industrialist in he region. The “Company” exerted a dominant influence over the destinies of thousands of its workers while its power was felt all over the region.
In 1874 Gowen induced the operators to band together in to the Anthracite Board of trade, for the purpose of stabilizing the market, by controlling the production, and tonnage quotas. In December 1874 came the ultimation of the united operators….wages must come down! It was left to the operators; it ranged from 10 to 20 percent. The Showdown had come at last.
When it began the strike of 1875 forever known as “The Long Strike”, it was region wide. But soon the miners in the northern fields accepted a cut in wages and returned to work. Though disturbed over this defection, the strikers in the southern and middle coal fields carried on. Acute suffering was being felt by the miners and their families causing some of the weaker brethren to submit to “blacklegging”. As the weeks wore on, suffering became more sharp and at one time the leaders were willing to accept a reduction provided their Union the Miners and Laborers Benevolent Association would have a voice in the settlement. Though some independents were willing to agree to this, the great corporations, determined to crush the Union and ruin it. They refused to have anything to do with the union. The strike dragged itself out to the middle of June, when the men, their families starving, submitted. They returned to work humbled in pride, and broken hearted. Gone was the union, and lacking any protection they entered upon a condition of existence that was altogether tragic. The union went to its grave because the great operators abetted by a coal and iron police recently established, and by a resort to the blacklist, willed it so. So ended the M&L.B.A.




A Meeting was called to re-organize the union
Interesting bi-laws!

TAG PHOTO TO ENLARGE


Poloticians will be poloticians no matter what era.

LIFE IN THE COAL REGION

“ONCE A MAN TWICE A BOY”

THE LIFE OF A COAL MINER

SHOULD HE ESCAPE FALLS OF ROCK AND COAL

HIS LIFE BEGINS AS A SLATE PICKER, AND GRAUALLY IS PROMOTED AS SKILL IS ACQUIRED
WHEN AGE CREEPS O’ER HIM HE GIVES WAY TO THE YOUNG AND VIGOROUS.
Few people outside of those who work in and about the mines are aware of the workings of such industries and the manner in which the employees are rewarded after spending their whole life in the work.
Briefly, it follows; First, the boy of eight or ten years of age is sent to the breaker to pick the slate and other impurities from the coal which has been brought up from the mine. From there he is promoted and becomes a door boy, working in the mine.
As he grows older and stronger he is advanced to the position and given the pay of a Driver boy, the boy who takes care of the mules and works with them throughout the whole shift. He will groom, feed and drive the mules. Next job is the laborer. There he gains the experience which secures him a place as a miners helper, and he acquires skill and strength he become, when in the height of his manhood and vigor, a full fledged miner.
If he is fortunate enough to escape the falls of rock and coal he may retain this position as a miner for a number of years. But as age creeps on and he is attacked by some of the many diseases incident to working in the mines, he makes his way for those of the younger and more vigorous following him up the ladder whose summit he has reached.
He then starts the descent, going back to become a miner’s helper, then a mine laborer, now a gain a door boy, and when old and decrepit he finally returns to the breaker where he started as a child, earning the same wages he as he received by as a boy. So is the average miner’s life. He cannot reach places of eminence and wealth. Only one in five hundred can even be given place as foreman or superintendent, and these are positions which few miners care to hold.

Written to the Pottsville Journal, January 4, 1902.

Editors note:
And you know as hard a life as these men, our ancestors had, I never heard a word of complaint, only pride in what they did. We owe so much to the miners of the anthracite region for they supplied the power and heat for the USA. For well over a century. And I am proud to say my family worked the mines.


The Black Maria...Coal Region Ambulance



ANOTHER COAL REGION TRAGEDY

MOTHER DIED FROM GRIEF

UPON LEARNING OF THE DEMISE OF HER SON.

An aged and esteemed resident of Mahanoy Plane, follows closely in the wake of a member of the family that met a sad end.


Mrs. Mary Joyce, the widowed mother of James Joyce, the young man who was killed the day before Christmas by a heavy timber falling on him at the Draper Colliery, died at her home in Mahanoy Plane of illness super induced by the shock at the terrible news of her son’s tragic death.
Deceased was 59 years of age and was believed and esteemed by a wide circle of friends. She had been a resident of that place for many years. A family of six children, three sons and three daughters survive. They are almost distracted with grief over their bereavement, in which they have sympathy of everyone.
Her funeral occurred on Wednesday morning and was largely attended. A Requiem High Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Holy Rosary.


Pottsville Journal January 4, 1902

THE LARGEST BLAST IN THE ANTHRACITE REGION

This is really cool!


Tag Photo to enlarge........


THE LARGEST BLAST EVER MADE IN THE ANTHRACITE REGION


The largest blast that ever occurred in the anthracite region took place at the Cranberry Strippings, Hazelton Pa. Owned by the Lehigh, Coal & Navigation Co.

The operator was J. Robert Bazley.

133 six inch holes were drilled to an average depth of 76 feet.

84,000 lbs of Dynamite

16, 200 lbs of Blasting Powder

13,000 feet of Cordeau Fuse.


Unfortunately I don't know what the date is. If anybody knows please email me.

A Ghost Hanging around the Charles Baber Cemetery

Here is another Ghost story from the miners Journal in 1865. The cemetery is Charles Baber on Market St. Pottsville.
Pottsville Miners Journal
December 2, 1865

A Ghost

The upper section of Market St. has been somewhat excited lately, by the alleged appearance between the hours of 11 and 1 o’clock at night, of a white moving figure. Persons, who say they have seen it, assert most positively that it has followed them up the road which runs by the cemetery as far as the gate. To one who saw it in a hollow just west of the forks of the road, it bowed its head repeatedly with the stately dignity and solemnity of the shade of Hamlet’s father. Another attempt to grasp it, as it appeared at his side, and it disappeared. Pistol balls and stones it is said, have no effect on whatever upon it. Anxious to verify the fact of the existence of this perambulating, perturbed spirit, we visited the spot on Tuesday night at 12 o’clock. It might have been that the moon was shinning to brightly for the ghostly visitor, or that from skepticism we were deemed unworthy to hold communion with it, at any rate it did not walk that night. In the old coach shop on Market St., recently two workmen were employed with coal oil lamps. They. (the lamps) were full of oil and the wicks well primed. One of the workers was up the other down stairs. Suddenly without apparent cause, both lamps were extinguished precisely at the same moment. This we have from the lips of one of the workmen. As this is the same distance from the spot where the ghost is seen to walk, we can only attribute this mysterious cocushop business to the fact that there must be a nest of ghosts up Market Street. With interests, we await further developments in this grave matter.

PENNSYLVANIA'S LAST DUEL

Schuylkill County's Last Duel?
Actually not this sofisticated


Pennsylvania’s last duel fought
In
Schuylkill County.

The last duel fought in the State of Pennsylvania was actually fought in Schuylkill County. Yep ! that’s the story, the last all out duel was fought or I should say shot out in an old fashioned running duel up in good old Mahanoy City on March 26, 1931.
Dueling had been forbidden in Pennsylvania since 1794, under penalty of fine and imprisonment, and loss of citizenship for seven years. An unconverted public sentiment, however, still approved of this long lost code of honor.
The story has it that on the evening of Thursday March 26, 1931 two Montenegrin mineworkers who immigrated to the region several years before and lived in an old shack, fought a duel for personal honor. Both men were hired by a rock contractor to work with the driving of gangways in the local mines.
Savo Raicevich, 42 and Risto Evo Brankovich, 48 were the duelists. The so called duel was arraigned according to the customs of their native Montenegrin hill people.
Both of the men had been born and raised together ion the same village in Montenegro, according to the story Raicevich, had returned to his native country to visit his family, and on the return made some nasty remarks defaming the virtue and character of the wife of Brankovich , who still lived in Montenegro.
Both men resided in an old shack erected by their contractor on the south side of the Mahanoy City Delano highway, below the old Primrose Colliery office on the hill which rose directly behind the cabin. The duel or shootout took place on the North Eight St, dumping grounds. The duel consisted of revolvers, while the men ran and hid behind the rocks and debris of the dumping area. In the course of this so called (duel) …..Gun Fight? they fired more than thirty shots at each other.
Both men were wounded, Raicevich’s injuries proving fatal. He died a few hours after the (Duel-Gunfight) at the Locust Mountain Hospital.
Brankovich was brought to trial on June 19, 1931, and two days later the jury returned a verdict of “Not Guilty)! On June 23, he was taken before Judge Richard Koch who fixed bail at $3,000 with the charges of “Dueling”. While sitting in jail and very depressed over his actions of killing his friend and countryman , Brankovich attempted to take his own life. He failed, but two years later following an attack of appendicitis he died.

A little side bar to this story: Me and my butty and fellow actor Tommy Symons were asked to re enact this historical program for the Mahanoy City Historical Society during their Halloween programs a couple of years ago. We had so much fun doing this program. We actually used a few of my old pistols loaded with black powder. I think we actually scared a few people when the flames and roar of the guns went off.. but it was fun.

EXPLOSION AT THE YORK FARM COLLIERY POTTSVILLE

The Explosion


This is the story of Schuylkill County’s worst mining accident up to 1892. It is testimony to the grave danger that our miners faced on a daily basis when working in the mines. This accident happened on July 23, 1892.



FIFTEEN MEN PERISH

A TERRIBLE DISASTER OCCURS AT YORK FARM COLLIERY
NEAR POTTSVILLE

SIX RESCUED ALIVE BUT THEY DIE

NINE MEN KILLED OUT RIGHT-AN EXPLOSION OF MINE GAS DID IT
THE FOREMAN OF THE COLLIERY SAYS THE CAUSE IS A MYSTERY
BODIES OF THE VICTIMS TERRINLY BURNED AND MUTILATED.


Men to the number of fifteen perished on Saturday by reason of an explosion of gas in the York farm colliery, on the western outskirts of Pottsville. Nine of the men were killed outright. Seven were taken out of the mine alive, but horribly mutilated and burned, and six of them died before Sunday morning. The seventh man still lives, but there is little hope for recovery. His name is George Stock. He is 24 years old and married, but three weeks ago. His home is in Yorkville.
THOSE WHO PERISHED

William Jones, 17 years, door boy, son of Richard Jones Minersville.

William Weyman 31 years, married wife and three small children. His home was at Minersville. He was the son of George Weyman of Sheafer’s Hill. The dead man at one time resided at Girardville.

Thomas Jones, 35 years, married, wife and four children. Lived on New Castle Street Minersville, and up to within about two years ago resided at Mt. Carmel.

Harry Madara, 31 years, lived at Mt. Hope, and leaves a wife and five children. His agony ended at 8 o’clock Saturday night.

The disaster is the most appalling that has ever occurred in the Schuylkill region. The cause is surrounded by mystery and the only chance of clearing it up lies in the recovery of George Stock. He is the only surviving man who worked in the section of the mine where the explosion occurred and his condition is too critical to allow any investigation at present.
William Leckie, the inside foreman of the mine say that all the men on the first level of the colliery, where the explosion occurred used locked safety lamps. The men in the second lift used the same kind of lamps. A boy was kept on guard in tunnel No. 1 to prevent any one entering with a naked lamp. With all these precautions Mr. Leckie cannot understand how the explosion occurred, unless a safety amp was dropped and the gauze was so injured it allowed the flame to come in contact with the gas and ignited it.
The explosion took place on the first level, a depth of 1,025 feet down the slope. The vein on the lift are cut by a tunnel running north and south and fifteen hundred feet from the opening of the tunnel, southwardly, is the Salem vein, in which the victims worked. Fourteen men working for contractor Joseph Dolan in the face of the tunnel, 1,500 feet south of the death scene narrowly escaped the fate of the unfortunates. Some of them were knocked off their feet by the shock of the explosion, but none were injured. In making a dash to escape the deadly after damp they had a thrilling experience. They were led by Foreman George Tierney. They made a dash for the slope. As they approached the scene of the disaster they met a barrier. The mine had been closed by the explosion. The men were already suffering from foul air on account of the compressed air connections being broken. The men were apparently cut off by the gangway of the Salem vein coming in. The timbers had been blown out and the top coal had fallen. After a scramble over the heap of debris a hole large enough to admit passage of a man’s body was found at the top of the fall. This means of egress saved them. After reaching the surface the men vomited for some time. Some of them were in critical condition for several hours.
Most of the bodies recovered were literally roasted and were unrecognizable. One body was headless and the entrails of young Jones were missing. Kries’s body was bootless and nearly all the men were naked. Those who were carried out of the mine alive suffered terrible agony.
The body of the fire boss, John Harrlson, was found at 8’coclok on Sunday evening. It was under tons of debris and was a shapeless mass. It was the eight body recovered. Up to the late hour last night Honickers body had been recovered.
Honicker and Thomas Llewellyn worked breast No.1 in the Salem vein, on the second level. The breast is immediately below the place were the other men lost their lives and it is believed that the gas was ignited in No.1. Honicker and Llewellyn fired a blast in the face of their breast at 9:25 a.m. A heavy out burst of gas followed the firing of the shot. Llewellyn at once left the breast to inform fire Boss John Gibbons, just as the latter found Gibbons, which was about five minutes after the shot was fired, the explosion took place.
The explosion was as destructive in the second level as it was in the first. The pillars were started in the second level and the breast were filled. Sunday miners reached the heading into which Honicker went when Llewellyn left him, but he could not be found. He is supposed to be buried under the coal.
Two of the victims, the Allotts, father and son, were the sole support of the mother and eight children. They moved from Mahanoy City to Pottsville three weeks ago. The family suffered from the flood at the former place and is in needy circumstances.
The funeral of two of the victims Curran and Lauders, took place today, the remained were interred in No. 2 and No. 3 cemeteries, Pottsville.
Miners have always regarded York Farm colliery as a “fiery hole”. The explosions have been numerous. On August 8, 1891, fifteen men were burned there, but only one died. A miner named Harry Parry, of Minersville, was fatally burned there a few weeks ago.


Removing the Bodies At York Farm


This part is taken from my book “Death In the Mines”, History Press.

Explosion at York Farm
Colliery
Pottsville, Schuylkill County
July 23, 1890.

Situated on the borough line of Pottsville is the York Farm colliery. This colliery has been in operation on and off since the 1850’s. In 1887 the land was purchased by the Lehigh Valley Coal Company and a new breaker and operations were started. The old slope was reopened after being idle for over thirty years. The water was pumped out and the slope was sunk another three hundred feet, with gangways driven north and south along the Salem Vein.
On July 23rd only two breasts were being worked on this level. The ventilation was good in this section. As a matter of fact the miners complained about the large fast, volume of air that circulated in the section. It was so strong it caused the coal dust to be blown in the eyes of the miners. The air was circulated by two large fans 21 feet in diameter. Although it was well known that in this mine large volumes of gas were suddenly discharged from the vein of coal. Even the large volume of air circulating could not prevent a highly explosive atmosphere. On this day two miners, William Lewellyn and Chris Honicker, were working in the number one breast. Both miners were experienced in working in gaseous mines. They were equipped with locked safety lamps and used only dynamite and electric batteries to fire their shots. They both knew if an outburst of gas occurred, they were to sound an alarm and notify the nearest inside foreman.
The explosion was one of the strongest ever witnessed in an anthracite mine. Samuel Gay, the eight district mine inspector’s report would show carelessness on the part of the miners involved. Following are exerts from his report of the accident.
A short time before the explosion, Lewellyn and Honicker had fired a shot, and immediately after Lewellyn discovered a large volume of gas was being given off, charging the return current to an explosive point. He told Honicker that such was the case, telling him to stay in the intake heading, whilst he would go an notify some of the officials. In a few minutes Lewellyn found a fire boss who had charge of that section of the mine, and they at once began to retrace their steps back to Lewellyn’s working place, but just as they started back, an explosion occurred with such fearful results as I hope I shall never witness again, or have occasion to make record of. As a natural result, batteries, timbers and brattices were blown out, and ventilation cut off, and the workings in the Salem vein were filled with explosive gas. However, ventilation was soon reestablished, and every effort made to rescue the bodies by the willing hands of the brave hearted men of the colliery. A number of workmen from some of the neighboring mines displayed energy, skill and courage in their efforts to recover the bodies of the entombed men, and are worthy of the name of heroes. The bosses, and a number of workmen from Beechwood colliery deserve special mention, because they were under no obligation in any way to render any assistance, but willingly came and offered their services, without any expectation of being remunerated for their labor or the risk to their lives.
After recovering the bodies, we directed our attention to the question which would naturally be asked; How and where did the explosion take place? In our examination of the airway, and at a point about forty feet below the second lift gangway, three men were engaged in timbering and enlarging the main airway or return. Our first objective was to examiner the part of the opening where the men were timbering. Here we found timbers blown in opposite directions; those towards the first lift having been blown up the pitch, and those below, down the pitch.
By following through all the part of the mine affected by the explosion it was found that the same state of affairs existed. That part of the workings in the second lift or bottom lift were George Stock was found, received the force of the explosion on the north side, crushing the north side of a car and toppling it over toward the south side on top of Stock. In fact, everything indicated that the explosion originated at the point in the airway where the three men were working.
There is no question in my mind whatever as to the point where the gas was ignited. The manner in which it was fired will never be known with any degree of certainty. The men who were working the airway were not there when the explosion occurred, but were found about eighty feet out from the mouth of an air hole on the main gangway. It was my opinion at the time, and I am still convinced that the three men either had detected the air current charged with gas, or Elise they had been notified by John Harrison the fire boss. However, it was quite evident that in the excitement one of the unfortunates ran away and left his safety lamp behind, and we are of the opinion that the fire boss, on learning of the fact, was on his way to make an effort to recover the lamp, and just as he got to the mouth of the air hole, the explosion occurred, killing him. The safety lamps were found alongside of the victims, excepting the one that belonged to Wheyman, one of the men who was employed in the airway. Part of this lamp was afterwards found in the airway, when the debris was being cleaned up.
Mr. Gay determined that the fifteen men killed in this accident could have been saved if the men had followed the instructions, that required them to throw open the battery doors between the intake and the return airways. It was more than probable that the volume of fresh air would have been largely increased, while the volume of gas that was swept along by the air current would have been materially diminished.







MAJOR MINING ACCIDENTS WITH FIVE OR MORE DEATHS
1847-1977

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

02/19/1847 Spencer Pottsville PA 7 Coal Explosion
01/15/1870 Potts Locustdale PA 5 Coal Explosion
08/10/1870 Heins & Glassmire Middleport PA 9 Coal Cage fall (shaft)
08/29/1870 Preston No. 3 Girardville PA 7 Coal Cage fall (shaft
10/02/1871 Otto Red Ash Branch Dale PA 5 Coal Explosion
05/09/1877 Wadesville Wadesville PA 7 Coal Explosion
05/06/1879 Audenried Audenried PA 6 Coal Explosion
11/02/1879 Mill Creek Mill Creek PA 5 Coal Explosion
05/24/1882 Kohinoor Shenandoah PA 5 Coal Explosion
04/06/1885 Cuyler Raven Run PA 10 Coal Roof fall
04/27/1887 Tunnel Ashland PA 5 Coal Suffocated by gas
10/01/1887 Bast Ashland PA 5 Coal Suffocated by gas
05/09/1889 Kaska William Middleport PA 10 Coal Mine car fell on men in cage
04/20/1892 Lytle Minersville PA 10 Coal Inrush of water
07/23/1892 York Farm Pottsville PA 15 Coal Explosion
02/18/1895 West Bear Ridge Mahoney Plane PA 5 Coal Explosion
01/13/1897 Wadesville Wadesville PA 5 Coal Crosshed fell/shaft
05/26/1898 Kaska Williams Middleport PA 6 Coal Inrush of water
11/09/1900 Buck Mountain Mahanoy City PA 7 Coal Explosion
05/05/1904 Locust Gap Locust Gap PA 5 Coal Fire
02/18/1905 Lytle Minerville PA 5 Coal Haulage
07/15/1908 Williamstown Williamstown PA 6 Coal Explosion
08/02/1913 East Brookside Tower City PA 20 Coal Explosion
05/06/1926 Randolph Colliery Port Carbon PA 5 Coal Explosion
01/21/1935 Gilberton Gilberton PA 13 Coal Explosion
04/27/1938 No. 1 Slope Pottsville PA 8 Coal Explosion
09/24/1943 Primrose Colliery Minersville PA 14 Coal Explosion
03/01/1977 Porter Tunnel Tower City PA 9 Coal Inundation

Stage Coaches in the Coal Region 1839

Stage Coach on the Route.


In this blog I want to take a look at the stage coach lines that ran through out the coal region back in 1839-1845 time period. It is hard to find out what type of stage coaches were used on these lines. Pictures or drawings of the coaches on the ads seemed to fit the Concord style of coach. The heavy Concord Stagecoach was first manufactured in Concord, NH, by the Abbot Downing Co. in 1827. The key to the Concord's success was its 'thorough braces' or multiple leather straps, on which the body of the coach rocked.

There was s a certain romantic feature to riding on the old stages, the outside of the coach was usually painted on bright colors, while the inside was very plush with soft material for the passengers comfort. There were usually three seats, heavily cushioned and three people could ride on each seat. There was also another seat beside the driver, which was a favorite of passengers in good weather. Also if management allowed it in nice weather passengers could ride on the top. The capacity of the stage was usually 6 to nine people but sometimes there were as many as fifteen riding in and on the stage. There were no springs on these coaches, the suspension method was by heavy leather straps called through braces which were spread between the front and rear axels. This gave the coach a gentile swing back and forth for the passengers comfort.

The horses were specially picked for the job, they were mostly North Star, Windflower or Hickory breed. Breed s which are now basically extinct but were popular back then. The were picked for their beauty and speed, actually the stage made about 10 mph on the road.

While driving along the route the horses were exchanged at different stops, so that they had fresh and steady horses for the run. The drivers carried long whips which they could use on the horses to keep the speed up or get their attention. The drivers never attended their teams, but he certainly made sure they were well taken care off. The average pay for a stage driver was about 13 to 15 dollars a month depending upon the line. The driver had a language and mannerisms peculiar to them. He was given great considerations along the route. Women looked up to him as a man of great trust and dependence.

Most of the stages were pulled by four horses. There were no hand or foot brakes on these coaches. Their purpose was served by a skid, or drag shoe, which was put under the near hind wheel going downhill.
They say that the stage coach schedules were excellent , but the Mail coaches were magnificent, they actually set clocks by the schedule of the mail coach.




LOOK OUT FOR THE DUST!

JOHN WEAVER & SON

STAGES START NEXT MONDAY

MARCH 30, 1839

So the headline reads in the Pottsville Democrat.
On Monday next the undersigned will commence running a daily line of stages between Pottsville and Reading to connect with the rail road to Philadelphia, and the lines of Stages running from Reading to Harrisburg, Lancaster, Easton &c.
This line will leave Pottsville every morning at 7 o’clock and arrive at reading in time to dine at Herr’s Hotel, and take the cars for Philadelphia. Returning it will leave the White Swan in Philadelphia at 5 o’clock A.M. and after the arrival of the cars leave Herr’s Hotel at Reading..dine at Walkers Hotel Port Clinton, and arrive in Pottsville at an early hour in the afternoon.
Weaver and Son’s line will be more speedy and run at lower rates than any other line on the route. Not excepting Ben Pott’s Anti-bet paying Line, which is got up n the money which he refuses to paying to the winners who bet with him on the result of the last election.
The teams are fast and well trained, the coaches commodious and well trimmed for the comfort of the passengers, none but sober and attentive drivers are employed and with many years experience as stage proprietors, we will defy competition in rendering satisfaction to passengers by a safe, speedy, and cheap conveyance, and without danger of being suffocated with the dust raised by an opposition stage.

WEAVERS LINE OF STAGES

Offer greater inducements than any other line, as is the only line by which passengers can secure seats through from Philadelphia to Northumberland, Danville and Catawissa.

A DAILY LINE OF STAGES

From Pottsville to Northumberland and Milton, levees Pottsville every morning at 4 o’clock and at Milton the same evening, connecting with the Williamsport Stages at the latter place. Returning leaves Milton every morning at 5 o’clock and Northumberland at 9 o’clock, and arrives at Pottsville the same evening.
The Danville and Muncy Line leaves Pottsville every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at 4 o’clock and returns to Pottsville on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
All Baggage at the risk of the passenger..
John Weaver and Joseph H. Weaver.

Also in the newspaper was an article for the:

THE OLD DAILY LINE
OF MAIL STAGES

PETERS & BEISEL

Run this line on their own hook, and must run the contract out should all the other lines go to smash. The line leaves the White Swan Hotel Philadelphia at 5 o’clock A.M. and the exchange Hotel and Pennsylvania Hall, Pottsville at 6 o’clock A.M. daily without having connection with any other line.

One way passenger will be carried at the following reduced rates of fares…..

From Orwigsburg to Reading……..$1.25
From Port Clinton to Reading……..$1.00
From Hamburg to Reading……….. $ .75

Passengers will be taken to and from any stopping places and every attenti0n paid to afford a cheap and easy conveyance to travelers, and WITHOUT RACING.

April 13, 1839

Jacob Peters
|Felix Beisel


STAGE ACCIDENT

May 4, 1839

On Thursday last one of Pott, Schoener & Co. stages was capsized near Hamburg, and the passengers more or less injured. No blame can be attached to the driver; but the proprietors, whoever they may be should be indicted for thus knowingly endangering the lives of passengers. We say knowingly, for the accident was occasioned by a wheel running off……the same wheel which ran off several times last week; and which the owners know must happen frequently, if they continue using cast iron burrs. The community ought to be thankful that there are proprietors of stages on the same route who understand their business, who guarantee a safe conveyance to passengers.