Fraterville Mine Disaster
Poem by C. L. Luallen
It's now come all friends and relation
I will tell you if I can
Of a great and sad occurence
That has happened in our land.
It was on one Monday morning,
On the nineteenth of May,
Near two hundred miners round us,
Left their homes and marched away.
Went to labor for their families,
For thier dear ones whom they loved,
But all at once a sad occurance
Their chance to meet them was above.
Went to labor for their dear ones,
In the coal creek Fraterville mine,
But all at once a sad explosion,
Some were dead and some were dying.
I hope all trusted in the savior,
There where all is peace and love.
I hope the bereaved of those dear ones
Will strive to meet the God of love.
They only saw their living faces,
The temple where the dear ones dwelt,
Their spirits returned to God who gave them,
Oh, trust His grace where all is well.
And now my frieds do trust in Jesus,
Oh, strive to walk the narrow way,
For saints have trod the path before us,
And now possess great endless days,
Wives up and down the lonesome valley,
Their cries were heard from side to side,
They prayed to see their dying husbands,
But some had then crossed the tide.
Some yet lived prayed to see their loved ones,
But not a single man escaped,
Some of them said the Lord had saved them,
Invited dear ones on their way.
And now dear friends do trust in Jesus,
He plainly says I am the way,
And if you fail to trust in Jesus,
You're lost through all eternity.
This all occurred at seven thirty,
But some wrote letters after two,
And said dear friends I'm going to Heaven,
I hope you'll all meet me there too.
One said he was in sight of Heaven,
Oh, friends do think of that sweet place,
I hope you'll put your trust in Jesus,
And enter in at the straight gate.
Composed by C. L. Luallen
Coal Creek, Tennessee, 1902.
SONG (BALLAD)
Composed by John Anderson about the Tennessee Mine Trouble
On a Thursday Morn, the 25th of May
The Boys went up to the Tennessee Mines,
But don't you give it away,
With a cheerful smile you to ought to
heard them say,
Change about the place, you'd go back home,
There ain’t no work today.
A fellow came rushing up, by the name
Of Jordan Moore, Rice seized him by
the wrist, He was making for the door.
Look here old man listen to me what
I have got to say, Take your tools
and go back home, for we come here
to stay.
CHORUS.
Talk about your rag time bacon and
Beans.
you can bet that's a fine. Three cheers
for the Tennessee miners, because they
come in line. Talk about your rag time
Bacon and beans. You can bet that's fine.
Three cheers for the Tennessee miners,
Because they come in line.
Mr. Chandler came walking up, He certainly
was surprised. The number of men was
hovered around and plenty of grub
Supplies. Where in he world did they
all come from?
Just look at them standing around,
Some fellows broke up the pool table
game, and run all the people out of
town. Heading Bolden had the mines,
He ran it in his own way. he never paid
the scale of price that's what the
Drivers say. Mr. Chandler bought him
out. He thought he'd do the same.
Rice and Grice surprised him it
made Mr. Bean ashamed.
CHORUS.
Mr. Chandler rushed to the train,
And went to Knoxville town.
He went to the general office and
got a chair and set down. Mr. Bean,
I want to tell you what I do
finally know. We have got to recognize
the union before we run any
coal. Mr. Bean he made reply, to
be sure it is going to hurt,
you'd better go see your men sir,
And get them to go back to work.
Mr. Bean, I want to tell you
You don't understand our mines
is surrounded by 200 union men.
If that's the case all right enough
We'll try some other plan. Go serve
the bill of injunction. For I've
got the money to spend Mr. Woods
did all he could. He freely took
the case, but he wasn't quite so
busy, when he got a blow in the face.
CHORUS.
Mr. Chandler left the office and went
Slowly down the street. His head was lugged
with trouble. He could scarcely raise his
feet. He stepped into his mansion home,
He gave a fearful groan. There must be some
trouble Papa; or else you wouldn't come home.
There's Mr. Roberts, we can't forget,
He drove a horse and cart.
He took the boys their breakfast and their
dinner. They certainly got lemonade and cake
after dinner time. Three cheers for the union.
You can bet it's fine. Mr. Chandler likes
to smoke but he fancies chewing gum.
But he is not quite so happy with the
amount of coal he runs. To recognize the
union is a thing he's never done. He says he'll
never do it boys as long as he's got the funds.
CHORUS.
Mr. Woods, a high toned lawyer, is working
for the pay. He takes any case he wants,
No matter what you say. Knock him down
three times a day, and stand him on his
feet. Just a minute afterward, he's ready
to make a speech. Craving, raging, running,
from the blast the union ain't in favor,
Of the ton hour system task; work hard,
pay day come Little money you draw. Get
and run home. Kick the wife in the jaw.
Well, he won't join the union, on account
of other men. A many happy family,
when they got the money to spend, better
quit your fooling. Every pay day long with me
For you'll never draw no money the way
you work at Tennessee.
POEM
Our life is but a game of cards, which each
one has to learn. Some shuffle cuts
and deal the deck. While others lose by low.
Some hold hands quite flush with trumps,
While others none can show. When hearts
is trumps, we play for love, But our games
is but a holiday. When clubs is trumps,
look out for war on oceans or on land.
Horrible deeds are often done, while clubs
are in our hand. Diamond chances crown
the deck. Gamblers stack the gold. Large
sums are won and lost by gamblers young
and old. When the last trumps are turned
by hand, on lands and plains, No matter
how much each man win or lose
or the dealer saves,
You'll find a spade will up at last
and dig all the players graves.
Copy OF THE ARIGINAL SONG BALLAD.
Email to: Sam and Cindy Richardson.
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