Dear Listers, Recent topics on miners' strikes reminded me of a very interesting article I read some years ago, but have subsequently failed to trace. It dealt with miners who had signed on for a fixed period, but hearing of opportunities in Australia, had deserted in big numbers. The mine owners including(or maybe primarily) the Marquis of Londonderry got warrants for their arrest and return. Some were dragged back, others escaped and some boat owners/captains refused to cooperate. I don't know if this rings a bell with anyone but I would love to be able to find this article again. I've never fathomed where I found it or how I mislaid it, but it made fascinationg reading. Best wishes, Mary