Hello, A participant on the Keweenaw list suggested I forward the message below here. It may be of interest to you since some of you, like me, have roots in both Houghton & Keweenaw. My 4th great-grandfather, Philip ROBERTS, appears on line 16. --Christopher Sundita Washington State Researching: JOLLY COCKING ROBERTS >From "Central Mine: Years of Hard Work - Lives of Pain and Hope" (pages 62 & 63) Compiled by The Keweenaw County Historical Society Central Mine Lines On the fearful accident which occurred at the Central mine, on the Lake Superior, on the 22nd of April 1872; by which ten miners lost their lives - eight from Cornwall and two from Devonshire. Sad news from across the ocean we hear, Sad news from the Central Mine, Sad news for the wives and children dear, Of death in that distant clime. 'Twas ten o'clock on an April night, When a change of men took place, And thirteen miners in the skip - "all right;" Down the shaft were lowered apace. Two of the men fell in the level below, In the ten-fathom level 'tis said; Joel Eade had his arms and legs broken like tow, Thomas Bone was killed stone dead. The cries of poor Eade were dreadful to hear As up from the shaft they came, Which fill'd the hearts of the miners with fear, As they stood and heard the same. The guides from the skip fell off with a crash, To the fifty-fathom they fell, And across the shaft they fix'd with a smash 'Twas to several a funeral knell. The three in the skip alive remain'd, Though frighten'd and much alarm'd.- In that position awhile sustain'd Not a hair on their head was harm'd. Eight others were kill'd in that dread place, Midst broken timber and stones, With limbs all smash'd and disfigur'd face, Torn-off flesh and splinter'd bones. When the engineer found the rope was broke, The whistle he sounded aloud, To summon some help to the fearful spot, Where soon assembled a crowd. Some quickly descended the fatal shaft, A horrible scene to behold; Eight of their comrades of life bereft, Their bodies all bloody and cold. They might have gone down much deeper still Full eighty fathom or more; For the shaft was a hundred and twenty deep, Where they sought for precious ore. And one by one they were soon brought up, And laid in the change-house near, 'Till coffins were made in which they were put, And sorrow and sighing were there. To their homes they bore them in sad array, For awhile with friends to remain, And then to the grave on the first of May, There proceeded a mournful train. On the fourth of May, poor Joel Eade, Of his terrible winds did die; And soon with his comrades side by side, In that foreign grave did lie. The names of the dead we must here record, All bred in English homes, With wives and children depending for bread, Who now their sad fate bemoan. >From Bovey Tracey, in Devonshire, There two of the victims came, - Philip Roberts who's left a family dear, Thomas Champion a young man's name. Joel Eade from Ludgvan; from Zennor three Who first-cousins were well-known- Thomas Berriman and John-two brothers they, And also Thomas Bone. >From Callington was Jacob Grey;- And William Barritt too; John Ivey from Camborne came they say, Edward Thomas from Marketjew [ Marazion ]. The names of those who were sav'd in the skip All three from Cornwall came. And one of them was Gwinear chap, And Edward Trezise was his name. John Pearce from Crowan known full well, John Rowe from Camborne town. And these were spar'd alive to tell Of their comrades stricken down. Four families at Lake Superior live, With husbands and fathers gone; Without some friends their wants relieve, How sad in that land alone. At home there are four more families left, No husbands of father dear, By this sad accident of those bereft, They liv'd with a love sincere. Though their graves are made in a foreign land, And their forms no more we shall see, yet we hope to meet them on Canaan's strand, Each one with his family. For when the last trump sounds thro' the skies, Each one shall appear again, And may they and us with joy arise, The Savior to meet. - Amen By: Author unknown __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? HotJobs - Search new jobs daily now http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/