leanannsidhe's video: Shut Up In The Mines at Coal Creek Hedy West

Shut Up In The Mines at Coal Creek Hedy West Coal Creek, northwest of Knoxville TN, is a tributary of the Clinch River, and mining led to the founding of a town with the same name, along with two others, Fraterville and Briceville. Coal Creek is the topic of more songs than any other mining area. On Monday, May 19, 1902, the Fraterville miners had just started work when a massive methane explosion sealed off the mine. It took four days to reach them, by which time all 216 had died. Fraterville was left with only three adult males who had not gone to work that day, along with hundreds of widows and a thousand orphans.Miners who weren't killed immediately barricaded themselves in side passages. Before they died, several of them left notes for their families. One example: Alice, do the best you can. I am going to rest. Goodbye Alice. Elbert said the lord had saved him. Do the best you can with the children. We are all perishing for air to support us. but it is getting so bad without any air. Charlie said for you to wear his shoes and clothing. It is now 1- 1/2 o'clock. Marvell Harmon's watch is now in Andy Wood's hands. Ellen, I want you to live right and come to heaven. Raise the children the best way you can. Oh how I would love to be with you. Goodbye to all of you. Bury me and Elbert in the same grave. Tell little Ellen goodbye. Goodbye Ellen. Goodbye Horace. We are together. It is now 25 minutes after 2 o'clock. A few of us are alive yet, Jacob and Elbert. Oh God for one more breath! Ellen, remember me as long as you live. In 1929, a Kentuckian named Green Bailey recorded this song, which was undoubtedly written shortly after the explosion.Another explosion at Briceville, in 1911, resulted in 84 deaths, with two survivors. In 1936, Tennessee Valley Authority's Norris Dam flooded the Clinch River, and the town of Coal Creek became Lake City. Shut up in the mine of Coal Creek, We know that we must die; But if we trust in Jesus To heaven our souls shall fly. Our lamps are burning dimly, Our food is almost gone; Death's grasp is sure but awful, Soon we'll be carried home. Goodbye, dear wives and children, May you be treated kind, For now our time has come to die, Shut up in the Coal Creek mine. Eleven of us were prisoned, And two dear ones have died; Nine more are left to suffer, And die in the Coal Creek mine. Farewell, dear wives and mothers, You're left behind to mourn, But if you follow Jesus, We'll meet in heavenly home. Dear friends, you should take warning, And listen to what we say; You're now in the world of sunlight, So there you'd better stay. taken from an article published: Inside Bluegrass, March 2006, for more information see www.lizlyle.lofgrens.org/RmOlSngs/RTOS-CoalCreekMine.html