Come ye men of Coal Creek

Come ye men of Coal Creek. Come widows, orphans too.

Come ye men with hands and faces streaked with black and blue.

Faces, stained with coal dust, struck blue for want of air.

Grinning teeth and mouths agape, entombed, a lyin’ there.

Come ye men of Coal Creek, to witness what has passed.

Come ye sons of Tennessee, your kin are here amassed.

Two hundred sixteen men and boys come rise and face the light.

Your honest labor’s over now, the grave your only right.

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REMEMBRING: The Fraterville Mine disaster, 1902. 216 dead, 89 bodies recovered then reburied at Leach Cemetery.

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Image above shows rescue workers at the entrance to Thistle mine surrounded by anxious families awaiting news of their loved ones.

I have tried setting this verse/song to music without much success. Any suggestions, or if any musicians would like to do so, please let me know.

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After the Civil War (12 April 1861 – 9 April 1865) many miners were put out of work by mining companies exploiting convict labor at much reduced cost. The 'convicts' were mostly former slaves who were rounded up on the flimsiest of charges, if not total fabrications, in order to man the chain gangs. Fraterville was an exception, following the "Coal Creek War" but this tragically resulted in the death or destitution of over 1,000 souls who otherwise would have benefitted from retaining their livelihoods. Many women lost their husbands and all of their sons, leaving no male wage earners. Men and boys who survived the devastating explosion died from suffocation, heat and poisonous gasses.