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Ceremonial Coal Miner's Hand Carved Pick

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Mining Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,000.00 USD
Ceremonial Coal Miner's Hand Carved Pick
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This commemorative miner's pick commemorates the coal miner's strike of 1895. "In Memory of the Pocahontas strike, May 4, 1895" has been hand carved on one side of the pick. The other is hand carved with "J. W. Willson of the Jeff. Davis Rifles, Salem, Va." A masonic symbol and crossed rifles also have been hand carved out of the original wood on the pick.



Pocahontas Strike: Miners were paid during this time by the amount of coal that was shipped from the coal mines. But that number could be easily manipulated by the managers: for examples loading 2,500 pounds of coal in a car listed with a maximum load of 2,000. Add to this, the Norfolk & Western Railroad decided to raise their rates further cutting into the miner’s pay. In 1895 the United Mine Workers of America attempted to extend their influence into the coal mining areas of Virginia and West Virginia. They made major headway in West Virginia. The union and striking miners then ‘threatened’ the Pocahontas miners if they didn’t go out on strike, “they will resort to desperate means to make them stop.” [Newark Daily News, Chicago Tribune]



The Richmond Howitzers (Richmond) left on May 4th for the scene of the coal miners strike at Pocahontas (where many, but not all miners had gone on strike) with a declaration of the Governor declaring martial law. Major Simmons reported on May 6th: Sheriff Crockett has placed me in command of the town of Pocahontas with instructions to allow no man to leave or enter without my permission. I have every approach to the town strongly picketed and the town itself well posted with guards. [Annual Reports of Officers, Boards, and Institutions of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Year Ending September 30, 1895]. This would keep union organizers out of the town and stirring up problems for the big coal companies. Military presence would end in October.



Pocahontas Coalfield has some of the best coal in the world with ratings as high as 15,000 Btu/lb.



Jefferson Davis Rifles included Company H, Eleventh Regiment, Virginia Volunteers. We could not connect the dots from J. W. Willson to this strike or the Jefferson Rifles. Research waiting to be done!

State:Virginia City:Salem Date:1895 ID#45507