We can always count on coal miners to give each other a helping hand in the shower, and today we look at no less than 10 groups doing exactly that . . . in groups, no less.
We start with some fur, and a wet, but still impressive, mustache.
***This double series is dedicated to my dear friend Albert the Belgian,
who will find these photos appealing on two levels.***
Merci pour cette dédicace Jerry.
ReplyDeletePour ceux qui ne le savent pas, depuis 1790, tous les hommes de ma famille ont été des mineurs de fond dans les mines de charbon de Belgique. Par chance, j'ai échappé à la tradition, les mines de Wallonie (partie sud de la Belgique) ont fermé leur porte avant que je ne sois en âge de descendre au fond de ces gouffres parfois profond de plus de 1000 mètres. Avec ces photos, je vois ce qui aurait pu être mon père ou mes grands-pères. J'avoue que cela m'émeut toujours. Ces hommes durs et courageux étaient fiers de leur métier. Ils mourraient souvent dans d'atroces souffrances due à la poussière de charbon qui les étouffait littéralement, mon papa est mort de ça à l'âge de 38 ans...
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Thank you for this dedication Jerry.
For those who don't know, since 1790 all the men in my family have been underground miners in the Belgian coal mines. Luckily, I escaped the tradition, the mines of Wallonia (southern part of Belgium) closed their doors before I was old enough to descend to the bottom of these chasms sometimes deep more than 1000 meters. With these photos, I see what could have been my father or my grandfathers. I admit that it still moves me. These tough and courageous men took pride in their profession. They would often die in excruciating pain due to the coal dust that literally suffocated them, my daddy died of that at the age of 38 ...
I'm so sorry for your father and for the others who died of this horrible disease. Thank you for sharing that with us. Bless you.
DeleteMerci.
DeleteI knew your family had a long and proud history of being miners, Albert, so I'm not surprised that the tragic side of the profession is part of the story. In addition to the illness, it was dangerous work with a high rate of accidents. I'm sorry for your loss, my friend, but glad you found a safer way to make a living.
DeleteMes grands-peres, mon pere, et 3 oncles etaient mineurs. Mes grands-peres mouraient du "black lung" et etaient arretes pour essayant d'organiser les unions pour les mineurs. Nous sommes "freres," Albert. Pardon que mon francais est si mauvais. Il y a long temps que je l'emplois.
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