Old Keely Mine
Published January 26, 1942 By HOWARD F. LANGLEY
(Ed. Note—This is the story of mines and miners. Half poem, half song, the satiric folk ballad was written by Howard F. Langley of Gillmor, Maryland, in 1889. It is a part of the blood and sweat and tears and laughter of the working people who have made America a great nation.)
I arrived In Mt. Savage December 10th.
A week in the city for pleasure I spent.
While prowling the papers, I happened to find
Advertisements for men at the old Keely Mine.
I left the city all on the same day
Down to the station I straight made m? way,
Calculating to reach the railroad in time
To deadhead the pusher to the old Keely Mine.
I reached the station I think it was 8.
I went to Sam Piper, he said I was late.
The pusher leaves here exactly on time
With eight or ten bums to the old Keely Mine.
But I reached the old Keely all on the same day
Into the mines I straight made my way;
With your pick and your shovel, you must be on time
Or hustle from here out the old Keely Mine.
There's Nobel Foutz, the roadsman you know
He lays a good road wherever he goes
Up in the rock heading he does make it wind
But he points it straight out the mouth of that mine.
There's Dan Galloway and
Patty O'Brien.
For driving their teams there's none can beat them.
They work very hard right up to the time
Then stand by that fire at the old Keely Mine.
Young Adam Arnold, the way boss, you know,
He weighed all th? coal at the old Keely old
Three tons on a four ton car, but one at a time
As he'd sit by his fire at the old Keely ?ine.
But old Farmer Layman, we all knew him well,
For docking, the cars, none could excell,
He'd dock about 80, and then was inclined
To skiddadle home on the C. & P. Line.
Camel and Yantz, both stout young men
For building their, car, there's none could beat them.
They'd work very hard right up to the time
Then hit for home on the C. & P. Line.
Sampson and Parker, the blacksmiths, you know,
They'd sharpen our picks and was both very slow.
They got them all sharpened and then was Inclined
To hustle for home on the C. & ?. Line.
There's Mr. John Lear the strip boss you know.
He says get it out, only have It right now.
I'll give you your cars in plenty of time
To catch a ride home on the C. & P. Line.
The boss, Joe Mowery, is a very fine man.
To please your desire, he'll do what he can.
If your place don't suit you, he'd, say, "Here's your time
Now-hustle from here out the old Keely Mine."
Henry H. Shriver, you all knowed him well.
For cussin' and swearin' there's none could excell.
He'd stand on the dumping and was little Inclined
To make you work at the old Keely Mine.
Black, Sheriden and Wilson, three boodled men
To please employees, they'd do what they can.
But if the wages didn't suit them, they'd say, "Here's your time.
Now skedaddle to hell down the C. & P. Line."