Bell Island Miner

Charlie Bown

Charlie Bown was born in Newfoundland. His father came from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland to manage one of the two companies mining on Bell Island. When Charlie Bown grew up, he went to work as a Bell Island miner.

ON THE MORNING of January 17, 1938, I made my first trip down into No. 6 Mine. The previous week had been spent going to the Main Office to get hired on. I was given a small brass disk with a number stamped into it.

With this disk, I became only a number, no longer a name. The number would allow me to go to the company store to pick up a miner's helmet, a wide leather belt for my waist to hold my lamp, coveralls and safety boots.

I was told the hours of work: Ten hours per day, 60 hours per week at the rate of 32 cents per hour, or $19.20 a week. I was also given a book on safety regulations.

About 6 a.m. on Monday morning I went to the dry-house, or change building, by No. 6 Mine. In this building I was given a line on which I could hang up my clothes. Washing materials and showers were provided when I came off shift.

Dressed in my work clothes, a helmet, a belt and safety boots, I proceeded to the lamp cabin. Here I passed in my number and received a numbered electric lamp. It was an expensive item and I was responsible for its care.

At 6:30 a.m. all the men left the dry-house and went to the mine opening. At the opening of the shaft there were flatcars known as trams.

There was a line of about ten trams holding 30 men on each one. We all sat with our legs inward so they could not swing out and hit the walls of the mine tunnel.