"William Wardle, aged forty, Eastwood: 'There is no doubt
colliers are much harder worked than labourers; indeed, it is the
hardest work under heaven.'—Ibid. No. 84, p. 287, 1. 51.
"Samuel Richards, aged forty, Awsworth: 'There are Sunday-schools
when they will go; but when boys have been beaten, knocked about,
and covered with sludge all the week, they want to be in bed to
rest all day on Sunday.'—Ibid. No. 166, p. 307, 1. 58.
"William Sellers, operative, aged twenty-two, Butterley Company:
'When he first worked in the pit, he has been so tired that he
slept as he walked.'—Ibid. No. 222, p. 319, 1. 35.
"William Knighton, aged twenty-four, Denby: 'He remembers "mony"
a time he has dropped asleep with the meat in his mouth through
fatigue; it is those butties—they are the very devil; they
impose upon them in one way, then in another.'—Ibid. No. 314, p.
334, 1. 42.
"— —, engine-man, Babbington: 'Has, when working whole
days, often seen the children lie down on the pit-bank and go to
sleep, they were so tired.'—Ibid. No. 137, p. 300, 1. 10.
"John Attenborough, schoolmaster, Greasley: 'Has observed that
the collier children are more tired and dull than the others, but
equally anxious to learn.'—Ibid. No. 153, p. 304, 1. 122.
"Ann Birkin: 'Is mother to Thomas and Jacob, who work in Messrs.
Fenton's pits; they have been so tired after a whole day's
work, that she has at times had to wash them and lift them into
bed.'—Ibid. No. 81, p. 285, 1. 59.
"Hannah Neale, Butterley Park: 'They come home so tired that they
become stiff, and can hardly get to bed; Constantine, the one
ten years old, formerly worked in the same pit as his brothers,
but about a half a year since his toe was cut off by the bind
falling; notwithstanding this, the loader made him work until the
end of the day, although in the greatest pain. He was out of work
more than four months owing to this accident.'—Ibid. No. 237, p.
320, 1. 51.
"Ellen Wagstaff, Watnall: 'Has five children, three at Trough
lane and two at Willow lane, Greasley; one at Trough lane is
eighteen, one fourteen, one thirteen years of age; and those
at Willow lane are sixteen and nineteen; they are variously
employed; the youngest was not seven years old when he first went
to the pits. The whole have worked since they were seven or seven
and a half; they have worked from six to eight; from six to two
for half days, no meal-time in half days; she has known them when
at full work so tired when they first worked, that you could not
hear them speak, and they fell asleep before they could eat their
suppers; it has grieved her to the heart to see them.'—Ibid. No.
104, p. 292, 1. 18.
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