From the LOC.
Overall’s, work clothes that’s the theme. What can I find today? What does the past offer us here? First I found this rescuer, who worked to save miners during accidents. Imagine that job.
Next is a boy whose father was a coal miner and he’s digging coal from mine refuse in West Virginia.
From the National Archives.
Here & Abroad 
Ouch! The boy in sandals with a pick makes me wince to think of what might happen while he’s using it. Fortunately mine breating apparatus is not so cumbersome today.
I bet there were lots of accidents.
Very interesting photos. And no, I can’t imagine working as a mine rescuer like the person in the first photo. Much too scary!
Is that an outhouse in the background? That little boy grabs me somehow…
The boy is compelling. Not sure, but it could be an outhouse back there.
If this guy was coming to my rescue, I think I would have been frightened to death 🙂
The rescuers mask is fascinating. It almost looks like some sort of weird bladder system instead of a tank. Be fascinating to know how it worked.
I would like to know more about this and the rescues themselves.
Mining must have been (probably still is) a really tough job.
That first uniform is truly frightening. Thank goodness that in many cases such hazardous jobs are a thing of the past – in our part of the world at least.
That picture of the little boy , balanced on a wall, with a pick axe near his unprotected feet makes me shudder.