Here Is Another Triple White Star Survivor, John Arthur Priest (Olympic, Titanic and Britannic)

From the March 23, 2021, ListVerse  "Top 10 luckiest unlucky  people whose luck nearly killed them.

The subject of the last two posts, Violet Jessup is also in this list.  But, this is a different person who also survived the Titanic and the Britannic sinkings.  And, he was on the Olympic as well.  Plus, he had two other ships sink while he was on it.  A true "unsinkable" as it were.

His name was Arthur John Priest.

Arthur John Priest worked as a stoker, or "fireman," whose job it was  to keep the boilers of a ship constantly steaming  by shoveling coal into them.    As such, they were well below the waterline and near the bottom of one of those massive triple sisters of the White Star Line.

While serving on the Olympic in 1911,  he survived when the ship was struck and holed by the HMS Hawke below the waterline, but did not sink.

The following year, he got a job on the Olympic's sister ship, the you-know-what.

--Cooter

Spanish Flu Outbreak 1918-- Part 4: A Major Fuel Shortage As Well That Year

In January 1918, the federal government ordered all businesses closed for five days due to a national fuel (coal) shortage.  In the local area (Belvidere, Illinois) the National Sewing Machine, The Belvidere  Screw and Machine Company, The Gossard Corset Company and Parsons Casket Company were shut down but food manufacturing companies like the Borden Plant and Wait Creamery were allowed to stay open. 

In addition, the railroad ran on reduced hours and any businesses that needed fuel to run were ordered to close on Mondays for nine weeks.  Schools which had enough surplus fuel to heat classrooms could stay open as could businesses which did not rely on fuel.

This caused a huge debate on whether to close the schools to use their fuel for businesses and residences.

So, the year 1918 was already off to a bad start and the country was still in the midst of World War I as American casualties increased dramatically.  So, before the virus hit, there already had been a major scarlet fever outbreak and the coal shortage.

--Cooter

A Coal Shortage in 1920

In the last post, I wrote about the Normal School in DeKalb, Illinois, (NIU) having a shortage of coal in 1920.  Evidently this was not just here, but elsewhere.  I came across an blurb in the September 20, Bloomington-Normal Pantagraph newspaper from 1920 as follows:

"A large group of citizens met in the BHS (Bloomington High School)  auditorium to  tackle the coal shortage.  They decided to wire President Woodrow Wilson and ask him to take action against speculators.

"Keeping the McLean  County Coal Co. open is the heart of the issue."

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And, I found a copy of the November  2, 1920 Duluth (Minnesota) News Tribune with headlines "Duluth Coal Companies Charged With Illegal  Combination, Shortage Forced, Prices Boosted."

"A group of West Duluth residents yesterday charged that coal companies have conspired to cause a shortage of coal and to boost prices.  The residents have formed a committee to urge the U.S. District Attorney to  start proceedings against the coal companies."

--Cooter

A Coal Shortage at the Normal School in DeKalb (NIU)

From the September 2, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"The Normal school is in quite a predicament  at present in regard to coal there being not a single lump of coal in the bins at school.   Ever since  the first of May the school has been without fuel and all of the electricity  that has been used has been obtained from the electric company.  

"Now that the start of the fall term of school is near the shortage  is very serious as everything in the dormitory is run either by steam or electricity.  There is a car of coal  on the way but when it will arrive is a matter of speculation.

--CootCoal

Coal Restrictions (Because of the Coal Strike) Lifted in 1919, Just in Time for Christmas Shopping

From the December 18, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

"Sighs of relief were heard all up and down Lincoln Highway yesterday and last evening.  The coal lid had been lifted and stores were running on regular schedule, lights  were on, and shoppers could shop as early as they wanted to.

"Merchants abided by the coal restrictions last week, although the shortened hours hindered Christmas trade and caused confusion and congestion during the few hours stores  were allowed to be open, but were grateful for the order which came Saturday announcing that all restrictions  were to be lifted Monday."

There was a coal strike going on in the United States.  No wonder the stores were staying open a bit longer as mentioned in the post yesterday.

--CooterCoal

Coal Strike Hits Home in 1919

From the Dec. 4, 2019, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

"Lincoln Highway resumed its war-time appearance again last evening, this time doing its bit in the conservation of coal.  All boulevard lights with the exception of corner lights were dark last evening by order of the city administration and folks passed up and down the main street in darkness as they had done during the war.

"But, today the country faces the most critical stage of the coal strike, the small surplus is gradually being consumed  and as the pile decreased, the demand for wages increased, and no arbitration in sight."

Use the Coal for Bad Little Boys and Girls.  --Cooter

The Spanish Flu Hits Illinois in 1918-- Part 1: Railroad Hub Contributes in Chicago

From the February 12, 2006, Flu Tackers"The Great Pandemic of 1918:  State By State."

The Great Pandemic of 1918 also touched Illinois.

Chicago was then the country's second largest city and the country's largest rail hub.  As a consequence, the disease hit the city quickly.  Before it hit, overconfident health department people proclaimed:  "We have the Spanish influenza  situation well in hand now."

Then the disease came.

Influenza was reported in Chicago on September 27th.  Within two weeks, it was epidemic throughout the state.  Cities like Kankakee and Rockford were also hard hit as were rural areas and coal-mining spots throughout the state.

But, Chicago saw the worst impacts.  While the pandemic raged to its peak, the city saw an average of 12,000 new cases each week.  More than 2,100 Chicagoans died during the second week of October.  More than 2,300 died in the third week.

--Cooter

A Coal Shortage in DeKalb in 1917

From the February 8, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"The coal situation in DeKalb is tighter right now than it has been for some time, especially as to coke and hard coal.  There is a fairly good supply of soft coal but hardly a wagon load or so of the other varieties.

"One local coal merchant informs the Chronicle that he has only a half a ton in his own celler and not a pound of coke in the yard.

"Others are also hard up for coal to supply their customers.  Another manager of a coke concern states that he will be having to use soft coal in his own house furnace within another day."

Of course, coal was the major heating source in homes and businesses back then.

Wonder If the Coal Shortage Was a Result of the War?  --Cooter

A Coal Shortage in DeKalb in 1917

From the February 8, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"The coal situation in DeKalb is tighter right now than it has been in some time, especially as to coke and hard coal.  There is a fairly good supply of soft coal but hardly a wagon load or so of other varieties.

"One local coal merchant informs the Chronicle that he has only half a ton in his own cellar and not a pound of coke in the yard.  Others are also hard up for coal to supply their customers.  Another manager of a coke concern states that he will be having to use soft coal in his own house furnace within another day."

Looks like cold days ahead for DeKalb.  Was this a result of the United States preparing to get into World War I or a particularly bad winter?

Hard Coal Better Than Soft Coal.  --Cooter

Grabbing That "Spilt" Coal in 1917

From the May 17, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"A car of coal going through there sometime during the night sprung a leak somewhere along the line and there was a great quantity of fuel scattered along the railroad tracks through DeKalb.

"The train stopped here and at this place several hundred pounds were lost.  Some of the coal was picked up during the early morning hours when there were no railroad men around to stop such procedure."

Procedure Meaning Stealing Railroad Coal?  I Prefer Lost and Found.  --Cootcoal

No School? Why?-- Part 3: Boy-Power Shoveling

The next day, January 14, 1918, the Tribune reported,"60,000 boys of the city will trot off to school today as usual, but they will carry shovels in place of books."  As part of the plan drawn up by the school superintendent, they would help dig the city out in shifts and "break trails through their snow besieged neighborhoods.

They worked in shifts and rested in heated classrooms under the supervision of teachers.  They superintendent of streets of Chicago soon reported that streets were 90 percent open.

But, the schools still weren't able to reopen on Monday because there was still a lack of coal.  In fact, schools did not reopen for good until January 28th.

There was much made during this period of the fact that saloons were able to remain open with plentiful supplies of coal.

Interesting About Those Saloons.  Must have Been Turning beer Into Coal.  Hey Pass the Coal.  --Cooter

No School? Why?-- Part 2: Coal

Fuel shortages in the past also had an impact on pupil attendance.  Students have stayed home because of a lack of ways to heat schools.  This was a relatively common problem during the 19th century and happened quite often in the first quarter of the 20th century.  The most recent time was 1950.

The 1917-1918 school year was particularly bad.  On Dec. 7, 1917, the Tribune reported that coal shortages would extend the upcoming Christmas vacation by seven days as "a fuel conservation measure."   After all, World War I was underway at the time.

 But heavy snow in January prevented coal deliveries and added even more days off for the kids.

Citizen brigades shoveled streets to make them passable.  The children even pitched in.  (Why?  Children working so they get to go to school?)  On Jan. 10, the Tribune reported that "thousands of children volunteered yesterday to dig snow to save schools from closing."

On January 13th schools were ordered closed for another whole week.

Kids Shoveling Snow So They Can Go to School?  --Cooter