When a young man working in a coal mine, near Birmingham, Homer Shipman was caught beneath a fall of slate, and his back was broken. He was carried to his home, where he was examined by doctors, who declared that he could not live. However, he did live, but the spinal cord had been so impaired, that he never regained the use of his lower limbs. Only by crawling could he move from place to place. There was no Workmen's Compensation in those days. Shipman had a family to support. For 30 years, he crawled 2 miles between his home and the mine, and did his daily work alone, or with others employed there. Stretched out on the floor of the mine, he dug and loaded coal, in the meantime, developing powerful arms and body. Under such adverse conditions, most men would've given up in despair. But Shipman crawled to his work year after year, and earned money to support his family, which included five children. Info taken from Wolfe's Stories of Guernsey county.
When a young man working in a coal mine, near Birmingham, Homer Shipman was caught beneath a fall of slate, and his back was broken. He was carried to his home, where he was examined by doctors, who declared that he could not live. However, he did live, but the spinal cord had been so impaired, that he never regained the use of his lower limbs. Only by crawling could he move from place to place. There was no Workmen's Compensation in those days. Shipman had a family to support. For 30 years, he crawled 2 miles between his home and the mine, and did his daily work alone, or with others employed there. Stretched out on the floor of the mine, he dug and loaded coal, in the meantime, developing powerful arms and body. Under such adverse conditions, most men would've given up in despair. But Shipman crawled to his work year after year, and earned money to support his family, which included five children. Info taken from Wolfe's Stories of Guernsey county.
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