Henry Russell's last words
"Still alive but air is getting bad. Oh how I love you, Mary. Dear father, I will be going soon. We are just cold and when the air comes it will be bad as we are on the return side. Will meet you all in heaven. We are going to heaven. We have plenty of time to make peace with the Lord. H Russell I will soon be going to leave this world. Stay in America and give kids a home and marry again if you have a notion but God bless you and the kids. HR Dear Mary, tell father I was saved. Also the Erskines. We don't feel any pain. Try and stay in the USA. Love to the kids."
The above transcribed from a note scrawled to his wife as he awaited death, it was found in his lunch pail.
His was one of the last bodies recovered, along with the three members of the Erskine family.
"I remember when he used to come home from the mine and he would leave something in his pail like half an orange or something. And he would lie on the couch and I would read my schoolwork to him. And I remember he used to sit on the porch and make jokes with the kids." - Marguerite Susan Russell Solly, daughter, recalling a memory of her late father in 2007.
His heartbreaking message was written into song and recorded by folksinger Diana Jones entitled Henry Russell's Last Words. Soon afterward, her song was covered by Joan Baez.
Henry has transcended obscurity and now holds a place as an American folklore legend.
Mr. Russell was one of 111 lives claimed as a result of an explosion that occurred on Saturday, 30 April 1927, at the Federal No. 3 mine. It was operated by the New England Fuel and Transportation Company of Everettville, Monongalia County, West Virginia.
Henry came to the United States via Glasgow, Scotland aboard the SS Cameronia on 29 November 1913. He was accompanied by Mary Melville, indicated on the ship's passenger list as his 'intended wife'. They arrived at Ellis Island on 07 December. He married Miss Melville on Monday, 08 December 1913 in Manhattan, New York City.
Biographical sketch ©2018 This Old Scarecrow - revised 12 April 2019
"Still alive but air is getting bad. Oh how I love you, Mary. Dear father, I will be going soon. We are just cold and when the air comes it will be bad as we are on the return side. Will meet you all in heaven. We are going to heaven. We have plenty of time to make peace with the Lord. H Russell I will soon be going to leave this world. Stay in America and give kids a home and marry again if you have a notion but God bless you and the kids. HR Dear Mary, tell father I was saved. Also the Erskines. We don't feel any pain. Try and stay in the USA. Love to the kids."
The above transcribed from a note scrawled to his wife as he awaited death, it was found in his lunch pail.
His was one of the last bodies recovered, along with the three members of the Erskine family.
"I remember when he used to come home from the mine and he would leave something in his pail like half an orange or something. And he would lie on the couch and I would read my schoolwork to him. And I remember he used to sit on the porch and make jokes with the kids." - Marguerite Susan Russell Solly, daughter, recalling a memory of her late father in 2007.
His heartbreaking message was written into song and recorded by folksinger Diana Jones entitled Henry Russell's Last Words. Soon afterward, her song was covered by Joan Baez.
Henry has transcended obscurity and now holds a place as an American folklore legend.
Mr. Russell was one of 111 lives claimed as a result of an explosion that occurred on Saturday, 30 April 1927, at the Federal No. 3 mine. It was operated by the New England Fuel and Transportation Company of Everettville, Monongalia County, West Virginia.
Henry came to the United States via Glasgow, Scotland aboard the SS Cameronia on 29 November 1913. He was accompanied by Mary Melville, indicated on the ship's passenger list as his 'intended wife'. They arrived at Ellis Island on 07 December. He married Miss Melville on Monday, 08 December 1913 in Manhattan, New York City.
Biographical sketch ©2018 This Old Scarecrow - revised 12 April 2019
Henry Russell's last words
"Still alive but air is getting bad. Oh how I love you, Mary. Dear father, I will be going soon. We are just cold and when the air comes it will be bad as we are on the return side. Will meet you all in heaven. We are going to heaven. We have plenty of time to make peace with the Lord. H Russell I will soon be going to leave this world. Stay in America and give kids a home and marry again if you have a notion but God bless you and the kids. HR Dear Mary, tell father I was saved. Also the Erskines. We don't feel any pain. Try and stay in the USA. Love to the kids."
The above transcribed from a note scrawled to his wife as he awaited death, it was found in his lunch pail.
His was one of the last bodies recovered, along with the three members of the Erskine family.
"I remember when he used to come home from the mine and he would leave something in his pail like half an orange or something. And he would lie on the couch and I would read my schoolwork to him. And I remember he used to sit on the porch and make jokes with the kids." - Marguerite Susan Russell Solly, daughter, recalling a memory of her late father in 2007.
His heartbreaking message was written into song and recorded by folksinger Diana Jones entitled Henry Russell's Last Words. Soon afterward, her song was covered by Joan Baez.
Henry has transcended obscurity and now holds a place as an American folklore legend.
Mr. Russell was one of 111 lives claimed as a result of an explosion that occurred on Saturday, 30 April 1927, at the Federal No. 3 mine. It was operated by the New England Fuel and Transportation Company of Everettville, Monongalia County, West Virginia.
Henry came to the United States via Glasgow, Scotland aboard the SS Cameronia on 29 November 1913. He was accompanied by Mary Melville, indicated on the ship's passenger list as his 'intended wife'. They arrived at Ellis Island on 07 December. He married Miss Melville on Monday, 08 December 1913 in Manhattan, New York City.
Biographical sketch ©2018 This Old Scarecrow - revised 12 April 2019
"Still alive but air is getting bad. Oh how I love you, Mary. Dear father, I will be going soon. We are just cold and when the air comes it will be bad as we are on the return side. Will meet you all in heaven. We are going to heaven. We have plenty of time to make peace with the Lord. H Russell I will soon be going to leave this world. Stay in America and give kids a home and marry again if you have a notion but God bless you and the kids. HR Dear Mary, tell father I was saved. Also the Erskines. We don't feel any pain. Try and stay in the USA. Love to the kids."
The above transcribed from a note scrawled to his wife as he awaited death, it was found in his lunch pail.
His was one of the last bodies recovered, along with the three members of the Erskine family.
"I remember when he used to come home from the mine and he would leave something in his pail like half an orange or something. And he would lie on the couch and I would read my schoolwork to him. And I remember he used to sit on the porch and make jokes with the kids." - Marguerite Susan Russell Solly, daughter, recalling a memory of her late father in 2007.
His heartbreaking message was written into song and recorded by folksinger Diana Jones entitled Henry Russell's Last Words. Soon afterward, her song was covered by Joan Baez.
Henry has transcended obscurity and now holds a place as an American folklore legend.
Mr. Russell was one of 111 lives claimed as a result of an explosion that occurred on Saturday, 30 April 1927, at the Federal No. 3 mine. It was operated by the New England Fuel and Transportation Company of Everettville, Monongalia County, West Virginia.
Henry came to the United States via Glasgow, Scotland aboard the SS Cameronia on 29 November 1913. He was accompanied by Mary Melville, indicated on the ship's passenger list as his 'intended wife'. They arrived at Ellis Island on 07 December. He married Miss Melville on Monday, 08 December 1913 in Manhattan, New York City.
Biographical sketch ©2018 This Old Scarecrow - revised 12 April 2019
Inscription
HENRY
1886 — 1927
Gravesite Details
Interred Tuesday, 24 May 1927
