There were 160 widows and 390 children to be cared for. In some instances, a son was supporting a widowed mother and brothers and sisters. There were in all 607 persons dependent upon those who were killed in the mine.

Nearly every city and village in the State contributed in some way to their relief; the United Mine Workers, the Chicago Tribune, ' the Red Cross Society and the various secret societies and organizations were all early on the ground and the little village of Cherry was soon the recipient of the generosity of thousands. It is hardly possible to state the exact amount of relief tendered the Cherry sufferers in dollars and cents, for a great deal was sent in merchandise; supplies having been sent in car loads and many organizations worked independently. From the best information that we are able to obtain the total amount of the contribution is $444,785.93. The amount paid out by the company in settlements (July 11, 1910), approximately $400,000.00, making a total of $844,785.92 contributed to those left without support.

A national relief commission, known as the Cherry Relief Commission, is organized for the purpose of distributing in a proper manner these contributions. . . . This commission will also have the distribution of the $100,000 which the State Legislature appropriated, making the total sum of $256,215.72, which is to be distributed on the pension plan to the widows and orphans.

. . . The contributions of the St. Paul Coal Company consisted of money, provisions, rents, coal, etc. The death benefit of $150 to the family of each miner killed, which was paid by the United Mine Workers of Illinois for 256 deaths, totals $38,700, and other burial expenses will probably make the total $40,000. . . .

THE PENSION PLAN OF RELIEF

There will be allotted to those people . . ., through the [Cherry Relief] Commission, the sum of $256,215.72, or an average of $989.25 to each death. This sum will be distributed, however, to the dependents of those who were killed, each family receiving an amount in proportion to the number of dependents in a lump sum if a widow alone is left, or if the family leaves this country ; but to the widow with children residing here it is paid on the pension plan, in amounts according to the number of children. A widow and one child under the age of 14 years gets a pension of $25 per month until the child is 14 years of age or until they should, by the widow marrying or otherwise, become self-supporting. A widow and two children under the ages of 14 years gets $30, and for each additional child $5 more per month until the maximum of $40 per month is reached. A widow with more than four children under the age of 14 does not get more than $40. To widows without children or with children over the age of 14 years a cash settlement is made according to the conditions peculiar to the family, their ability to support themselves, etc., usually about $300. The average age of the children left was 5 years and it is estimated that the fund on hand will support the dependents for eight or more years or until the children are able to work.