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1936-1937 (Creation)
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- Moose River Rescue Fund Committee
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10 cm of textual records
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The Moose River Rescue Fund Committee was established after the Moose River Mine Disaster, which occurred on 12 April 1936. For several days three men had been trapped 43 metres underground after the gold mine collapsed around them, and dozens of rescuers eventually managed to rescue of two of the men. A fund consisting of donations from the public was incorporated and administered under the auspices of the Canadian Red Cross Society. The proper and just distribution of these donations was a matter of political concern, hence a national committee was appointed to determine who had participated in the rescue operation, what role they had, how much they had worked, and how much compensation they were entitled to. Cyrus D. Sampson (1897-1966) of Westville, a mining engineer with the Intercolonial Coal Co. Ltd., was chosen investigator and secretary. Sampson had led a team of miners from Westville, Nova Scotia, to assist in the rescue efforts. After several months of investigation and collecting accurate statements from all who were involved in the rescue operations, the more detailed and accurate picture of the rescue operation led to proper distribution of funds.
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Consists of records created and accumulated by Cyrus D. Sampson in his role as investigator with the Moose River Rescue Fund Committee. Includes a notebook containing minutes of meetings, notes, and drafts of letters, lists of miners, sworn personal statements from miners and rescue workers, correspondence between Sampson and fund administrators and government officials, and Sampson's own statements and reports on the rescue effort, in which he emphasized the role Westville miners played – a role which had been largely ignored by the media.
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Donated by L. Joan Sampson in 2003.
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