DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0051
EXPLOSION AT FELLING COLLIERY.
37
Being, therefore, deprived of light, and nearly poisoned
for want of atmospheric air, they retraced their steps to the
shaft, and with similar success attempted to pass up the
narrow boards ; in these they were stopped at the sixth pil-
lar by a thick smoke, which stood like a wall the whole
height of the board. Here their flint-mills were not only
rendered useless, and respiration became extremely difficult,
but the probability of their ever reaching the places where
they expected to meet with those they were in search of, or
of any of them alive, was entirely done away. To the hope-
lessness of success in their enterprize, should also be added,
their certainty of the mine being on fire, and the probability
of a second explosion at every moment occurring, and burying
them in its ruins. A second explosion' did actually occur,
before they had all ascended, but it was much less than the
first, and did no mischief.
[The narrative here proceeds to relate the manner in
which two successive attempts were made to explore the
working on the 2/th, but which were equally unsuccessful
with the former one.]
The report of the last adventurers partly succeeded in
convincing the people that there was no possibility of any
of their friends being found alive. Some indeed, went away
silent, but not satisfied; others with pitiable importunity be-
sought that measures to recover their friends might even yet
be adopted and persevered in; and many, as if grief and rage
had some neccWary connection, went about loading the con-
ductors of the mine with execrations, and threatening revenge.
In the evening of this day it was resolved, to exclude the
atmospheric air from entering the workings, in order to ex-
tinguish the fire which the explosion had kindled in the mine,
and of which the smoke ascending the William Pit was a
sure indication. Both shafts were accordingly made air-
tight with clay, lowered a sufficient depth upon scaffolds.
37
Being, therefore, deprived of light, and nearly poisoned
for want of atmospheric air, they retraced their steps to the
shaft, and with similar success attempted to pass up the
narrow boards ; in these they were stopped at the sixth pil-
lar by a thick smoke, which stood like a wall the whole
height of the board. Here their flint-mills were not only
rendered useless, and respiration became extremely difficult,
but the probability of their ever reaching the places where
they expected to meet with those they were in search of, or
of any of them alive, was entirely done away. To the hope-
lessness of success in their enterprize, should also be added,
their certainty of the mine being on fire, and the probability
of a second explosion at every moment occurring, and burying
them in its ruins. A second explosion' did actually occur,
before they had all ascended, but it was much less than the
first, and did no mischief.
[The narrative here proceeds to relate the manner in
which two successive attempts were made to explore the
working on the 2/th, but which were equally unsuccessful
with the former one.]
The report of the last adventurers partly succeeded in
convincing the people that there was no possibility of any
of their friends being found alive. Some indeed, went away
silent, but not satisfied; others with pitiable importunity be-
sought that measures to recover their friends might even yet
be adopted and persevered in; and many, as if grief and rage
had some neccWary connection, went about loading the con-
ductors of the mine with execrations, and threatening revenge.
In the evening of this day it was resolved, to exclude the
atmospheric air from entering the workings, in order to ex-
tinguish the fire which the explosion had kindled in the mine,
and of which the smoke ascending the William Pit was a
sure indication. Both shafts were accordingly made air-
tight with clay, lowered a sufficient depth upon scaffolds.