462 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



place the pump within working distance, by reason of inac- 

 cessibility, or too great a length of connecting tube. The 

 breathing-tube and mouth are of India rubber, the latter 

 being held by the lips and teeth, in such a manner that none 

 of the surrounding atmosphere can enter the lungs of the 

 operator, the nostrils being closed by a clip, and the eyes 

 protected by lunettes. 



Armed with this apparatus, one may, upon an emergency, 

 enter a mine full of foul gases, and thus possibly many lives 

 may be saved that would otherwise be lost; or the state of 

 workings may be ascertained without the risk that now often 

 attends this operation, the workman penetrating with the aid 

 of long tubes to a great distance, and remaining for hours if 

 necessary. At a recent public trial of the apparatus, witness- 

 ed by a large audience of mine inspectors and others, its 

 wearer remained with impunity, for a considerable length of 

 time, engaged in various occupations, in an atmosphere of 

 burning charcoal and sulphur. The company declared them- 

 selves convinced of the great utility of the new device. 



BEACH-MINING FOR GOLD IN CALIFORNIA. 



A communication has lately been made by Mr. A. W. 

 Chase to the California Academy of Science, in reference to 

 the beach-mining as prosecuted at Gold Bluifs, Klamath Coun- 

 ty, California. Many years ago a party of gold miners, en- 

 camping on this beach, found the sand filled with particles of 

 the precious metal, and, much excited at the prospect, they 

 made preparations to follow up the placer on a large scale ; 

 but, unfortunately, before they could get to work a heavy 

 sea brought in a mass of gravel which covered the gold de- 

 posit. More recently, however, the work has been resumed, 

 and, by carefully watching the best opportunity, a consider- 

 able amount of auriferous sand is secured from time to time. 

 According to Mr. Chase, the gold really comes from a strati- 

 fied bed of gravel, sand, stone, and lignite, which forms the 

 vertical bluifs of the coast ; and it is only after these bluifs 

 have been broken down by the action of the waves that the 

 gold is found on the beach. At present the mining consists 

 in watching carefully, after a high sea, for a fresh exposure 

 of auriferous sand, collecting this in bags, and carrying it on 

 the backs of mules to the works. 



