Mr Bald on the Fires that take place in Collieries. 115 



engaged the machine at the top, from which the grate was sus- 

 pended, it ran a-main, and set on fire some small coal basket- 

 rods, at the bottom of the pit. This communicated fire to the 

 dry coal-rubbish adjoining, and the burning has gone on slowly 

 ever since. Water had been apphed, but with little effect. 

 Many attempts were made to shovel out the burning materials, 

 and also to insulate the fire ; but it increased to the extent of 

 about sixty feet diameter, and was making such progress, that 

 the directors of the works resolved to attack it boldly, which 

 they did, by shovelling out the burning coals, and sending them 

 to the pit-top. By perseverance, uncommon exertions, and the 

 occasional application of water, they at last extinguished the 

 fire, and the colliery is now in perfect safety. This was a most 

 dangerous service, and very trying for the miners, from the 

 scorching heat and suffocating vapours. Happily in this severe 

 duty no lives were lost. There are many instances of fires ha- 

 ving commenced in the bottom of coal-pits, from the hot ashes 

 of the grate falling down and accumulating, on which account 

 a large iron pan should be hung under the grate, to prevent this 

 danger, or the pit bottom should be cleared of all rubbish, and 

 a low wall of stone or clay built around. In short, we cannot be 

 too cautious where the hazard is so great. 



I regret, however, to mention, that two miners fell victims to 

 the noxious vapours, about three months ago. Their names 

 were Kerr and Davidson. They had gone down in a morning, 

 to view the burning district ; but having remained long, the 

 overseer of the colliery, John Sommerville, became alarmed for 

 their safety, and descended with two assistants, of the names of 

 Ferguson and Brown, in search of them. The pit by which 

 they descended is 300 yards from the pit in which the burning 

 was ; and in going towards this last pit, they found Davidson's 

 body, which was yet warm, but all signs of life were extinct. 

 They felt themselves growing feeble, from the influence of the 

 contaminated air, and after deliberating, they resolved to return 

 for more assistance ; but they had not returned above five yards, 

 when the bad air extinguished the lights ; they then made every 

 exertion to save themselves, and Ferguson made good his way, 

 and escaped. Sommerville and Brown went onward, in the 

 midst of the most horrible darkness and suffocating vapour ; and 



H 2 



