116 Mr Bald 07i the Fires that take place in Collieries. 



as they proceeded, they came to the body of Kerr, which, 

 from feeling, they found to be Ufeless. Sommerville instantly 

 concluded that they had deviated from the direct path by which 

 alone escape could be made, as they had not found Kerr in their 

 progress inward ; they resolved, therefore, to retrace their steps, 

 but they had scarcely determined to do so, when Sommerville's 

 remaining companion Brown, said to him, " I'm gone !" and 

 instantly fell down. Sommerville, for some while, crept on his 

 knees and hands, but the muscular energy of the arms soon fail- 

 ed ; he then crept on his knees and elbows, but made very little 

 progress, from the extreme feebleness and relaxation of the sys- 

 tem. He, however, resolved, as a principle of self-preservation, 

 to keep in motion, as he was yet sensible that if he lay down 

 he would in all likelihood perish. In this way he continued for 

 about an hour and a half, and made only a very few yards pro- 

 gress. While in this most trying situation, such was his intense 

 anxiety for the appearance of men for his relief, that he fre- 

 quently imagined he saw the lights of candles, like twinkling 

 stars ; but his senses were such, that he reasoned with himself 

 that this was all delusion. At last relief came to him, and he 

 was carried out quite exhausted, by two of his companions. 

 The four others who had come down, boldly and determinately 

 went onward, and found Brown apparently lifeless. With great 

 difficulty they carried him towards the pit, and immediately 

 upon their coming to good and fresh air. Brown shewed signs 

 of reanimation ; and upon being drawn up to the pit top, he, 

 in a short time, so far recovered as to be able to walk home, sup- 

 ported by two of his companions. 



As there were medical gentlemen in attendance, the ordinary 

 methods for resuscitation were tried with Kerr and Davidson, 

 but without effect, and they foimd that Kerr had been seized 

 with a locked jaw. The others who escaped were attacked with 

 vomiting, which is a common consequence in such cases, and the 

 only other bad effect they felt was violent headach,— which also 

 is a common consequence. 



Whitehill Colliery took fire from spontaneous ignition ; and it 

 is supposed, from investigations made, that this happened about 

 three years ago, by water descending from a sand-bed in the al- 

 luvial cover, and moistening the mine-rubbish, which produced 



