EXPLOSIONS IN NOVA SCOTIA COAL MINES — GILPIN. 59 



air to mix with the gas, rendered it less explosive. It is stated 

 that on one occasion the exudation of gas was so steady and 

 strong, that on removing it by a heavy fall of water, it fired at 

 the boiler fires on the surface some fifty feet from the shaft. The 

 resulting fire was so strong as to practically fuse and destroy the 

 shaft. 



In Cape Breton, up to this date, there had been a few sliglit 

 explosions but no serious accidents. The Mines Report for 

 1890, gives special rules in force in Pictou County in 1S40, 

 which show that the presence of gas in these mines was 

 regarded as constant. 



One explosion before 1870, in the Deep or Cage pit, was un- 

 doubtedly of gas onl}^ It took place in the face of a level 

 which was wet for some distance l)ack from the face. The ex- 

 plosion was local, and the timber of the place and the man who 

 fired the shot were badly shattered. 



In 1873, at the Drummond Colliery, Pictou County, a shot in 

 the bench coal set fire to a heavy feeder, which could not be put 

 out, and the pit was set on fire and greatly damaged after a 

 series of unusually heavy explosions. It is not believed that 

 coal dust was greatly concerned in this explosion, as it is believed 

 that the gas made by the pit and the fire were enough to account 

 for all the explosions. About fiftj'-five lives were lost. 



May 21st, 1878, an explosion occurred at the Sydney Collier}^, 

 Cape Breton Co., by which six men were killed. Gas was fired 

 at the face of a working place, by a party of men, including the 

 overman, who were arranging to start new work. The efiect of 

 the explosion was very slight at the seat of the explosion, but 

 its efiects began to be felt a few j^ards away, and for some dis- 

 tance the coal and props were charred, and the latter knocked 

 out. The amount of gas presumably must have been very small, 

 as there was a head within two feet of the face. The workings 

 w^ere dry and the roadways deep in dust. In this case there 

 appears to be no doubt that the coal dust augmented the explo- 

 sion, which sent dust up the shaft at a distance of nearly 3,000 

 feet. 



The coal of the Cape Breton coal field pre ents the following 



