€4 EXPLOSIONS IN NOVA SCOTIA COAL MINES — GILPIN. 



The force of the explosion seems to have been spread over the 

 area I have mentioned, viz. : on the main slope and l:)ack slopes, 

 and extending east and west from main slope a distance of from 

 200 to 300 feet, over which area the timber was in many cases 

 blown down and falls of roof took place, whilst the working- 

 faces on east and west side of pit were free from any appearance 

 of explosion and in as good order after as before. 



After the mine resumed work and the water was extracted, 

 a hole was discovered at the working face of the sinking. The 

 evidence brought to show that this hole was fired, before the 

 ■explosion, did not appear conclusive. 



On January 15, 1887, an explosion took place at the Third 

 Seam workings, Stellarton, Pictou Co., fortunately unaccompa- 

 nied by loss of life. This explosion, which was considered one 

 of the most violent ever known, was accompanied by unusual 

 ■circumstances. 



Preparations were made for beginning a slope in the Cage 

 Pit or Deep Seam to the rise of the old shaft, to strike an 

 old balance near the east level workings, in order to win the coal 

 to the northeast of the present workings. This project unfortu- 

 nately was prevented by the discovery that the fire in the west 

 rise workings of the Cage Pit was not extinguished. The fire 

 had been built off, I think, in 1872, and it was believed by the 

 manao-ement to be quite out, especially as the fire in the same 

 mine, caused by the Foord Pit explosion, was found to be out 

 when the mine was re-entered. During the summer, part of the 

 pillars in a balance in the Third Seam workings under the Cage 

 Pit seam had been drawn, the fall of the roof extended up to 

 it, and stythe came into the Third Seam workings. The balance 

 was isolated by stoppings, and at the close of the year no trouble 

 was anticipated. In the beginning of this year, however, fire 

 broke out in the Third Seam with great violence, destroying the 

 bank-head and necessitating the closing of the mine. 



The extraction of pillars in the lower seam had broken the 

 roof up to the overlying or second seam. As stythe came down, 

 the panel or back-balance in which the pillars had been drawn 

 was built oft' as rapidly as possible. For about a month every- 



