34 ON THE F!RE-DAMP OF COAL-MINES, 
twenty-three were killed, it is mentioned, “ that so powerful 
was the stream of fresh air in all the working parts-of the mine, 
that the candles could with difficulty be kept from going out,” 
and * that the persons employed in it declared, that they never 
wrought in a pit so. wholesome and pleasant.” In another 
mine, in which, in the same year, an explosion took place, in 
which thirty-two men were killed, the general arrangements. 
were so perfect, that it was considered by every one acquaint-. 
ed with the state of it, to be altogether free from danger. 
These facts seem to shew, that there is.no want in the power 
of ventilation ; and indeed it has been: stated on high practical. 
authority, that in this respect no great improvement can be ex- 
pected *, If these statements are correct, what is principal- 
ly to be looked for, independent of employing the best method 
of ventilation, and of a more strict attention to the state 
of the mine, in: preventing any partial obstruction to its. ope-. 
ration, is some mode of security against the inflammation of 
the gas, either as it is discharged from the fissures of the-coak 
in working, or when it does. accumulate-partially, from causes 
frequent, though occasional, in their occurrence. 
So far as can be learnt from the-circumstances of those ex- 
plosions. which have occurred in the Newcastle and Sunder- 
land mines, the principal causes. giving rise to the accumula- 
tion of the inflammable gas, have. been some neglect with re- 
gard tothe means of ventilation,—such. as failing to keep up 
the fire sufficiently at the: mouth of the air shaft, or. obstruc- 
tions in the passages or in the old wastes. The latter appear 
to be the most common cause; parts of the roof fall in, in the 
old excavations, or, by a yielding at the bottom of the pillars 
and: 
* Report by Mr Buppue to the Society for. preventing Accidents in Coal. 
mines. 
