EXPLOSIONS IN COAL-MINES AND REVOLVING STORMS. 7 



The mere inspection of these curves will show that explosions very seldom 

 take place without the direct and manifest concurrence of one or both of the 

 meteorological conditions which tend to produce an explosive atmosphere in 

 mines. 



Explosions in October 1851 (see Plate I.). 



Oct. 27, Glasshouse Colliery, Leeds. 

 „ 30, Clifton Colliery, Halifax. 

 „ 31, Killingworth Colliery, Newcastle. 



Oct. 13, Ince Hall Colliery, Wigan. 

 „ 13, Grange Colliery, Wakefield 

 „ 20, Dewsbury, Yorkshire. 



All fatal explosions ; at Killingworth eight killed and six burnt. 



The approach of a cyclone raises the temperature 10° on the 12th and 

 13th, and a depression of an inch of the barometer takes place by the 15th. 

 Tioo explosions on the same day coincide with this marked rise of both the 

 nocturnal and diurnal temperature. 



From the 20th to the 27th both thermal lines are high, but the explosions 

 of the 30th and 31st seem to have been influenced chiefly by the extreme 

 barometric depression on the 27th, 28th, and 29th. 



During the following Jive iceeks there are no explosions, for both the 

 favourable atmospheric conditions are wanting. The barometer is always 

 above 29*50, and there are no great and rapid falls of the mercury. The 

 nocturnal and diurnal temperatures are both excessively low during the whole 

 time. The absence of explosions at such a time is quite as significant as 

 their presence when the favourable conditions exist. 



Explosions in December 1851. 



Dec. 6, Woodthorpe Colliery, Sheffield (three 

 killed). 



Dec. 20, Rawmarsh Colliery, Rotherham 

 (fifty-two kiUed). 

 „ 22, luce Hall Colliery, Wigan, Lanca- 

 shire (thirteen killed). 



On each of these days the diagram shows a very marked rise of both the 

 thermal lines, induced by the south wind in front of two cyclones; of which 

 the former is scarcely recognized at Greenwich on the 8th and 9th, but in 

 the latter, the diminished pressure manifestly conspires with the increased 

 temperature to produce the serious catastrophes of the 20th and 22Qd. 



Explosions in January 1852 (see Plate III.). 



Jan. 9, Pemberton Colliery, Wigan. 



Jan. 26, Ringley Colliery, Manchester. 

 „ 26, Stoneclough Colliery, Kearsley. 

 „ 27, Rothwell Haigh, Leeds. 



"The gales of January caused 126 casualties (at sea); they prevailed 

 during the whole month, and the early part of February." (Pari. Return of 

 Wrecks for 1852.) 



On the 8th and 9th the most violent snow-storm for many years raged 

 over the British Isles. This was a regular cyclone, passing to the Texel on 

 the 11th, &c. Wind S.W. on 7th and 8th, N.E. on 8th and 9th. 



On the 24th are recorded a tempest and many wrecks in the English 

 Channel and on the east coast, as well as a most destructive tornado at 

 Nenagh in Ireland. On the 26th and 27th, storms and wrecks again occur, 

 and on the 5th of February the consequent inundations at Holmfirth in 

 Yorkshire. The great barometrical depressions show the passage of several 

 successive cyclones in January, some of which were probably derived from 

 the great hurricane that destroyed fourteen ships at Vera Cruz, in the Gulf 

 of Mexico, on the 13th. 



