108 Mr Coldstream's Account of an Explosion of Gas 



Art. XXII. — Account of a Remarkable Explosion of Gas in 

 a Well near Leith Fort. By Mr John Coldstream. In a 

 Letter to Dr Brewster. 



Dear Sir, 



I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 

 19th instant, requesting me to make some inquiry concern- 

 ing the explosion of inflammable gas which took place in this 

 neighbourhood, a few weeks ago. Having been from home 

 at the time of the occurrence, I was not acquainted with any 

 of the particulars of the case, before I received your note ; 

 but I lost no time in proceeding to make the necessary exami- 

 nations, and now, I trust, I can lay before you a satisfactory 

 account of the very interesting event. 



About three months since, a bore for a well was commenced 

 in Cannon Street, near Leith Fort. Nothing particular was 

 observed to occur in the course of the workings, till Thursday 

 the 28th ult., when the depth of 87 feet from the surface had 

 been attained, without finding water. The bore had been sunk 

 to this depth, through seven feet of vegetable soil and sand, 

 and 80 feet of a very stiff dark coloured clay, containing im- 

 bedded, numerous rounded pebbles of quartz, chlorite slate, 

 hardened sand- stone, and coal. On the morning of the 28th, 

 at half-past six, the two men, who had hitherto wrought 

 at the bottom of the bore, went down, as usual, without 

 lights, and commenced their labours. In the course of an 

 hour after this, while driving their jumper, (three inches 

 broad,) perpendicularly through the clay, they suddenly 

 found it slip down about six inches, into an open space. 

 Immediately, through the hole, thus made by the jump- 

 er, there issued with tremendous violence, and terrific noise, 

 a vast quantity of some air, which, rushing past the workmen 

 in the bore, ascended with such velocity, as to carry along 

 with it masses of the clay of considerable size. The men be- 

 low, instantly prepared to ascend, and one having got into the 

 bucket was drawn up without delay, and the rope again lowered 

 for the other one. He was seen to get into the bucket, and 

 was drawn up about thirty feet, when it was observed that he 



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