1824.] the Purpose of Blasting in Lead Mines. 215 



taining to the charge : the application of which has been to 

 drive it tightly into the hole bored in the rock above the powder, 

 and the upper part fixed by strong timbers placed across the 

 top for the purpose of preventing it being thrown out, without 

 the desired effect. 



Another instrument of iron, found in the same 

 lead mines, differs from the above, in wanting the 

 square bar at top, and in place of the hollow on one 

 side, is cylindrical, and has a tube, one inch diameter, 

 to nearly the upper end, where it is flattened, and 

 has a shoulder projecting half an inch on each side, 

 resembling the head of a spear, and apparently 

 intended for fixing across it bars of iron or timbers, 

 to oppose the violence of the ignited gunpowder. 



At the round end of the cylinder is a perforation 

 a, communicating through the hollow tube, with 

 another at b, placed for a touch hole on one side, l-£- 

 inch below the shoulder, and 8 inches distant 

 from the other end. 



A tradition exists among the miners, that formerly 

 strong timbers and wedges were used for fixing down 

 the charges in blasting, to hinder explosion without 

 effect ; but no further explanation, as to the mode 

 in which this was achieved, is to be obtained, neither 

 in regard to the process of charging, nor of the tools 

 used. It is highly probable, however, that such 

 application might have been, and was adopted, for securing the 

 two instruments above described. 



A series of five more of these instruments have been found in 

 the same mine, of the respective lengths of 84, 10, 10^-, and 12 

 inches. 



There was also discovered, in opening some old workings at 

 the west end of Allenheads lead mines, about a month since 

 (Jan. 1820), a tool, formerly used, it is conjectured, for the pur- 

 pose of blasting with gunpowder, or rather, in forming a commu- 

 nication with it in the rock to be exploded. The spot where it 

 was found is in the Great Limestone there, about 40 feet from 

 the surface. The latest record of this place having been wrought, 

 was in the year 1716, since which period this part of it has been 

 entirely rilled up with rubbish and fallings in of the vein, and 

 only recently re-opened ; when the following (see next page), 

 with some other instruments, were discovered in one of the flatts 

 in the limestone. The oldest workmen of the present day do 

 not recollect their use, nor did they ever hear of such tools 

 employed for the purpose ; they seem, however, to have been 

 meant for it, and their application as follows: — After having 

 drilled a hole in the rock to be blasted, with a chisel or jumper 

 sufficiently deep, the gunpowder is put into the bottom of it, say 

 to the depth of three or four inches ; next the tool sketched 



a' 



