1813.] in the Cohingwood Main Colliery. 285 



verely wounded and scorched. The following particulars of 

 this melancholy disaster were communicated verbatim at the 

 above-mentioned colliery, a few days after the accident, to 

 the writer of this, by Henry Hall, who fortunately escaped, 

 though in the midst of imminent danger. 



At the time when the explosion took place the above-named 

 Henry Hall, and five other pitmen, were proceeding with bur- 

 thens of timber through the old workings or excavations (the 

 proper road being obstructed b V a creep,*) in the full confi- 

 dence of safety, having been assured by Mr. Hope, the under 

 viewer, that there was no fear of the « mine firing." In an in- 

 stant this young man, Henry Hall, and the five pitmen who 

 were with him, were by the explosion thrown upon their faces; 

 and the shock was so great as to deprive him of sensation, as 

 well as volition, till the after-blast, or after-damp, f as it is called, 

 gave him such excitement that he faintly recollects beintr U r<red 

 hke a ball along the floor of the mine with incredible velocity. 

 Soon alter this he was again deprived of sensation, in which 

 state he continued for about twenty minutes, till he breathed 

 the pure atmospheric air upon the bank, at the top of the shaft, 

 to which place his brother had carried him, who descended 

 into the mine as soon as he possibly could, upon hearing the 

 explosion, at the risk of his own life, for the purpose of savins 

 that ol his brother, or of any other person whom he could find'! 

 I may remark, by the by, that according to the rules of the 

 Koval Humane Society, if my memory serves me, H.Hall's 

 brother, and several others, are entitled to rewards from that 

 wry excellent institution. H. Hall reports, that after he reco- 

 vered sensation he felt his whole body racked with pain, the 

 burnt place.-, giving him no uneasiness, comparatively speaking 

 and that Ins watering continued without intermiss'ion for two 

 days, hat as II. I lull's case was, the other five pitmen who were 

 wit* fom had p 0t tVL . n slu . h ;m ej for four of . them ^ 



UUtantly killed, and Ralph Stokell so dangerously bruised and 

 burnt in several places that his life was for some time despaired of. 

 At a distent part ol the mine, where some other pitmen were 

 i mployed in taking up metal platen, timber, &c. Mr. Hope, the 

 under viewer, Mr. Wild, the overman, and two pitmen, were 



suflorau, by the choak-clamp. or carbonic acid gas. Mr. 



Wild had wandered at least a hundred yards before he met 

 ins death by Builocation. 



»•' » ■■ ki«s Ike rout, the prtmtn leave pillar., in (be form of parallelo- 



' "" l,,e "Pl'-rt »' ^ i Iftbeeepillan • re narrow, and the floor 



'"'" ^ader, !hex area, ,f u k ialo the floor, '** caWe.uca 



;:"" X ' "" '" I"--" '">""* , «CC. This i, u-chnically called 



I Philosophy, vol. i. j. 



