262 Accident in a Coal-Mine at Liege. [Aprit, 
of Mamonster, but into the old workings of Martin Wery. Some 
of the workmen proposed to continue the work in the same direc- 
tion; but M. Goffin prevented them, saying, at the same time, 
«¢ When we have no longer any hopes left, I shall conduct you to 
this place, and then all will soon be over.” 
At first they refused unanimously to obey him, and gave them- 
selves up to despair. The young boys threw themselves on their 
knees to request a blessing from their parents, while the old men 
uttered dismal complaints, and lamented over the future lot of their 
wives and children. Goffin graduaily inspired them with some 
courage, and prevailed upon them to proceed to the fifth gallery, 
which he judged to promise the shortest communication with the 
galleries of Mamonster. When they came to this place, they heard 
a distant noise, which rekindled some hope in their hearts, as they 
supposed it to proceed from their fellow miners opening a passage to 
them from the galleries of Mamonster. But they were by this 
time so exhausted by their former labours, and by the want of food, 
that all the exertions of Goffin were scarcely sufficient to inspire 
them with any activity. Three times they threw down their tools in 
absolute despair; but sometimes by entreaties, and sometimes by 
threats, he always prevailed upon them to resume their pickaxes, and 
recommence their work. They had dug a gallery 36 feet in length, 
though by the second day their candles had gone out, from the 
badness of the air, and they were left in total darkness, 
For the first two or three days they suffered dreadfully from 
hunger. Some devoured the candles which they had contrived to’ 
conceal, and found in their own urinea drink, which they preferred 
to the putrid water of the mine. Others (Bertrand in particular) 
reckoned upon the speedy death of some of their companions as a 
means of furnishing them with food. Fortunately nature dissipated 
for atime at least these scenes of horror, by giving them the re- 
freshment of a sound sleep. 
‘Meanwhile every thing had been done without the mine for the 
deliverance of the unfortuaate workmen thus buried alive, by the 
sagacious and vigorous orders of the Prefect. The shaft Mamonster 
presented the only means of letting them escape; but they had no 
exact plan of the workings, and knew not, therefore, through how 
much ground they had to penetrate in order to reach the galleries 
of Beaujonc. Above a hundred horses were kept -constantly em- 
ployed in pumping out the water, in order to prevent it from filling 
all the galleries. ‘Twenty freshmen descended every four hours by 
the shaft Mamonster, in order to relieve the workmen who were 
pushing a gallery towards Beaujonc, without any loss of time. The 
engineer, M. Migneron, had ascertained with much sagacity the 
true geometrical point from which the gallery must commence, in 
order to reach the unfortunate sufferers. For greater certainty, they 
employed blasting, till they were certain that they had been heard 
by the sufferers; then their zeal was redoubled, and the exertions 
made were incredible. 
