J 8 14.] Effects of Explosion in Coal Mines. 433 



if it were even allowing Dr. C.'s lanthorn to be an effectual remedy 

 where the gas is already generated, it must be acknowledged that 

 prevention is better tlian cure, and if we could remove the cause, 

 the casualties that such a piece of mechanism, the contrivance of 

 Dr. C.'s, must always be liable to i:i the hands of ignorant workmen 

 would of course be obviated. That some metliod for tlie attain- 

 ment of this object may be devised and adopted every one must 

 allow is desirable, and it is only by observation and a liberal 

 communication of sentiment that such means are to be found outj 

 it is with this view that these hints are conmiunicated, in hopes 

 that some person, with more opportunities of observation and better 

 qualified, may pursue the subject to its attainment. In the annals 

 of calamity from the explosion of carbureted liydrogen in coal 

 mines, there is scarcely a parallel to the sum of misery that has been 

 produced by two explosions of Felling Colliery, within the space 

 of 19 months; for a minute and interesting account of the first, 

 see an excellently written pamphlet by John Hodgson, printed at 

 Newcastle. I'his explosion happened 25th May, 1812, by which 

 ninety-two human beings were deprived of existence ! The last 

 in January 1814, by which near 30 lost their lives, and several 

 severely injured. This pit is situated on the south side of the 

 Tyne, and about two miles below Newcastle bridge ; the coal that 

 is obtained from this and the adjoining pits evidently contains a 

 large proportion of pyrites, or iron combined with sulphur; so 

 much so, that at an adjoining pit, I have seen a considerable pile of 

 large pieces which have been selected as bad coal. Not more than 

 500 yards from the pit itself are the remains of an old pit heap, 

 (or small coal which it is the custom to separate from the coal sent 

 to London,) which within these five years yet showed signs of com- 

 bustion, tiiough probably near half a century has elopsed since its 

 first perhaps self-ignition, (for this is sometimes the case.) The 

 ashes of this confined heap of coal arc a bright liritk red colour, no 

 doubt from a large quantity of iron reduced to a red oxide j 

 and I have seen in fissures of the heap from which smoke issued, 

 crystals of sulphur. Tiie effect produced by moistening sul- 

 phur and iron in the state of a mechanical mixture is too well 

 known to need comment; but it is perhaps not so generally known, 

 that a proportion of the scum of coal in every p't is allowed by the 

 owners to be worked as small by the pit men, and ibr this they are 

 paid by calculation at the same rate as the large coal ; it is consi- 

 dered as refuse, and consequently left in the old workings of the 

 pit, with a most extended surface presented to the action of the 

 water, which is always present in a more oj- Ict^s extensive degree : 

 the consequence is, that impure hydrogen is evolved in such im- 

 mense volumes, that in defiance of the boards which they care- 

 fully but ignorantly put up to keep this enemy undisturbed, it in 

 the end acquiies sucli an overwhelming power, as to break through 

 its continemeMt, and, in the manner of other fluids soon increasing 

 the first aperture, rushes out, and, like the springing of a flline^ 

 Vol. III. N° VI. 2 E 



