21 



by some knack and mode of bringing thighs to the 

 assistance of arms, managed to lift and place in the 

 cars. Surely, is gravity more easily overcome in the 

 depths of the mine than on the surface? or is it the 

 knowing how and having the strength to do it? 



Besides the overman Mr. Joseph Randle, Jr. 

 who appeared to be here, there and everywhere all 

 through the mine, and must travel many miles in the 

 course of his duty, there are shotlighters, who ex- 

 amine the position and loading of the holes which the 

 miners purpose firing and, on approaching, pass 

 them, then firing can take place, in safety. This is a 

 necessary safeguard against "blown out shots" which 

 send many yards of flame out among the unavoidable 

 deposits of coal dust, and possibly deal out death and 

 destruction around. The firemen are also continually 

 busy on their rounds examining for gas (they follow 

 up the work of the firemen of preceding shifts) and 

 test every place where it is likely to accumulate^; they 

 also watch the ventilation of the mine. The "boss" 

 pusher is also an important personage in effecting the 

 output. While "lunch" is on, the powder smoke has 

 time to clear out of the stalls, and I leave the "inside" 

 (of the great fault) and in due course return to the 

 pit bottom. 



Later I am taken to see what is generally the first 

 "sight" shown below, the stables. To the south of 

 the pit, in the No. I south level is an excavated cham- 

 ber, forming comfortable stabling quarters for about 

 fifty mules, half of which are on the inside, miles 

 away, hauling cars to the inclines they are trotted 

 along the No. I level from which the electric cur- 

 rent had been cut off, before the descent of the morn- 

 ing shift, and the coming home of these animals and 

 the shutting off of the electric current to enable them 

 to traverse the level means that the men must find 

 their way out on foot, but they make use of short cuts 

 and so the journey is not so long. Of course the ani- 

 mals that are now eating so contentedly will go to re- 

 lieve their brethren so as to be on hand before the 

 afternoon shift come down at two o'clock. Nothing 

 is wanting to make the underground life of the poor 



