188 THE FIRE-DAMP'S FAMILY CIRCLE. 



of a bull, but louder ; and, in the end, leaving a smoke and 

 a smell behind it worse than that of a carrion/ 



We of the nineteenth century, more alive to the real 

 powers of the fire-damp, must needs admit that, considering 

 the provocations given by the Mostyii miners, the enemy be- 

 haved with moderation. When, anticipating a little the course 

 of events, it is affirmed that the colliers were so emboldened 

 by long impunity, that they resolutely turned a deaf ear and a 

 blind eye to all admonitory hints, neglected the friendly ad- 

 monitions of bellowings, flashings, hair- and beard-burnings ; 

 in a word, continued to do as they had done, the sequel must 

 be obvious. 



One fine morning the Mostyn pit blew up in earnest, and 

 the blow-up occurred after this fashion. I must premise that 

 the fire-damp having accumulated in great quantities, the 

 mine was abandoned for one day. Next morning the over- 

 seer, accompanied by two chosen men, descended the pit for 

 the purpose of learning by actual inspection what means of 

 safety were available, having previously requested the other 

 men to remain behind. The latter, however, disdaining to be 

 absent from the post of danger, hurried after them. 



* One of them (the miners), more indiscreet than the rest, 

 went headlong with his candle over the eye of the damp pit, 

 at which the damp immediately catched, and flew to and fro 

 over all the liollows of the work with a great wind and a con- 

 tinued fire, and, as it went, keeping up a mighty great roar- 

 ing noise on all sides. The men at first appearance of it had 

 most of them fallen down on their faces, and hid themselves 

 as well as they could, yet nevertheless the damp returning 

 out of hollows and drawing -towards the eye of the pit, it 

 came up with incredible force. The wind and the fire tore 

 most of their clothes off their backs and singed what was left, 

 burning their hair, faces, and hands, the blast falling so sharp 

 on their skin as if they had been whipt with rods : some that 

 had least shelter were carried fifteen or sixteen yards from 



