44 



BRAKESMAN AT KILLINGWOKTH. CHAP. IV. 



^ WEST MOOR COLLIERY. [By R. P. Leitcb ] 



up the chance of earning extra money by casting ballast 

 from the keels. At last, however, he consented, in the 

 hope of making up the loss in some other way. The 

 / village of ^Killillgworth lies about seven miles north of 

 Newcastle, and is one of the best-known collieries in 

 that neighbourhood. The workings of the coal are of 

 vast extent, and give employment to a large number 

 of workpeople. The place stands high, and commands 

 an extensive view of the adjacent country ; it overlooks 

 the valley of the Tyne on the south, and the pinnacles 

 of the Newcastle spires may be discerned in the dis- 

 tance, when not obscured by the clouds of smoke which 

 rise up from that hive of manufacturing industry. 

 J To this place George Stephenson first came as a 

 brakesman in the year 1805. He had not been long 

 in his new place, ere his wife died (in 1806), shortly 

 after giving birth to a daughter, who survived the 

 mother only a few months. George deeply felt the loss 

 of his wife, for they had been very happy together. 



