Mr. M. Dunn on the Explosion of Harraton Colliery. 243 



slid an end by the violence of the pressure, which was corroborated by 

 the devastation observable all around, and especially about the bottom 

 of the working pit. As the deranged state of the ventilation preclud- 

 ed the use of candles, and as at this period the invaluable safety lamp 

 of Sir H. Davy was not invented, we were obliged to have recourse to 

 steel mills. 



About the pit bottom and in the stables the fire seemed to have been 

 uncommonly severe, the horses being in a great measure roasted, and 

 hurled into the most frightful positions. After passing through the 

 stables, where all seemed undistinguished destruction, we were not a 

 little surprised at a snort, the paddling of feet, and a familiar neigh, 

 from one of the ponies, which scampered off at our approach. Owing 

 to a trick of slipping his collar, he seems to have been out of the stables 

 at the time of the explosion, and thereby saved his life ; the narrowness 

 of his escape may be guessed from the singed state of both his mane 

 and tail. Part of the hay had escaped destruction, which, with the 

 water falling down the shaft, supported him in prime condition. As 

 little or no fire seems to have existed at the period of shutting up the 

 pit, and as the workings were extended over some hundreds of acres, no 

 want of respirable air would be felt. The pony was preserved for many 

 years afterwards. 



