Mr. Bvddle on Mining Records. 329 



rations of phosphorus were tried, but without any beneficial result. Con- 

 siderable benefit was derived from the light of the sun being thrown down 

 the shaft by a common looking glass, but this sort of light was only avail- 

 able during the sun shine in clear weather. It was of material service, 

 however, during this difficult and dangerous operation. This mode of 

 throwing the rays of the sun down the pit was stumbled upon by mere 

 accident. It happened one day that a carpenter was employed about the 

 head-framing at the top of the pit, when in using a bright Hand-saw, he 

 turned the blade of it, by accident, to such an angle as to throw a flash of 

 light down the shaft. The men below were frightened out of their wits 

 almost, thinking the pit had fired, and called to be drawn away with all 

 speed. The cause of their alarm was, however, discovered, and suggested 

 the idea of using the looking glass. 



The progress of the work was very tedious and slow under those circum- 

 stances, particularly at this season, being the depth of winter, and the steel 

 mill began again to be partially used. 



On the 14th February, 1786, however, another explosion happened in 

 the B Pit shaft, when John Robinson, the master enginewright, and two 

 others were very severely burnt, but no lives were lost. This again threw 

 the steel mill into discredit and disuse at the time, and the work proceeded 

 in a great measure in the dark as before. 



None but the most daring and intrepid colliers would venture down the 

 pit, which, towards the bottom, was filled with the wreck of the brattice, 

 and rubbish which had fallen down from the effects of the several explo- 

 sions. 



The mode of proceeding was to send two men down together in a sink- 

 ing corf, with a rope round their bodies to attach them to the chain. They 

 grubbed about and filled the corf with their hands as well as they could, 

 and then came to bank with it. This trip constituted their shift, for which 

 they were paid 5*. each, with an allowance of liquor. Sometimes the pay 

 was much higher. 



Matters proceeded in this manner when the bodies of Soulsby and Friz- 

 zel were found in March, and in May the water was drawn down below 

 the roof, so as to allow a current of air to pass through between the two 

 pits. 



