330 Mr. Buddle on Mining Records. 



The work of cleaning out the pits and restoring the ventilation now 

 went on with more spirit, and steel mills were employed as the only avail- 

 able light that could be used underground, and all went on well until the 

 9th June, 1786, when another explosion took place at the steel mill, in the 

 workings near the bottom of the A Pit. There were only four or five 

 men down at the time, and none of them were materially injured by the 

 explosion ; but in riding up the shaft, a man of the name of Morgan, being 

 exhausted by the effects of the after-damp when near the top, slipped his 

 hold of the rope, and was killed by the fall. 



This was the first explosion which was distinctly ascertained to have 

 taken place at the steel mill. John Selkirk, the overman, was playing the 

 mill at the time, and saw the gas ignite at the sparks most distinctly. 



This explosion did little injury to the works, but it threw a damp over 

 the spirits of the workmen, and paralyzed their exertions for some time. 



Nevertheless, the work proceeded, and at length on the 19th of July, 

 1786, coal-work was resumed at the A Pit. 



This pit continued regularly at work, while the B Pit shaft was under- 

 going a more effectual repair, till the 3d of November, when an explosion 

 took place in the B Pit, by which six men were killed. This explosion 

 happened at the steel mill. These men were employed in holing a wall 

 for an air communication between the workings of the two pits, and were 

 necessarily in an explosive mixture. They had no choice, but either to 

 work in the dark or venture on the steel mill — they preferred the latter, 

 and the result was fatal to them. This place got the name of the " Dark 

 Wall" ever after, as after this accident the wall was holed without light of 

 any kind. 



Notwithstanding the alarm which this accident occasioned, the A Pit 

 continued in work, and the B Pit was also got to coal-work on the 7th 

 January, 1787, the ventilation having been improved by placing a power- 

 ful furnace at the bottom of the B Pit, and other measures. 



The working of the colliery now proceeded regularly, and the people 

 began to get confidence in its safety, when on the afternoon of the 21st 

 August, 1787, the clay's work being nearly finished, and most of the men 

 and boys had come to bank, the B. Pit exploded, and killed Wm. Forster. 



