332 Mr. Buddle on Mining Records. 



No accidents happened during this period, between 1810 and 1815, from 

 the steel mill, although in cutting out (drifting in) the crept workings, they 

 were exclusively and extensively used. This may be attributed, I conceive, 

 to the great quantity of stythe, or carbonic acid gas, which was generated 

 in the crept workings, as well as the carburetted hydrogen. The colliers 

 soon discovered that " the foulness bred in the crept workings was not so 

 keen as that made in the whole coal." 



The accident which happened on the 5th August, 1818, occurred under 

 the following circumstances : — 



Two men and two boys were employed in drifting in the creep in the 

 G Pit, and were using the Davy lamp. One of the men, Wm. Reay, ex- 

 tinguished his light while trimming his Davy, and sent the boy, John Elli- 

 ott, to the " stationary" light in the fresh air, to re-light it. The boy was 

 returning with the lamp, and had arrived within 20 yards of Reay, who 

 being impatient, called to him to make haste. The boy began to run, but 

 fell, and all were instantly enveloped in fire. Poor Reay survived the ac- 

 cident several hours, and told me those particulars — he was quite calm and 

 collected, although in the greatest agony, his mouth, wind pipe, and lungs 

 being burnt, as well as his body. 



I was anxious to ascertain the cause of this accident, and on proceeding 

 to the spot, found that when the boy Elliott had fallen, the Davy lamp had 

 struck against the corner of a tram-way plate, and bulged the copper ring 

 on the inside of the wire gauze cylinder, which keeps it firmly pressed 

 against the brass screwed collar that attaches the gauze cylinder to the bot- 

 tom of the lamp. By this blow an aperture was made, large enough to ad- 

 mit my penknife blade, and through which there can be no doubt the 

 explosion passed. No more fatal explosions happened in the Main Coal Seam. 

 I have probably been too prolix in narrating those accidents, but my ob- 

 ject is, to shew what may be accomplished by perseverance in mining 

 affairs, under the most unfavourable prospects and discouraging circum- 

 stances. 



Nothing could be more discouraging than the series of accidents which 

 happened during the first few years after the commencement of the col- 

 liery; yet, after having surmounted those difficulties, by dint of steady 



