142 
very fiery” mine six explosions had taken place in twenty- 
eight years, causing the death of 140 persons.* 
Some may be inclined to sum up and dismiss the subject 
with — You must have good ventilation.” But the reports, 
in this respect, as to some of those places where the worst 
explosions of late years have occurred, show the compatibility 
of ventilation deemed generally “ good” with fatal deficiency 
in the hour of need. At Haswell the ventilation is reported 
as ‘‘most admirable.”t The ventilation at Jarrow seems 
to have been good in the estimation both of the scientific 
visiters and of the workmen. Dr. Playfair says, “ The 
testimony of those at work in the pit four hours previous to 
the explosion shows it to have been free from fire-damp, and 
well ventilated.”! John Atkinson, a hewer, who lost a son, 
torn limb from limb, says, “ The air was very good.”§ Jacob 
Barnborough lost a son by the explosion, yet he says, “ The 
air in the pit was very good ; I had a son lost, but I acquit 
the masters of all blame in his death; there was nothing 
wrong in the ventilation.”! Emanuel Dufty, “ The pit was 
quite chokeful of air, and in beautiful working order.”^ 
Another, “ The air was quite good, and plenty of it.”** 
Yet, a few hours later, forty persons were deprived of 
life. At Bisca, the ventilation was avowedly in a transi- 
tion state, but no pains nor expense were spared; and a 
workman says, “ There is famous air in the pit.”tt At 
Coppull, Mr. W. W. Smyth, the Government Mining 
Geologist, says, “ I found the ventilation in very good 
order, and have no reason to think that it had been neg- 
lected before the accident occurred.”!! Ventilation, there- 
fore, such as is deemed “ good” and “ sufficient,” does not 
by itself produce security. 
* Report on Darley, p. 17, Note by Dr. Playfair, 
t Philosophical Magazine, vol. xxvi., p. 22. f Report, P. 16. § P. 17- 
11 P. 18. ^ P. 19. ** P. 18. ft Abiram Gething, p. 26. || P. 49. 
