II. A Letter toncernlng a. tolliery that took. Fire, and 
was blown up near Newcaftle, killing 69 ^er/ons, 
on Auguft 18, 1708. Communicated hy the (^e- 
yerendPr. Arthur Charlett, MaJlerofUniwetfity 
College »n Oxford. 
Chefter Le Street^ O^ober 8 , 1708 . 
O N WednefdAy the i 8 th Day of Augufi laft, at 
fieldj in the Parifh of Chjler Le Street, about 
Three of the Clock in the Morning, by the fudden E- 
ruption of a violent Fire, which difcharged it felf at the 
Mouths’of three Pits, with as great a noife as the firing of 
Cannon* or the loudefl: Claps of Thunder, threefcore 
and nine Perfons were deftroyed in one inftant. Three 
1 of them, viz. two Men and a Woman were blown 
quite up from the bottom of the Shaft, fifty feven Fa- 
thom deep, into the Air, at a confiderable Diftance from 
the Mouth of the Pit. One of the Men with his Head 
almoft off, and the W oman with her Bowels hanging a- 
bout her Heels. 
The Engine, by which the Coals were drawn up, and 
is of a great weight, was removed and cafi: afide by the 
force of the Blafi: ; and what is more wonderful, the Fifli, 
which were in the Rivulet, that runs twenty Yards un. 
der the Level, and at as a -great a diftance from th® 
; Mouth of one of the Pits, were in great Numbers taken 
\ up dead, floating upon the Water, by feveral of the In- 
■ habitants. Now whether'this happemd by the violent 
Concuflion of the Air,' or they were choaked with the 
Sulphur, that, to be fure, in abundance difpers’d it felf 
abroad, I mult leave to you and the Ingenious Gentle- 
H h 2 mefii 
