The Sun.
London, England, 1823-11-20 00:00:00

SATE SAFETY LAMP.

Since the last number of the Patriot was pub 4
}kited, we have felt great anxiety upon the sub-
.
ject of explosions in coalmines, and as the Co-
roner's inquest upon the bodies of the tinfortunate
sufferers at ltainton Colliery hits been published
in un extended and authenticated form, in the
Durham newspapers, are consider it our bounden
duty to lay before. our readers the following ex-
tracts from ItEt.:l' Cyclopedia, vol.. 38 article,
,
Wire Gauze Seely lamp. ,
" About that time (1009) Dr. Reid (nanny, a scientific and
ingenious physician et Sunderland, commenced a series of ex-
periments with a view to insulate the gas which might ex-
plode in a lamp, anti cut off its communication with the
surrounding air in the mine. With this intent he construct-
ed a lump in which the combustion of the oil is support-
ed by the ordinary air of the coal-mine supplied by' a pair
of bellows, and putting through a stratum or reservoir Of water below the light ;at the same time a orti of.the
already in the lamp is driven through anotherp
reseron ypir in th
upper part above the light, anti thus the pir a-applied' mei ex-
plode within the body of the lamp • without communiekting the
flame to the esornal air, however high it may he pliarged with
earburetted hetirogen gas. The moment the air enters the /amp it comet m contact with the flame, anti' eonsequendy a
small portion. at' it can be exploded, instead ..of the Whole c 073.
tents of the lamp. ;by thin tome several obvious V31430$ aro secured. The air piing in a brisk current close by the filmic
carries the 'snuff with it, so that the light is alwiiya clear wc4
steady. The other parts of the lamp were air tight, • and the
whole made very strong, with u glass nearly half an inch thick.
to prevent it from being broken by any common accident.
is capable of being managed by a boy at a much less expence • than the steel mill. This lamp,
. which for strength • a44.lee 41-
curity front explosions and accidents, exceeds any4,other that
has once been invented, excited little attention among the coal
workers where it was first made known. In this lamp, however
strong may be the currents of air in the mine, the fiame,taninat
be, affected by them, and The most dangerous blower may, be
approached in perfect safety.' When an explosion lasts place
in the lamp it extends no farther, and the fianie is instantly eat-
tinguisinal ; and wherever, there is sufficient atmospheric air g)
support life, this lathp will afford a safe and an abundant light,
&c. To Dr. Clanny, however, the first discovery of a safety:.
lamp is undoubtedly due, and we have rio hesitation in assert.
big our belief that his original Safety-latnp,is the:most *acme
of any that have since been invented, wher..dangeroits parts the mine are to be explored, on acconnt •of ita more complete
insulation, and its grotto. strength. his lamp hadialsor the
merit of first huggeathig the possibility of insulating tbe
flame in the different lamps 1014 have since been con-
lumen:Al."
These extracts will suffice to demonstrate the great vitlitie of
the original safety.lamp of pr. Clantly, and we, area? ell, 3,ar muted that this lamp,' from the superiority Of light afforded
it, as well as from as undirtputett safety when used In
pheres of tirti.damp in coal mines, will yet be . thelityourifes,
and come into general use. And. further, we do not hesitate ttt
say that wherever the originel safetylamp is used, aodartgei•
to the miner or to the coal mine alit ensue. We have letll4
that the identical original safely-lamp of . Dr. ('k 1. is newte;
'the Library of the Lit entryand tines'
entitle, which, in our opinion, to the very place ;.here i eere t ought
to be depoiited, to stave as a model fluni which others e sy t.e
constructed, and also to perpetuata, 4.llefairi:llne tiot i:.v 38 tsti
We find, upon referring to dates, that t s stifety4aa,p , wee
carried by the inventor into a field 'oratinditiliare ut 'fire.tbinap
at the explodine pMin, even- before .any other atafetylarapi,feas
constructed. We neeti.ticarcely remark that thathignuti
ititop MO be constructed either upon a very atrial, or very larger
scale, to suit any particular case.—( C P
arii3k ei ;et, Nowt**
ter ..)