American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-05-09

which rolled along hurrying me az last win SUCH
extreme velocity into unknown regions OF darkness
that began to suppose that it had oy some acc'oeh'
broken loose from its retard,ng checks. These aP
prehensions were IT, reased on receiving no answer
from the boy TO my oudest inquiries. he 'ignt
OF day now seemed to be streaming tor the last tme
upon my eyes through the already distant aperture
Of the mines. resembling the pale light OF s'ar
seen through the opening OF dark cloud. he I'M
prudence OF having put myself into TINS shuoti"n
without even making an inquiry as to the result
seemed Tor few moments somewhat aggravated by
the idea that the unchecked impetuosi,y of the pom
derous machine like the unruly steed OF John Gil
pip would pass the t5foper stopping place, and
launch me over the brink Of some perpendicular
shaft. There being however no escape, 1t only re-
NAMED to await 10 patience the result, watching the
massy rocks, Of the root the lights distributed al
long distances in the passages threw an occasional
CLEAN upon them giving to their indented surfaces
the appearance Of dark shadows fitting rapidly past
the face at distance Of only lew inches above it,
In this manner the wagons rolled down the passage
or tunnel beneath the hill for above half of mile
in regular line Of descent until, the velocity they
bad acquired, was gradually checked by a rise oil
the rail road and they stopped gently themselves
beneath vast vault of solid rocks. number OF
miners appeared here at work about the mouth o.
shaft, sunk perpendicularly TO the depth OF 2lo
feet
attracted by the bright fires glowing beneath the
boiler Of huge steam engine. The rudy glare OF
light shining through the half opened doors OF the
furnace particularly illuminated the rocky sides
and roof OF the gloomy cavern. The chimney oil
this furnace, the engineer stated, is dug out 10
the surface Of the ground a perpendicular height
OF 1876 feet before it discharges The smoke into the
open air, near the summit OF the hill above the
mine. The surface Of the ground at this spot is
upwards oil 400 feet above the lowest depth OF this
coal nine.
The unexpected sight OF steam engine in these
subterrsneous regions at depth oil nearly 200 ieet
in the earth, with its ponderous balance wheel and
machinery all in motion, pumping the water and
raising Goals from the abyss OF the perpendicular
shaft, upon looking over into which from the brink
objects visible in the darkness; the noise oil
the rolling of the gons over the iron roads; the
moving lights, and dscofdant voices OF the miners
rising at times above the other sounds-all conspire
to produce sensation Of surprise as ii laoorng IN
der the delusion Of dream. The descent 10 the
bottom OF the perpendicular shaft when lowered
down by the rope connected with the steam engine
is rapid, TO create a rush Of air as it strong
current of wind blowing upwards from the
mine almost as one OF the miners observed sufii
rent to lift the hat from the head.
The lowest veins of coal are about three yards in
thickness. AS fast as The Goals are dug, the work
men put them into small boxes or wagons, on four
iron wheels fitted TO light rail ways, running from
tue spot where the miners digging, to the loot
Of the perpendicular shaft. Each OF these small
wagons contain about FIVE hundi ed weight of Goals.
and is easily moved two or three hundred yards to
he bottom OF the perpendicular shaft, where they
are rolled upon light wooden platform, which is
instantly raised by the engine. -Four OF these small
boxes or wagons are placed upon one OF the large
wagons IN the cavern near the steam engine 10 be
drawn out Of the mine upon the ascending rail road
Observing the rocks forming the sides and root
covered with white substance Of singular appear
ance, and inquiring the cause OF 1t, one OF the mi
ners replied, that it whitened by the dreadful
explosion that happened few weeks before, BY
which twenty six men we're instantly killed. The
earbonated hydrogen gas was fired ny the careless.
of one Of the workmen, who opened The door
OF one oil the safety lamps inventedh by Sir Humphrey
Davy The light in the safety lamp is secured in
wire eauze, the meshes of which are fine as
to cut off he communication ol the i9ned gas, as
il is philosophlay accounted for, by reducing the
Temperature between the cold iron wires too low for
combustion to be transmitted past them. Complete
success has attended the experiments made with
the safety lamp even when nme, sed in the strong
est mixtures Of the inhamnable gas. A most i'm
pottant benefit has been bestowed upon the miners
by the Introduction Of this little safety lamp the in
yention OF which may Justly enue Sir Humphrey
Davy, the rank of one OF the greatest beneactors
OF mankind. II is not so much the effects of the
fire as the viruent rush Of air attendant these
plpsions, that proves destructive TO the miners
whose only safety is in throwing themselves fla
upon the floor Of the mine to avoid being dashed
agains the sides Of the passages The miners in
cur numerous other risks attendant upon the opera
tons OF mining and deprive themselves OF the com
Forts OF living above ground Tor the small compen
sation Of SIS Cd per day. After listening to The re
cital OF the catastrophe OF the explosion, wilhou
much delay, procured lad for guide, and glad
ly commenced my return to the cheerful light o
!he sun.
The Goals after being drawn out are discharges