The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-01-23
THE DEEPEST COALPIT IN ENGLAND.

THE DEEPEST COALPIT IN ENGLAND.
s4 A correspondent of the London Tele-
graph has been down the great coalpit
at Wigan, and writes long account of
what he saw and heard, from which we
extract the following interesting details
H., " 1t is very difficult to realize the
enormous value of Wigan underground.
Looking at the plans of the mines we
mean to inspect to-day, we see that be-
tween the surface and the deepest point
to which the sinkers have reached, there
have been no fewer than twelve worka-
BILE seams of coal. These include the
great seam of camel. The seams are
classed in five different series. First
there is the Ince series, consisting of
four seams-the yard seam, at depth
of eighty-four yards; the four feet
seam, one hundred and thirty-four yards
below the surface; the scven-feet
seam, at distance of one hundred and
eighty-six yards from the surface. With
the exception of that which was named
last, all these seams are exhausted
Below them come the Pemberton series,
with five-feet seam, at depth of two
hundred and seventy yards, and four
feet seam twenty-five yards beneath
Then there is the Wigan series, with it's
five feet, four feet, and nine feet seams :;
the first of which is four hundred and
forty-fve, the second four hundred and
sixty-six, and the third four hundred
and ninety-five yards below the surface.
Lower still, at depth of six hundred
yards, is the famous camel seam, and
now the men are going even below that !;
they have indeed sunk the shaft to the
yard seam of the Orrell series, which is
six hundred and seventy-three yards
below the surface: and are now, night
after night, pushing their way to the
fiery and dangerous Arley seam, which
is here more than eight hundred yards
below ground, although at Hindlcy
they have reached the same coal at a
depth Of three hundred and twenty
yards There are about six hundred
and fifty mon employed at these mines
the Rosebridgc Galleries. Just now
the times are rather bad for GOLFERS
They have not been known to be worse
at any time during the last thirty years.
"After chatting awhile with the man
ager and his son, we made ready for
descent. We do this by doffing the
clothing we ordinarily wear, and DON
ming in its stead very rough miners
dress. The we the managers son and
the writer) walk out, and, calling at the
lamp room, provide ourselves with
lamps, which are somewhat better than
the ordinary Davy.' ....... -
it is necessary to prepare the nerves
for shock. We are going down to the
Camel Mine, depth of six hundred
yards, and the big engine will throw us
that distance in less that a minute. At
a signal there is, as it were, a sudden
withdrawal of the bottom of the cage
beneath our feet, and rapid falling
through dark space; then there is as
sudden a check, and, we feel, not only
as if we had resaincd our footing, but
as if we were being thrust back again
as rapidly as we had been before fall
ing Before time is allowed to analyse
the sensations we have experienced, the
cage touches the bottom, and we STUN
BILE out half dizzy into the eye of the
pit. -'+
Before we leave the pit eye we have
our lamps lit, and then turn to take
stroll into the workings. We are not
long in reaching a little cabin, into
which we step, and while sitting there
we are told some particulars respecting
life in the pit When the men come to
work they obtain their lamps, already
lit, but unlocked, at the pit bank. Then
they descend, and at the pit eye the
lamps are examined and locked. They
are again examined as the men enter
the particular district of the mine in
which they may be employed. Every
day the fireman examines the clothes Of
each miner, to prevent the introduction
of pipes and matches. The law is OBJ
served very strictly. If a man is found
to have the means of striking light
he is sent before magistrate, and
either fined or imprisoned But such
discovery is rarely made at Rosebridge
The authority of the manager is re-
garded, and he himself is personally re-
spccted by the men; and throughout q
large collicry district these mines are
noted for the admirable system of work
ing adopted, and for the skill and wis
dom cnga ged in their management.
I" From talk abOut matters in orn-
eral we, still sitting in this cabin, six
hundred yards below the surface of the
earth, turn to what is more personal,
and l learn that my guide has had his
dangers and his narrow escapes, as all
men must have who have to do with
the getting of coal Once he was in at
an explosion, and of course ran for his
life. The subtle choke damp that pal
pablo white mist, was swifter than HIM
self, and floating all about him, so
numbcd his senses that he sat down,
and felt as if lulled to a gentle, delicious
sleep. Consciousness was fast passing
from him, when his brother, stronger than
himself, dragged him rapidly to the pit
eve, and saved his life Ny friend
thinks that choke-damp is the easiest
and incest possible way of dying
There is no pain-there is simply q
going to sleep, which you have neither
the wish nor the power to prevent"
GEOLOGICAL.