The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-04-19
Blasting in Q Coal Mine.
From The scientific American.

"Down in q coal mine" il . locality
which, although immortalized in popular
air ground out az the rate Of some twenty
times q day by EheeEy hand organs under
our windows, IL not the most inviting place
In the world to exc out ones existence.
We descend the shaft with disAgreeable
feeling of going, We know not whittier,
save somewhere into the depths Of black
pit which yawns beneath us. Once At the
bottom, there ls damp oppressive feeling
in the air the rock overhead drips dirty
water down upon us, and occasionally an
icy stream crawls down our back, sending
disAgreeable Ahudder from head 10 foot.
of course We get bewildered the light
from the little lamp in our oil skin hat is
very dim and smoky, and casts . sort Of
uncertain radiance for about three feet in
advance, throwing great black shadows
which leave US in . kind Of unpleasant
doubt whether or not We shall suddenly
step into some abyss and disappear forever
into the bowels Of the earth
We tread through countless leads, now
scramhlng over timbers, then compressing
ourselves into incredibly small compass IN
order 10 crawl through the narrowest Of
openings There IA q conglomeration Of
coal dust and mud under foot that sticks
to our shoes ike glue. We trip over the
rails, and bruise every square inch Of our
bodies against the rough angles Of the rough
walls, while our hands and faces, within q
very few minutes, partake Of the somber
hue Of our surroundings.
Soon we encounter n party Of miners,
rough hardy looking men, far healthier
than we should believe would be the case
with beings whose labor is carried IN away
from the light of day. They are preparing
a blast, our guide tells us, and we draw
near to watch the operation, but speedily
retire in dismay at the apparently careless
handling Of the powder in close proximity
to the unguarded flames Of their lamps.
The men manifest no concern, and all are
coolly smoking and chatting.
Now, the charges are ready, and one of
the miners lights the fuse from his pipe.
We scramble precipitately to a safe posi-
ton in total disregard of either dirt, vet,
or bruises; and then, in state Of suspense,
We stop our ears and wonder whether the
smoke will leave u entirely or only par
italy suffocated. The men lounge lazily
out Of the way, forming little group by
themselves ss the artist has sketched
them in the engraving-and puff quiet "
ut their pipes.
A Hash-then deep mufied explosion
which echoes through the long caverns, and
is followed by the rumbling and crashing
of the falling debrss-clouds of dense sui
phurOus smoke hill the chamber, rising up
the roof and curling away toward the shaft.
We get down close to the floor with .
handkerchief very grimy one BY this
time-Over our nose and inwsrdly yearn
for one breath of fresh air Meanwhile
the blasters wait until the smoke disPersea,
and the atmosphere becomes less sitting;
then they resume work Some bile the
detached bits Of coal in heaps, and others
nil tine tubs which travel ON the rails i'm
the foreground of our picture. Then the
mules are signalled for, and we can hear
the noise of their hOofs approaching, min
gled with the sound Of blows and an
alarming chorus Of expletiVes on the part
OF the drivers. The animals are attached
TO the tubs, and, after arguing some time
with their attendants, mule fashion, by
drumming on the wagons with their heels,
refusing to stir, or manlfesting mn uncon-
qaerable dlaposltion to lie d0wn, thay ara
at length persuaded, through the agency
of club or by being banged about ths
head with o lump Of co1i, that rSsistsncs
is usclesa, when they reluctantly start ID
4 on slow ioR tFot We follow them 70
the shaft, leaving the miners swinging
their picks or hammering q their drills,
apparently careless Of the dark heavy a.
nlosphefe around them.