Connecticut western news., 1873-04-04
Blasting in a Coal Mine.

"Down in a coal mine is a locality which, although immortalized in pop ular air ground out at the rate of some twenty times day by wheezy hand or gans under our windows, is not the most inviting place in the world to eke out one's existence. We descend the shaft with a disagreeable feeling of go. ing, we know not whither, save some where into the depths of a black pit which yawns beneath us. Once at the bottom, there is damp oppressive feel ing in the air the rock overhead drips dirty water down upon us, and occa- sionally an icy stream crawls down our back, sending disagreeable shudder from head to foot. Of course we get bewildered the light from the little lamp in our oil skin hat is very dim and smoky, and casts a soft of uncertain ra- diance 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 trudge through countless leads, now scrambling over timbers, then compressing ourselves into incredibly small compass in orderto crawl through the narrowest of openings. There is a conglomeration of coal dust and mud under foot that sticks to our shoes like glue. We trip over the rails, and bruise every square inch of our bodies against the sharp angles of the rough walls; while our hands and faces, within very few minutes, partake of the somber hue of our surroundings.
 Soon we encounter aparty of miners, rough, hardy-looking men, far healthier than we should believe would be the case with beings whose labor is carried on away from the light of day. They are preparing 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 the lamps. The men manifested no concern, and are all coolly smoking or chatting.
 Now, the charges are ready, and one of the miners lights the fuse from his pipe. We scramble precipitately to 8 safe position in total disregard of either dirt, wet, or bruises; and then, in 8 state of suspense, we stop our ears and wonder whether the smoke will leave us entirely or only partially suffocated. The men lounge lazily out of the way, forming little group by themselves, and puff quietly at their pipes.
 A fash-then deep muf1ed explo- sion, which echoes through the long caverns, and isfollowed by the rumbling and crash of the falling de6ris-clouds of dense sulphurous smoke fill the chamber, rising up to the roof and cur ling away toward the shaft,
 We get down close to the floor with 0 handkerchief very grimy one by this time-over our nose and inwardly yearn for one breath of fresh air. Meanwhile the blasters wait until the smoke dis perses, and the atmosphere becomes less stifing; then they resume work. Some pile the detached bits of coal in heaps, and others fill the tnbs. Then the mules are signalled for, and we hear the noise of their hoofs approaching, min gled with the sounds of blows and an alarming chorus of explosives on the part of the drivers. The animals are attached the tubs, and, after arguing some time to with their attendants, mule fashion, by drumming on the wagons with their heels, refusing to stir, or manifesting an unconquerable disposition to lie down, they are at length persuaded, through the agency of a club or by be- ing banged about the head with lump of coal, that resistance is useless, when they reluctantly start off on a slow jog trot. We follow them to the shaft, leaving the miners swinging their picks or hammering at their drills, apparently careless of the dark heavy atmosphere around dthem.-E'rchange