The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-04-03
Blasting in a Coal Mine.

"Down in a coal mine" is a locality
| which, although immortaized u 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 cke ont
ones existence. We descend the shaft
with a disagreeabe feeling of going We
know not whittier, save some where into
the depths of a black pit which yawns
beneath us Once at the bottom. there
is 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 disagree
able shudder from head to foot OF
course we get hewildered the Ii hit from
the little lamp in our oil skin hat is very
dim and smoky, and casts sort of uncer-
tain radiance for about three iect in ad-
vance, throwing great black shadwos
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 scramblng over timbers, then com
pressing ourselves into incredibly small
compass iu order to crawl through the
narrowest of openings. There is a con,
glomeraton o! 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
honl. ~ Il,
minutes, partake of the somber hue OF
our surroundings
Soon we encounter party 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, or guide tells US, and
we draw near to watch the operation, but
speedily retire in dismay at the apparent
ly careless handling Of tie powder in
close proximity to the unguarded flames
of the lamps The men manifested 40
concern, and are all coolly smoking or
chatting.
Now. the charges are ready, aud one
of the miners lights the fuse from his
pipe We scramble precipitely to a safe
position in total disregard of either dirt,
wet or bruises and then, in state OF
suspense. We stop our ears and wonder
ght tn e. IN Dke will leave us entirely or
only tarGaIly suifocated The lnen lounge
luziy outotthe way, forming lirtle group
by themselves, aud puff quietly at their
pipes.
4 fash-thcn a deew muffled explo
sion, which echoes through the long
caverps. and is followed by the the rumb
ling and crash of the falling debris =
clouds oil dense sulphurous .mnke fill the
chamber. rising up to the roof and cur
ling away toward the shaft.
We get down close to the floor with a
handkerchiei-a very Srimy one by this
time-Over our nose and inwardly yearn
for one breath of fresh air. Meanwhile
the bla>ters wait until the smoke dis
perses, and the atmosphere becomes less
sitting then they resume work. Some
pile the detached bits of coal in heaps
and others fll the tubes Then the mules
are signalled for, and We hear the noise
Of their boots approaching Mingled with
the sounds Of blows and an alarming chorus
of expletves on the part of the drivers
The animals are attached to the tubs. aud
after arguing some time TO with their ut
tendants. 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 being banged about the head with
lump of coal that resistance is useless,
when they reluctantly start off no a slow
Jog trot. We follow the to then shaft. leav
Ing the miners swinging their picks or
hammering at their drills, apparently
careless of the dark heavy atmoswhere
around them Exchange.