National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-03-28
Blasting In q Coal Mine.

"Down in a coal mine is q locality
which, although immortalized in q pop
ular air ground out at the rate OF som,
twenty times day by wheezy hand or
gans under our windows, is not tn.
most inviting place in the world TO ekt
out ones existence. We descend the
shaft with disagreeable feeling OF go
ing, We know not whittier, save some
where into the depths of black phi
which yawns beneath us. Once at the
bottom, there is damp oppressive feel
ing in the air tho rock overhead drips
dirty water down upon us, and occa'
sionally an icy stream crawls down oul
back, sending disagreeable shuddei
from head to foot. OF course we gel
bewildered the light from the little
lamp in our oil skin hat is very dim and
smoky, and casts sort of uncertain ra-
dance 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
COMPRISING 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 labsr is carried
on away from the light of day. They
are preparing blast, oar guide tells
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 prGcipitately to
safe position in total disregard of either
dirt, wet, or bruises; and then, in
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 hash-then deep muffled explo-
sion, which echoes through the long
caverns, and is followed 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
handkerchief-a very grimy one by this
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 sitting; 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 oftheir hoofs approaching, min
gled with the sounds of blows and an
chorus of expletives on the part
of the drivers. The animals are attached
:he 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,
the agency of club or by be-
ing banged about the head with lump
of coal, that resistance is useless, when
they reluctantly start off on 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 them.