Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-28
AT OTHER CEMETERIES.
Photographs by Flash Light in the Mann
moth Cave and in Mines.

photographs by Flash Light in the Mann
moth Cave and in Mines.
WHO EVER THOUGHT OF TAKING
w photographs in a coal mine, thousands of
feet under ground? OF course pictures could
only be made under such conditions by The aid
of flash light. Even with such assistance the
production of them is attended with most seri-
Gus difficulties. The air Is so moist as TO cloud
the lens of the camera; fine coal dust is afloa. in
the confined atmosphere 80 thickly as to be
very much in the way. and there is total lack
of such contrasts of light and shade as are ordi-
narily essential to good results. For these and
other reasons very few photographs have been
secured IN mines up to the present time
BY far the best ones ever taken were obtained
recently by Miss Frances Benjamin Johnston of
Washington.
A few weeks ago she visited the '.Kohinoor'
colliery in Pennsylvania and took number Of
flarh-Eght pictures in the depths. A whole day
was consumed in procuring three negatives
In the first place it was necessary to find suita-
BILE spots fer making them. and it was abso-
lutely requisite that the localities chosen should
be free from fire damp. Otherv isc, when the
J f:Ish-hsht was set off, an explosion might have
B beer anticipated. 1t is no joke 10 PLAY with
lire in a mine. These precautions having been
duly attended to. photographs were made Of great
/ breasts of coal. showing the miners at work
( upon them. One two narrow escapes were
7 had by the camera and its owner from falling
/ chunks OF carboniferous rock.
: MY pictures taken in the coal mines were
| very successful indeed said Miss Johnston to
/ a STAR writer Yesterday. '.Obviousv work
! under such conditions has its limitations. From
( the 'Kohinoor colliery | went to the Mammoth
/ cave in Kentucky. where / hoped to get some
| good flash-light photographs of the interior.
| Many photographers had previously tried in
( vain 20 accomplish the same thing. was in
formed. somewhat TO my discouragemen., that
one professional had set of S26 worth Of fash
powder III single attempt for the purpose Of
obtaining sufficient illumination. You see, in
| those great subterrannean caverns il is difficult
| 10 illuminate more than a small space with a
flash light. / had with me only twelve ounces
I of powder. which utilized to great advantage
"The hash-light powder L used was three
quarters magnesium and one-quarter chlorate
| of potash OF course did not carry il ready
mixed. because in that condition il will go off
/ spontaneously with the slightest concussiou.
What did was to mingle the desired quantity
of magnesium and potash in a piece of news
paper when 1 was ready TO take q picture.
/ Then twisted the newspaper and set fire 10
both ends of it. Nothing could be more simple,
and my results will speak for themselves. Here
j. a scene in the bridal chamber. which, a.
you will observe, shows every pebble on the
floor. / took about twenty views altogether
including the best known spots that are ex-
hibited to tourists. Not least interesting Of the
number is a photograph of one of the stone
huts in which. some years ago. fifteen people
far gone IN consumption lived for while,
hoping 10 find a cure for their disease in the
dry air Of the cave. They all died subsequently,
some OF them not surviving to see the light OF
day again"