CHAPTER XXIII.

ON MINES IN GENERAL.

Perils of the Miner’s Life—Number of Casualties in British

and Foreign Coal Mines—Life in a Mine—Occurrence of

Ores—Extent and Depth of Metallic Veins—Mines frequently

discovered by Chance—The Divining Rod—Experimental

Borings—Stirring Emotions during their Progress—Sinking

of Shafts—Precautions against Influx of Water—Expense—

Shaft Accidents—Various Methods of working Mineral

Substances—Working in Direct and Reverse Steps—Working

by Transverse Attacks—Open Quarry Workings—Pillar and

Stall System—Long Wall System—Dangerous Extraction of

Pillars—Mining Implements—Blasting—Heroes in Humble

Life—Firing in the Mine of Rammelsberg—Transport of

Minerals Underground—Modern Improvements—Various Modes

of Descent—Corfs—Wonderful Preservation of a Girl at

Fahlun—The Loop—Safety Cage—Man Machines—Timbering and

Walling of Galleries—Drainage by Adit Levels—Remarkable

Adits—The Great Cornish Adit—The Georg Stollen in the

Hartz—The Ernst August Stollen—Steam Pumps—Drowning of

Mines—Irruption of the Sea into Workington Colliery—

Hubert Goffin—Irruption of the River Garnock into a

Mine—Ventilation of Mines—Upcast Shafts—Fire Damp—

Dreadful Explosions—The Safety Lamp—The Choke Damp—

Conflagrations of Mines—The Burning Hill in

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