Scenes And Incidents From The Life Of A Practical Miner
With A Treatise On The Ventilation Of Coal Mines

39 away. My descent was slow, but comparatively safe until I landed at the bottom; there I became immersed in a body of carbonic acid gas, compressed on the water by the pressure of the atmosphere. As soon as I alighted on the bottom amongst the water and stytlie the candles were put out as if dipped in water; by this I discovered my risk, yet in my movements, and disturbing the water, a vast number of frogs went leaping out in all directions, which induced me to believe that danger was not imminent. I was, however, soon taught a different lesson, by advancing towards the drift, and stooping to enter, I inhaled a dose which, was nearly enough; I got back into the centre of the shaft, and had strength to shout up to those at bank to draw me away imme- diately, which they instantly obeyed; but, by the agitation and move- ment of my body I broke up the hitherto compressed volume, which rose to a higher expanse, and compelled me to breath once or twice more the deadly poison ; I now became powerless and unconscious of my state and position. In this condition, they drew me up the pit, fifty fathoms dee}), in. imitation of and as if a dead man, my arms hanging down by my side, and my head reclining on my shoulder. On arriving at the top, they treated me as if dead. A blacksmith and farrier lived close by, who came with a bottle of castor oil, and put the neck of the bottle into my mouth, and had me laid on my back, while he patiently poured drop by drop into me; when at length by agitating my body and the operation of tlie oil, they succeeded in restoring animation and consciousness, I began to vomit and gradually come round, though a long time feeble and dizzy like. I relate this for the purpose of instructing others who may be exposed to the risk and danger for their livelihood, as I myself was, to describe the symptoms and first sensations felt, when similarly situ- ated; the first effect is an internal fulness, as if the lungs were inflated beyond the power of action; the second is a sleepy dizziness, with an inclination to lie down, which leads on to death, if they do not retreat at the feeling of the first symptoms; yet you feel no pain, nor thought of dying; you give up life, and quit this world in that state of unconscious- ness. I once saw a man under the influence of excited feelings rush into a headway’s (‘nd standing stagnant, filled with pure carbonic acid gas; at the first breathing, or inhalation of the deadly poison, he dropped on the spot as if shot. He was only four yards in, and another young man and me being on the spot we dived in for him, and got him out alive, although nearly dead ; fbi' diving it is, and must be so to succeed in it; for, believe me, if ever you breathe, and it be pure carbonic acid gas, I am afraid you’ll breathe no more; and why doubt my statement? Hear what an author says on the subject of breathing:—“ By the rise of the breast-bone in man, and the descent of the diaphragm, room is afforded for forty-two inches of atmospheric air at every drawing in of the breath. A deeper inspiration will give room for more than twice this quantity.” Now, imagine a man so situated as to be compelled to inhale forty-two cubic inches of pure and rank poison. What are we to expect will be the consequences but instantaneous death. These were about the last of my adventures in connection with Kitty’s drift. Often do my reflec- tions accuse me for the daring risks I exposed myself to, without pros-