DOWN AN IRON MINE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1669, 10 December 1873, Page 4

DOWN AN IRON MINE.

A special commissioner of the Liveiyool Albion, who has been examining the iron mines in North Lancashire in the interests of that journal, writes as follows : — We visited a large number of workings in the Roanheal mine, and at each forebreast the msn seemed equally well made; while a quaint quietness characterised their talk, which was devoid of roughness. Be it also recorded in letters of gold, not a single oath did we hear either in this or any other of the Furness mines. The men while working wear a calico suit, a night-cap, and a peculiar strap around the leg, just below the knee. Their faces and clothes get saturated with the red ochre, but a set of wash-houses is provided where, if the workers choose, they . can change their attire, and refresh themselves. Some of the scenes in the mine were rather strange. In many of the older ways the timber roofing appeared to be in a very tumble-down condition. In a few places we had to crawl some distance, since the ore as well as the old props once supporting drifts above, now worked out, and collapsed, had burst inward the more recent timber, causing 3ome of the. old decayed wood to protrude. Again,, here and there, digging us in the ribs, were rotten props once upright, now bent into gigantic knees. Crouching down on the floor and looking up by the light of your candle, (which is weeping in gusts of greasy tears and well lubricating your vermillion fingers) you seethe ruin of timber that bulges down almost to your head ; while in the hollows and interstices hot beds of fungus swelter, j and groves of furry mould mildew the wood and make it soft and spongy. Yet there is no danger from the overhanging mass. Startled as we feel by the ore now and then crumbling through and trickling on our miner's hat, the guide assures us there can be no risk, since the descent of the roof is always gradual. Of course this collapsing drift is about to be re-opened, and the "course" will be freshly timbered.