it Was Uncomfortably Warm

Northern Advocate, 2 September 1947, Page 2

it Was Uncomfortably Warm

Questioned about the possibility of fire through spontaneous combustion, the guide promptly led the way through a closed part of the woi'kings to an incipient fire deep down in the mine.

Smoke and steam were rising from behind a big heap of rubble and it was uncomfortably warm near it. Fortunately the fire was so remote from the present workings that no danger existed. All the available coal from that area had been won some time ago and the fire was not a menace to the safety of the men at this stage. Back at the bottom of the drive Ihe day shift gathered. It was knock-off time.

At this point a big hole as large as an ordinary living room had been gouged out of the rock. Seemingly incongruous, a telephone was fixed up against one wall. In groups, lights came bobbing along the roadway until 20 or more men had gathered together. The combined lamps lit the surroundings up quite clearly. Waiting for the trolley to come rolling down the drive, they joked and yarned. A cheerful lot even though they knew the mine was doomed and that the place from which they had earned their livelihood for years was slov/ly being claimed by the irrepressible black water.

There was lighthearted reference to the cracks which had been heard during the day and there was a general exchange of banter. But. at the same time, there was something beneath it all. Down came the trolley with room for 16 men. There was a rush for seats.

I was the 17th and had to wait with the remainder while the trolley was hauled up and then run down again.

This time there was plenty of room and the trolley was dragged up the steep incline, The tiny spot of daylight which seemed to be miles away, grew bigger and bigger, the darkness grew less intense and then faded into sunlight. The afternoon shift waited at the head of the drive, and watched the day shift heading for the bathhouse. On to the trolley they clambered and down into the inky darkness they disappeared to continue the battle against the rising waters.