There are several ways of working mines. This one was worked in
squares, or on the panel system. The main roads are like the frame of a
window; the passages like the wood dividing the panes of glass; and the
masses of coal which remain at first like the panes themselves. These
masses are again cut into, till pillars only remain about twelve feet by
twenty-four. These pillars are at last removed, and props of wood
placed instead, so that the whole mine is worked-out.

The men who do the chief work in the mine, that is, cut out the coal
from the bed or seam, are the "hewers." Dick's father was a hewer.
They have only two tools--a short pick, and a round-bladed spade; with a
big basket, or "corve," into which they put the coal, and a gauze-wire
lantern. Suppose a passage first cut; then they hew out chambers on
either side, each about twelve feet wide. The roof of them is propped
up as the hewer works on, till all the coal likely to fall is hewn away.
The hewer's work is very hard; sometimes he kneels, sometimes sits, and
sometimes has to lie on his back or side, knocking away with his heavy
pick. Often he is bathed in wet from the heat, for it is very hot down
in that black chamber, as the wind cannot pass through it.

In some places, where there is no fear of bad gas, and open lights can
be used, the coal is blasted by gunpowder, as rock often is. This,
however, cannot often be done; as the bad gas, called fire-damp, may
come up any moment, and if set light to, go off like gunpowder or the
gas from coal, and blow the chambers and everybody near to pieces.

The cut shows the form of these chambers when the mouth is just being
finished. These chambers are in a very wide seam; but some seams are
only three feet thick, and the men can in no part stand upright. When
all the chambers and passages are cut out in a panel, the pillars of
coal are removed, and pillars of wood put in their stead to support the
roof. Some of the main passages run on straight ahead for two miles
from the foot of the shaft, and the coal has to be brought all this
distance on the rolleys, dragged by ponies or horses sometimes. It
might puzzle some people to say how the animals are got down and up
again. They are let down in a strong net of ropes, and once down, they
do not after see daylight. There are regular stables for them cut out
of the coal at the bottom of the mine, and they seem to like the life,
for they grow sleek and fat.