In Wallford mine, in which little Dick worked, there were employed 250
grown men, 75 lads, and 40 young boys. The hewer's dress is generally a
flannel shirt and drawers, and a pair of stout trousers, a coarse
flannel waistcoat and coat, the last long with pockets, a pair of
broggers (worsted stockings without feet), and a leathern cap. These at
once get as black as coal-dust can make them.

There are different cranes on the rolley-ways, near the side cuttings,
and each is under charge of a lad, called a crane-hoister, whose
business is to hoist the baskets brought to him by the putters on to the
rolleys, and to chalk down the number he cranes on a board. When the
train of rolleys reaches the shaft, the full corves are hoisted up, and
empty ones let down, which are placed on the rolleys, and carried back
for the hewers to fill.

No spirits are allowed in mines, but as the heat and the work makes the
people thirsty, tubs of water are placed at intervals, at which they can
drink. In their long journeys, the putters stop to "bait," and are well
supplied with bread and cheese, and bacon, and cold coffee or tea.

The miner has not only to fear choke or fire-damp, but sometimes water.
A mine has, therefore, to be drained. A well or tank is dug in the
lowest level, into which all the springs are made to run. A pump is
sunk down to it through a shaft with a steam engine above, by which all
the water is pumped out.

It may be seen that the working of a mine requires the very greatest
care. If this is not taken, the roof may fall in and crush the
labourers; or fire-damp may explode and blow them to pieces, and perhaps
set fire to the mine itself and destroy it; or black or choke-damp may
suffocate them, as the fumes of charcoal do; or water may rush in and
drown them. A lamp, invented by a very learned man, Sir Humphrey Davy,
is used when there is a risk of fire-damp. It is closely surrounded
with very fine wire-gauze, through which neither the flame of the candle
nor the gas can pass, yet the light can get out almost as well as
through the horn of a common lantern.

Before any workmen are allowed to go into the pit in the morning,
certain officers, called "over-men" and "deputies," go down through
every part that is being worked, to see that all is safe. If anything
is wrong, or doubtful, the inspecting deputy places a shovel across the
place, or chalks a warning on the blade and sticks it in the ground,
that it