40

COAL MINES OF

February 7, 179another explosion tookplace at this time at Washington, a populousvillage about six miles from Newcastle, whichkilled seven persons.

October 11, 1799, another occurred at Lum-ley, a short distance from Lumley Castle, theseat of Lord Scarborough, which killed thirty-nine persons.

Another, October 6, 1805, at Hepburnmain, on the south bank of the Tyne; abouthalfway between Shields and Gateshead, whichkilled thirty-three men and boys.

Another at Oxclose, Nov. 2Q, in the sameyear, which destroyed thirty-eight persons.

After this period more detailed particularsoccur ; and it is unnecessary to present anything more than the simple fact, to show thetrue extent of these calamities. But the re-flective mind will contemplate with regret thelong train of attendant miseries entailed uponexplosions; while a reference to the maps ofDurham and Northumberland will point outthe comparatively small district which hasbeen subject to these repeated melancholy oc-currences : and the reader will discover in theperusal of the following statements, that asecond explosion took place at Hepburn in18J4; so that by_a common calculation of pro-