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COAL MINES OF

Mr. Patterson and Birkbeck,* both of whomdeclared ‘ that if the candle had communi-cated with the circumambient air on the spotwhere the experiment took place, the minewould have been blown to pieces.’

(Signed) ££ H. H. Holmes.

££ Wm, Patterson.

“ Jno. Birkbeck.”

Dr. Clanny’s lamp is not, however, now theonly invention of this sort held up as a secu-rity against explosion, as within the last fewmonths a great variety of lamps on differentconstructions have become candidates for popu-larity, though every one must admit that hewas the first who discovered the means of dis-

* Patterson and Birkbeck having witnessed the effectsof several destructive explosions, and knowing the dangerof those mines which had not been, worked or had lightsin them for two years, were at first naturally reluctantto venture to the staple with the lamp. When Pattersonhowever reflected upon the security of our former trialshe hesitated no longer ; and it was pleasing to observe hisand Birkbeck’s satisfaction at the result of this experiment.Patterson afterwards took me to a different part of themine, and, holding the light nearly on the floor, showedme, through a trap door, an old waste of one hundredacres, filled with foul air,