Into the Black: A Descent into Bellingham Bay Coal Mines

While in these parts, we called upon the officers of the Bellingham Bay Coal Company and examined their works thoroughly.

The mines are situated within a few rods of the shore line of Bellingham Bay, near the town of Snohomish [Note: Text says 'Snohomish' but context implies Bellingham area; however, OCR error likely for 'Bellingham' or nearby. Given the prompt's instruction to extract location as it happened, and the text explicitly mentions 'Bellingham Bay', we treat the event as happening in that region]. The company first began work there some eighteen years ago, have worked the mine continuously since that time, except when prevented by fires in the mines. Those broke out from spontaneous combustion about every year and a half, until some four years or more ago, since which time there has been no trouble that way. While the fires were raging, regular work would be partially interrupted until by flooding the mines, the fires could be brought under control.

Wm. P. Jones, the present general agent and superintendent, has been in charge of the works there for the past four and a half years. While there he extended every courtesy to us. Took us over the premises occupied by him. His grounds around his residence are laid out with taste and judgment.

On indicating our desire to examine the work underground, he caused Mr. David Lewis, the foreman of the work going on in the mine to go with us... We prepared to descend by putting on a suit of clothes over our others, designed to protect us from the dirt of the mines. Then we passed by the engine house, where all the steam used in working the mines is generated above ground by four very large boilers and carried in pipes to where it is needed for use. Two engines now do the main work of the mine, one of 70, the other of 30 horse power.

The mine has been worked upon two levels... The depth on incline to new gangway is 725 feet. Vertical depth to new gangway (present workings) 317. Length of new gangway 2,480 feet.

When ready to descend into the mine, Mr. Lewis signaled for the stopping of a car descending into the mine... We were gradually lowered to the level of the new gangway 800 feet below the level of the sea. We sat down on a pile of lumber until we were somewhat accustomed to the intense darkness of the mine. Then with lighted candle in hand, Mr. Lewis taking the lead, we started to explore the mine.

The first signs of life found in the mine were two cats. They have been kept there a long time, make no efforts to leave; are very tame, apparently content. Their use is to catch the rats and mice that cut the props and feed upon the mules. Employed underground are two mules, and their two friends the cats.

After being some time in the mine, we experienced no trouble in making our way along the gangway... The sides and top of the gangway are supported by a very solid mass of timber work... There are eighteen breasts, two loading minions to each breast... Some of these chutes reach 2100 feet long, from where the men are now working in the breasts to the gangway, where the coal is loaded on the cars.

The coal is some 15 or 16 feet thick, separated into four layers, by three dirt bands... We climbed our way up one chute of a breast to where two miners were at work preparing a blast, to blast out the coal; then passing by the face of the breast, we started down the other chute back again to the gangway. The bottom of the chute is graded on a regular incline... Upon this flooring of boards, sheet iron is nailed, so that the coal by its own gravity slides down the chute and at the same time keep the iron polished like a mirror.

When we descended to the gangway, Mr. Lewis took the lead, set down on his feet like we see children sliding down a board... He regulated the speed by catching hold of the flaps of the chute, and in scarce no time we were at the gangway again.

The mines are in excellent working order, thoroughly ventilated, no use for safety lights. No fire damp. Not troubled with black damp. Blackdamp is allowed to accumulate in the unworked portions of the mine as a safe guard against spontaneous combustion.