Tells of the Great Mine and of a Royal Dive under the Sea.
Botallack, to the dark depths of which we are now about to descend1, is the most celebrated2 mine in the great mining county of Cornwall. It stands on the sea coast, a little more than a mile to the north of St. Just. The region around it is somewhat bleak3 and almost destitute4 of trees. In approaching it, the eyes of the traveller are presented with a view of engine-houses, and piles of stones and rubbish, in the midst of which stand a number of uncouth5 yet picturesque6 objects, composed of boards and timber, wheels, ropes, pulleys, chains, and suchlike gear. These last are the winding7 erections of the shafts11 which lead to the various mines, for the whole region is undermined, and Botallack is only one of several in St. Just parish. Wherever the eye turns, there, in the midst of green fields, where rocks and rocky fences abound12, may be seen, rising prominently, the labouring arms, or “bobs,” of the pump and skip engines, and the other machinery13 required in mining operations; while the ear is assailed14 by the perpetual clatter15 of the “stamps,” or ore-crushing machines, which never cease their din8, day or night, except on Sundays.
Botallack, like all the other mines, has several “shafts” or entrances to the works below, such as Boscawen Shaft10, Wheal Button, Wheal Hazard, Chicornish Shaft, Davis Shaft, Wheal Cock, etcetera, the most interesting of which are situated16 among the steep rugged17 cliffs that front and bid defiance18 to the utmost fury of the Atlantic Ocean.
From whatever point viewed, the aspect of Botallack mine is grand in the extreme. On the rocky point that stretches out into the sea, engines with all their fantastic machinery and buildings have been erected19. On the very summit of the cliff is seen a complication of timbers, wheels, and chains sharply defined against the sky, with apparently20 scarce any hold of the cliff, while down below, on rocky ledges21 and in black chasms22, are other engines and beams and rods and wheels and chains, fastened and perched in fantastic forms in dangerous-looking places.
Here, amid the most savage24 gorges25 of the sea and riven rocks—half clinging to the land, half suspended over the water—is perched the machinery of, and entrance to, the most singular shaft of the mine, named the “Boscawen Diagonal Shaft.” This shaft descends26 under the sea at a steep incline. It is traversed, on rails, by an iron carriage called the “gig,” which is lowered and drawn27 up by steam power. Starting as it does from an elevated position in the rocks that are close to the edge of the sea, and slanting28 down through the cape29, outward or seaward, this vehicle descends only a few fathoms31 when it is under the ocean’s bed, and then its further course is far out and deep down—about two-thirds of a mile out, and full 245 fathoms down! The gig conveys the men to and from their work—the ore being drawn up by another iron carriage. There is (or rather there was, before the self-acting brake was added) danger attending the descent of this shaft, for the rope, although good and strong, is not immaculate, as was proved terribly in the year 1864—when it broke, and the gig flew down to the bottom like lightning, dashing itself to pieces, and instantly killing32 the nine unfortunate men who were descending33 at the time.
Nevertheless, the Prince and Princess of Wales did not shrink from descending this deep burrow34 under the sea in the year 1865.
It was a great day for St. Just and Botallack that 24th of July on which the royal visit was paid. Great were the expectation and preparation on all hands to give a hearty35 welcome to the royal pair. The ladies arrayed themselves in their best to do fitting honour to the Princess; the balmaidens donned their holiday-attire, and Johnny Fortnight (see note 1) took care, by supplying the poor mine-girls with the latest fashions, that their appearance should be, if we may be allowed the word, splendiferous! The volunteers, too, turned out in force, and no one, looking at their trim, soldierly aspect, could have believed them to be the same miners who were wont36 to emerge each evening through a hole in the earth, red as lobsters37, wet, ragged38, and befouled—in a word, surrounded by a halo of dishevelment, indicative of their rugged toils39 in the regions below.
Everywhere the people turned out to line the roads, and worthily40 receive the expected visitors, and great was the cheering when they arrived, accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, the Earl of Mount Edgecumbe, Lady de Grey, Lord and Lady Vivian, General Knollys, and others, but louder still was the cheer when the Princess rode down the steep descent to the cliffs in a donkey-carriage.
The Botallack cliffs themselves, however, were the central point, not only of the interest, but of the grandeur41 of the scene, for here were presented such a view and combination as are not often witnessed—nature in one of her wildest aspects, combined with innumerable multitudes of human beings swayed by one feeling of enthusiastic loyalty42. Above, on every attainable43 point, projection44, and eminence45, men and women clustered like gay flies on the giant cliffs, leaving immense gaps here and there, where no foot might venture save that of a bird. Midway, on the face of the precipice46, clung the great beams and supports of the Boscawen Diagonal Shaft, with the little gig perched on them and the royal party seated therein, facing the entrance to the black abyss—the Princess arrayed in a white flannel47 cloak trimmed with blue, and a straw hat with a blue ribbon round it, and the Prince clad in miner’s costume. Underneath48, a dizzy depth to gaze down, lay the rugged boulders49 of the shore, with the spray of the Atlantic springing over them.
Deafening50 was the cheer when the gig at last entered the shaft and disappeared, and intense the anxiety of the vast multitude as they watched the descent—in imagination, of course, for nothing could be seen but the tight wire-rope uncoiling its endless length, and disappearing like a thin snake down the jaws51 of some awful sea-monster that had climbed so far up the cliffs to meet and devour52 it! Now they are at the shore; now passing under the sea; fairly under it by this time; a few minutes more and they have reached the spot where yonder seagull is now wheeling above the waves, wondering what new species of bird has taken possession of its native cliffs. Five minutes are passed—yet still descending rapidly! They must be half a mile out from the land now—half of a mile out on the first part of a submarine tunnel to America! “Old England is on the lee,” but they are very much the reverse of afloat; solid rock is above, on either side and below—so close to them that the elbows must not be allowed to protrude53 over the edge of their car, nor the head be held too high. Here even royalty54 must stoop—not that we would be understood to imply that royalty cannot stoop elsewhere. Those who dwell in Highland55 cottages could contradict us if we did! Presently the rope “slows”—the lower depths are reached, and now for some time there is patient waiting, for it is understood that they are examining the “levels,” where the stout56 men of Cornwall tear out the solid rock in quest of copper57 and tin.
After a time the thin snake begins to ascend58; they are coming up now, but not so fast as they went down. It is about ten minutes before the gig emerges from that black hole and bears the Prince and Princess once more into the light of day.
Yes, it was a great day for Botallack, and it will dwell long in the memories of those who witnessed it—especially of that fortunate captain of the mine who had the honour of conducting the Princess on the occasion, and of whose enthusiasm in recalling the event, and in commenting on her intelligence and condescension59, we can speak from personal observation.
But, reader, you will say, What has all this to do with our story?
Nothing—we admit it frankly—nothing whatever in a direct way; nevertheless, indirectly60, the narrative61 may possibly arouse in you greater interest in the mine down which we are about to conduct you—not by the same route as that taken by the Prince and Princess (for the Boscawen Shaft did not exist at the period of our tale), but by one much more difficult and dangerous, as you shall see.
Before we go, however, permit us to add to the offence of digression, by wandering still further out of our direct road. There are a few facts regarding Botallack and mining operations, without a knowledge of which you will be apt at times to misunderstand your position.
Let us suppose that a mine has been already opened; that a “lode62”—that is, a vein63 of quartz64 with metal in it—has been discovered cropping out of the earth, and that it has been dug down upon from above, and dug in upon from the sea-cliffs. A shaft has been sunk—in other words, a hole excavated—let us say, two or three hundred yards inland, to a depth of some forty or fifty fathoms,—near the sea-level. This shaft is perhaps nine feet by six wide. The lode, being a layer of quartz, sometimes slopes one way, sometimes another, and is occasionally perpendicular65. It also varies in its run or direction a little here and there, like a wildish horse, being sometimes met by other lodes, which, like bad companions, divert it from the straight course. Unlike bad companions, however, they increase its value at the point of meeting by thickening it. Whatever course the lode takes, the miner conscientiously66 follows suit. His shaft slopes much, little, or not at all, according to the “lie of the lode.”
It is an ancient truism that water must find its level. Owing to this law, much water accumulates in the shaft, obliging the miner to erect9 an engine-house and provide a powerful pumping-engine with all its gear, at immense cost, to keep the works dry as he proceeds. He then goes to the shore, and there, in the face of the perpendicular cliff, a little above the sea-level, he cuts a horizontal tunnel about six feet high by three broad, and continues to chisel67 and blast away the solid rock until he “drives” his tunnel a quarter of a mile inland, which he will do at a rate varying from two to six feet per week, according to the hardness of the rock, until he reaches the shaft and thus provides an easy and inexpensive passage for the water without pumping. This tunnel or level he calls the “Adit level.” But his pumping-engine is by no means rendered useless, for it has much to do in hauling ore to the surface, etcetera. In process of time, the miner works away all the lode down to the sea-level, and must sink the shaft deeper—perhaps ten or twenty fathoms—where new levels are driven horizontally “on the lode,” and water accumulates which must be pumped up to the Adit level, whence it escapes to the sea.
Thus down, down, he goes, sinking his shaft and driving his levels on—that is, always following the lode ad infinitum. Of course he must stop before reaching the other side of the world! At the present time Botallack has progressed in that direction to a depth of 245 fathoms. To those who find a difficulty in realising what depth that really is, we would observe that it is equal to more than three and a half times the height of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, nearly four times the height of St. Rollox chimney in Glasgow, and considerably68 more than twice the height, from the plain, of Arthur’s Seat, near Edinburgh.
When the levels have been driven a considerable distance from the shaft, the air naturally becomes bad from want of circulation. To remedy this evil, holes, or short shafts, called “winzes,” are sunk at intervals69 from the upper to the lower levels. These winzes are dangerous traps for the unwary or careless, extending frequently to a depth of ten or fifteen fathoms, and being bridged across by one or two loose planks70. Ladders are fixed72 in many of them to facilitate progress through the mine. When a miner drives the end of his level so far that the air will not circulate, a new winze is usually sunk down to him from the level above. The circulation is thus extended, and the levels progress further and further right and left until they occupy miles of ground. The levels and shafts of Botallack, if put together, would extend to not less than forty miles, and the superficial space of ground, on and beneath which the mine lies, is above 260 acres.
When the lode is rich, and extends upwards73 or downwards74, it is cut away from between levels, in a regular systematic75 manner, strong beams being placed to support temporary platforms, on which the miners may stand and work as they ascend. When they have cut all the lode away up to the level above them, a false timber bottom is made to replace the rocky bottom of the level which is being removed. Thus, in traversing the old workings of a mine one suddenly comes to great caverns76, very narrow, but of such immense height above and depth below that the rays of your candle cannot penetrate77 the darkness. In such places the thick short beams that were used by the old miners are seen extending from side to side of the empty space, disappearing in dim perspective. Woe78 betide the man who stumbles off his narrow plank71, or sets his foot on an insecure beam in such places! Where such workings are in progress, the positions of the miners appear singularly wild and insecure. The men stand in the narrow chasm23 between the granite79 walls above each others’ heads, slight temporary platforms alone preserving them from certain death, and the candles of those highest above you twinkling like stars in a black sky.
In these underground regions of Botallack, above three hundred men and boys are employed, some of whom work occasionally by night as well as by day. On the surface about two hundred men, women, and boys are employed “dressing” the ore, etcetera.
Other mines there are in the great mining centres of Cornwall—Redruth, St. Just, St. Austell, and Helston, which are well worthy80 of note—some of them a little deeper, and some richer than Botallack. But we profess81 not to treat of all the Cornish mines; our object is to describe one as a type of many, if not all, and as this one runs farthest out beneath the sea, is deeper than most of the others, and richer than many, besides having interesting associations, and being of venerable antiquity82, we hold it to be the one most worthy of selection.
With a few briefly83 stated facts we shall take final leave of statistics.
As we have said, the Boscawen shaft measures 245 fathoms. The ladder-way by which the men ascend and descend daily extends to 205 fathoms. It takes a man half an hour to reach the bottom, and fully84 an hour to climb to the surface. There are three pumping and seven winding engines at work—the largest being of 70 horse-power. The tin raised is from 33 to 35 tons a month. The price of tin has varied85 from 55 pounds to 90 pounds per ton. In time past, when Botallack was more of a copper than a tin-mine, a fathom30 has been known to yield 100 pounds worth of ore, and a miner has sometimes broken out as much as 300 pounds worth in one month.
The mine has been worked from time immemorial. It is known to have been wrought86 a hundred years before it was taken by the present company, who have had it between thirty and forty years, and, under the able direction of the present manager and purser, Mr Stephen Harvey James, it has paid the shareholders87 more than 100,000 pounds. The profit in the year 1844 was 24,000 pounds. At the termination of one period of working it left a profit of 300,000 pounds. It has experienced many vicissitudes88 of fortune. Formerly89 it was worked for tin, and at one period (1841) was doing so badly that it was about to be abandoned, when an unlooked for discovery of copper was made, and a period of great prosperity again set in, during which many shareholders and miners made their fortunes out of Botallack.
Thus much, with a humble90 apology, we present to the reader, and now resume the thread of our narrative.
Note 1. The packmen are so styled because of their visits being paid fortnightly.
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1
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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abound
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| vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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ledges
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| n.（墙壁，悬崖等）突出的狭长部分( ledge的名词复数 )；（平窄的）壁架；横档；（尤指）窗台 | |
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chasms
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| 裂缝( chasm的名词复数 )； 裂口； 分歧； 差别 | |
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chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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gorges
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| n.山峡，峡谷( gorge的名词复数 )；咽喉v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的第三人称单数 )；作呕 | |
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descends
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| v.下来( descend的第三人称单数 )；下去；下降；下斜 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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burrow
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| vt.挖掘(洞穴)；钻进；vi.挖洞；翻寻；n.地洞 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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lobsters
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| 龙虾( lobster的名词复数 )； 龙虾肉 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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toils
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| 网 | |
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worthily
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| 重要地，可敬地，正当地 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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attainable
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| a.可达到的，可获得的 | |
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projection
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| n.发射，计划，突出部分 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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protrude
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| v.使突出，伸出，突出 | |
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royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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lode
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| n.矿脉 | |
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vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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quartz
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| n.石英 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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67
chisel
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| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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70
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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71
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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72
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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73
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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74
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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systematic
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| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
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76
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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77
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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80
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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82
antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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83
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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85
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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86
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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shareholders
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| n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 ) | |
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vicissitudes
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| n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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90
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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