is necessary for the miner to know this part of his business. It is by
the sound that he determines when it is ready to fall. If he is
ignorant of this part of his work, he would be in great danger of
getting killed from the coal falling unexpectedly. "Well," said I, "if
this coal is about ready to drop, had I not better get out of here
into the entry, so that I may be out of danger?" "No," was his reply;
"just crawl up behind that row of props and remain in the 'gob' until
after the coal falls." In obedience to his command I cheerfully got up
behind the props and embraced that pile of dirt. He struck the wedges
a few more blows and then darted behind the props out of danger. No
sooner had he got out of the way than the coal came thundering down.
"Now," said my room-mate "go out into the entry and bring in the
buggy." "All right." And out I went on my hands and knees. I soon
found my way into the entry, but found no buggy; so back I crawled
into the room and reported. At this my instructor crawled out to see
what had become of that singular vehicle known as a mining buggy. I
followed after. I did not want to remain behind in that coal mine. I
did not know what might happen should I be left there in that dark
hole alone. After we had reached the entry where we could stand erect
my teacher pointed to an object which lay close to our feet, and said
to me, "Man, where are your eyes?" "In my head," I calmly replied. "Do
you see that thing there?" "Of course I see that thing." "Well, that
is the buggy." "Indeed!" I exclaimed. "I am certainly glad to know it,
for I never would have taken that for a buggy." It had a pair of
runners which were held in their places by a board being nailed across
them. On this was a small box; at one end there was a short iron
handle. On our knees we pushed the buggy into the room, took up the
hammer, broke up the coal into lumps we could handle, filled up the
small box, dragged it out into the entry and emptied it into a heap.
This is called "buggying" coal. It is the most laborious part of