Day 4 Morning

Day 4 Morning began at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. We rode through the underground mine, and I made sure to sit on the side closest to the inside wall. Last year when I came, I sat on the other side and it was a challenge to see anything! Marvin was our guide, and he was a lot of fun. He worked in a mine for 24 years. He did a very nice job describing the tools used to make sure the miners' air was safe. Marvin explained that canaries would die after 5 minutes of methane exposure and miners would have 15 minutes to get out. Later methods advanced and lights were used to guard against methane and black damp, or lack of oxygen. We saw how bolts were put into the top to support the ceiling, too. Then we went through the coal town and saw how small the miners' homes were. A three room home was normal, including a kitchen, living room, and bedroom. When kids came into the picture, the living room became a bedroom. Here are some pictures of the mine and the town. The final picture is of a one room shanty for a single miner or man away from his family for the week.