Spanish legends from the mine

THE COAL MINING THE COAL MINING MUSEUMMUSEUM

By: Sergio and By: Sergio and AitorAitor

INSIDE THE COAL MINEINSIDE THE COAL MINE

DIGGING FOR COALDIGGING FOR COAL

MINERS AT WORKMINERS AT WORK

TROLLEYS AND HEAVY TROLLEYS AND HEAVY MACHINES IMACHINES I

THE TROLLEYS FIRST USED ELECTRICITY BUT IT WAS VERY THE TROLLEYS FIRST USED ELECTRICITY BUT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS (SPARKS + GAS!!). DANGEROUS (SPARKS + GAS!!).

TROLLEYS AND HEAVY TROLLEYS AND HEAVY MACHINES IIMACHINES II

THEN THEY USED DIESEL, AND NOWADAYS THEY USE THEN THEY USED DIESEL, AND NOWADAYS THEY USE BATTERIES.BATTERIES.

GOING DOWN THE CAGE GOING DOWN THE CAGE (8 (8 MTS/’’)MTS/’’)

By: Tania & By: Tania & IrisIris

The mineThe mine TThe mine has got two he mine has got two

parts: the older one parts: the older one made of wood, and made of wood, and the new one made of the new one made of iron. On the roof iron. On the roof there are two parts: there are two parts: one bar and two one bar and two posts.posts.

PipesPipes There are two pipes onThere are two pipes on the roof. One pipe the roof. One pipe carries water, and thecarries water, and the other one carries air. other one carries air.

DistributionDistribution The mine is made of The mine is made of principal and secundary principal and secundary galleries. Between eachgalleries. Between each floor or gallery therefloor or gallery there are 50 metres.are 50 metres.

Access to the Access to the minemine

In the past, the miners wentIn the past, the miners went down to the mine sitting on adown to the mine sitting on a stick tied to a rope or in stick tied to a rope or in stairs made in the rocks.stairs made in the rocks. Then, they went down on Then, they went down on an elevator at 8 an elevator at 8 metres/second.metres/second.

Ventilation in the Ventilation in the minemine

There were three types of There were three types of ventilation machines: the first ventilation machines: the first one, used the horse strengthone, used the horse strength applied to an axis and a wheel; applied to an axis and a wheel; the second one, used a horsethe second one, used a horse to move the wheel; and the to move the wheel; and the last one, was a miner with a last one, was a miner with a pedal system.pedal system.

Taking water Taking water outout

Dirty water was extracted from the galleries Dirty water was extracted from the galleries with a gear actioned when a man walked on with a gear actioned when a man walked on it. Then they put water and air through the it. Then they put water and air through the pipes.pipes.

TrolleysTrolleys First, trolleys worked with electricity, then First, trolleys worked with electricity, then

with diesel, and finally, with batteries.with diesel, and finally, with batteries.

OF THE MINE

The mule was a very intelligent and clever animal, and very strong too.

They worked very hard and they died in the galleries.

The mules could smell the toxic gas and they warned the accident, and they refused to work.

When they smelt the miners’ sandwiches they caught them with their mouths and then they ate it.

A local legend: The miners didn’t like eating salmon every day, because it was part of their salary.

There was so much salmon in the river, that the miners were fed up with it.

In the seventies miners were very rich and they lit their cigarettes with bank notes (Another urban legend!!).

The boat (in Asturias ``chalana´´) was used to

transport coal along the river.

The boats went from La Chalana bridge (Laviana) to Sama and then by train to

Gijón.

The men who drove the boats were called “Chalaneru”.

“Chalaneru” is a famous love song between the boatman

and his girlfriend.

There are two basic There are two basic dangers with gas :dangers with gas :

Gas can cause big Gas can cause big explosionsexplosions

And miners sometimes And miners sometimes breath this gas.breath this gas.

Lung diseases caused by gas Lung diseases caused by gas were very common before the were very common before the

1970 ´s1970 ´s

In order to detect gas, miners In order to detect gas, miners used a small cage with a bird used a small cage with a bird

insideinside

If the bird died it If the bird died it was because was because there was gas there was gas in the galleryin the gallery..

««Dead man walking» Dead man walking» IIThe “Dead man walking” was a man The “Dead man walking” was a man

sentenced to death who was given a chance sentenced to death who was given a chance to live.to live.

««Dead man walking» Dead man walking» IIII He had to go down to He had to go down to

the mine with a long the mine with a long torch and wet clothes torch and wet clothes to test if there was gas to test if there was gas in the galleries.in the galleries.

«Dead man walking» «Dead man walking» IIIIII If the “Dead man walking” left the mine alive If the “Dead man walking” left the mine alive

three times,he was given his life.three times,he was given his life.

The Security Brigade (security team) is very important in the coal mine. They help miners when there’s an accident. They’re on duty 24 hours per day

The Security Brigade team includes the best and the fittest coal miners. Their working hours include rescue exercises and physical training. They have high salaries because their activity is extremely risky.

When there is an accident the Security Brigade uses thermal cameras, oxygen kits and special equipment to work in dangerous atmospheres.

In the history of mining there were a lot disasters like the Aller accident in 1889 with 30 deaths. They are mainly produced by gas explosion, big rocks, collapse or landslides.

A tribute to eleven Check coal miners who died in an accident in 1999.

By Alexis Iglesias

• Dynamite was used to cause explosions and take coal. At present, people use plastic explosives and detonators.

• Dynamite was made with gunpowder in the laboratory.

• The biggest explosives company in Spain was called “Explosivos Río Tinto” (ERT).

• ERT was a British company that owned the mines in Huelva (Andalucia).

• Julio Romero de Torres was a famous Spanish painter who worked for ERT.

• He used to paint “explosive” women