Pit Workers in the Old Days #13: Underground Guard House for Fire
1958 - 1963

Mukashi no Yamabito #13: Konai Hiban
[Pit Workers in the Old Days #13: Underground Guard House for Fire]
25.5 x 35.6 cm Ink Painting

Main Text
In the end of the Meiji era (around 1907), open-flame lamps (kantera) were thrown out of pits and safety lanterns were adopted, because gas explosions occurred at single coalfaces very frequently. The guard house for fire was placed at a safe area underground in each pit and an old miner was assigned to look after safety lanterns and issue cut tobacco to miners there. The cut tobacco issued was of the lowest quality and called Nadeshiko, sold at 3 sen (0.03 yen) for 5 momme (18.75 g). The old man picked up 5 or 6 pipe bowls of the tobacco at a time and issued it to each miner. 3 or 4 pipes were prepared for the miners, each being tied with a string to the counter. However, since lots of miners gathered together at one time, some miners who came later than others and had to wait long would demand others to quickly pass the pipes to them, crying loudly, "Banjiri, banjiri! (Hurry up and pass the pipes to the ones at the end!)"
It was said that it took some time for heavy smokers to get accustomed to this system (in K and S Coal Pits), because they had been able to freely smoke underground, each carrying a tin tobacco case (tonkotsu) during the time when lamps were used.

Text at the Top Middle
The tobacco was issued limitlessly, and so crafty miners received and smoked it many times, and even underage miners got into a bad habit of smoking.

Text at the Top Left
"Hey, hurry up and pass the pipes to the ones at the end before the smoke leaks from your bottoms."


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

<<Last pictorial record    Next pictorial record>>

<<Last 10 items  121 | 122 | 123 | 124｜125 | 126 | 127 | 128 | 129 | 130 |   Next 10 Items>>

124／306