Lot 1649
Mining - a 19th century brass steel and hardwood Pentiment stick, 102cm long A Pentiment man would wrap himself in wet rags and crawl along the floor holding a long stick with burning rags on it, ahead of him, and up against the local mine roof. The intent was to burn dangerous pockets of methane before they got large enough to explode. The name `fireman` has been retained to the present day for the man who searches for gas. In some countries he was called the `penitent`, on account of the resemblance of his dress to certain religious orders in the Roman Catholic Church. In many instances, in spite of all precautions, the fireman did not survive the explosion.
