Commencement of the works—1880. On one occasion, on the 9th February, the suction of the pump drew Lambert so fast against the perforated wind-bore or suction-piece, that it required three men upon a rope to pull him away.
We were compelled, after this experience, to give up all thoughts of repairing the broken H-piece for the present.
On the 16th February, Lambert, the diver, reported that he found the door in the tubbing of the Iron Pit was not properly closed, the rubber with which it was faced being turned up on one side, and allowing a considerable quantity of water to leak through.
The pumps were stopped on the 16th February, to allow the water to rise in the pit, and Lambert opened the door, put the rubber straight, and closed it again. This was all done in two hours, and the pumps started again. On the 20th we succeeded in reducing the water in the Iron Pit to 20 feet above the bottom of the shaft, and for a short time we had strong hopes of being able to clear the pit of water and repair the broken pump; but, on the 21st, another accident happened to No. 2 pump—one of the tappets being bent. In two hours a new tappet was put on, and the pump started again.
I determined to remove two more 15-inch pumps from the Hill Pit, and fix them in the Old Pit to increase the power there; but on the 2nd March the top valve of No. 2 pump jumped out of its seat again.
