<<Whistling underground is regarded as very unlucky underground, and I will
not
have anyone doing so when I am u/g. with them. I remember being told off for
doing so by an old miner quite a while ago(!), and he told me that he had
been told off as a youngster for doing same - I believe it has always been
regarded as a bringer of bad 'happenings'. He told me of someone in a mine
who ignored this warning in Weardale in the early 20's and he met with an
untimely end u/g - so be warned. Someone was asking about superstitions a
while ago, so I hope this might be of some use. Regards, Bernard>>
Further to this discussion, several years ago I was involved in a near-miss
during an SRT exploration of the D2 Vein Shaft of Skears Mine,
Middleton-in-Teesdale. One of the cavers whom we had invited persistently
whistled contrary to our pleadings. On reaching the halfway point of his
ascent from the shaft foot, we heard a terrified voice "Get that *******
spare rope down here NOW!!!" The main rope had rubbed rock and frayed off
the outer casing. On that occasion everyone made it back to the level in one
piece. The caver was later killed caving in Mexico.
In the same mine and others round abouts, we have discovered wood/leather
clogs, usually singly but on one occasion a pair, left in an obvious (but now
inaccessible) part of the mine, usually a stope. Opinion has it that this is
was either a gift to recompense for the ore won, or as a charm to placate
mischievous spirits.
MARK PINKNEY
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