six in the morning
Nothing was done on Friday ; and on Saturday afternoon the mining authorities met again in council . There were experts there now from all parts of the kingdom -- for the extent of the catastrophe had sent a thrill of horror through the land . It was agreed that the earth and staging should be removed next morning early , and that if smoke still came up , water should be turned in from the canal . At six in the morning a number of the leading authorities met at the mine . Men had during the night removed the greater part of the earth , and the rest was now taken off , and the planks withdrawn . At once a volume of smoke poured out . This was in any case expected ; and it was not for another half-hour , when the accumulated smoke had cleared off , and a straight but unbroken column began to rise as before , that the conviction that the pit was still on fire seized all present .