Here we are in 1870. It's cold, dark, and dusty in this deep underground coal mine in Glace Bay, Cape Breton Island.

I see a miner. He's carrying a little miner's lamp and a pickaxe. His face is covered with soot, and he looks tired. I can see it's hard work to chop away at the coal wall all day. Am I seeing things or did I just see a pony passing by with a cart full of coal pieces? Yes, I'm certain that's what it was. Ponies were used to transport carts of coal out of the mines.

This coal dust is beginning to affect my breathing. A miner sprinkles powdered limestone to keep the coal dust down. They call this rock dusting.

Miners have to be careful with their little coal miners' kerosene lamps. A spark can set off an explosion from coal dust and methane gas. There is always the danger of cave-ins too.

Let's fast-forward again.