Coal mining was a dangerous and back breaking occupation, especially from 1870 until the 1930s. During this period all mining activity was completed by hand. When the miners needed to drill a hole to "shoot" the coal with dynamite or gunpowder, they had to use a breast auger. The U-shaped bracket fits over the chest of the miner and the long drill fits into that piece. The men would push against the wall of coal with their chest and use their hands to turn the drill to make a hole in which to put the gunpowder. When the whole length of the drill was inserted in the hole, it was changed out and longer drills were used to go deeper. The same design is used today except the augers are electric.
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| One section of a breast auger that was used in the early coal mines of Scott County. |
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| This U-shaped bracket was held against the miner's chest to put pressure on the drill. |
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| This catalog page shows how the breast auger pieces fit together. Miners often had to buy all of their own tools that they used to work. |
Images 1 and 2 courtesy of the author. Image 3 found on Ebay.
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