Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1853-02-01
Gov. N1imin's Coal Fire.

- .sI !.
Our venerable friend, the sill vivacious
clear headed Col. Davis, of Delaware, gave
US, a few years ago, rather amusing &C.
count of the first successful attempt of a
very distinguished old gentleman, Gov.
M.ffln, 10 ignite pile of anthracite COAL
The date of the transaction (more's the pily)
has escaped us, but the facts of The case are
somewhat after This lashon {. h.
Gov. Mfflin, of Pennsylvania, lived on
and owned fine estate in Mlfflin county, in
which county was discovered from lime 10
lime, any quantity of black rock, as lhe
farmers then called the unknown anthracite.
OF course The old governor knew something
more about stone coal and had slight ink :
ling Of its character. AT hours of leisure
The Governor was in The habit Of making ex-
perimenls upon The black rocks, by subject.
ing shem TO a wood fire upon his hearlhs;
bur the hard and almost hinl-like anthracite
of that region, resisted with most obdurate
perlinacity the repeated attempts Of The Gov.
10 set it on fire. Ii finally became a joke
among the neghboring Pennsylvania Ouch
farmers and Others Of The vicinily, that Gov.
Mfflin was studying OH, inc theory 10 sci
his hills and fields on fire, and burn out the
obnoxious black rock and ,bodlders. Bul
despite the jlbes and jokes Of his dogmalical
friends, The old Gov. suck TO his expert
lnenls, and The result produced, as most
generally il docs, through perseverance, and
practice new and useful principle. ~...g
., One cold and wnlry day Gov. Mfllin was
costly pcrched up in his easy chair before
The great roaring blazing hickory ffes over.
hauling ppnderous Slale doc umenls and
deeply engrossed in The affairs ol The people
when his eve caught the outline Of big
black rock boulder upon The manle,piece
before him; il was n beautiful specimen o
vnriegated anthracite, with all the hues o.
The rainbow D beaming from its ucquerec
angles The Governor 'lho'I heap o
ihis specimen Of the black rock; buI drop
ping all The documents Of Sale pell mel
upon the floor, he seized The piece Of an
rhracle, ard placing il very carefully upor
lhe blazing cross sticks of The fre,i III,
most absorbed manner, watched the opera
lion. To his great delight The black rocl
was soon red hot. He called his seryan
man, sable son Of Africa, or down ,Sou'l
Congo. - ssa ,-7rJhl ..i lo sau
'lsaac!' alnuus'
Yes, sab; Psr hcah sab n eas
Isaac, run oul 10 The carriage house ant
GET a piece of that black rock.495 .8,n tad.
if'Yes, sab, Use gone.' 9gi89sy % s.. laa
In a ,winkling The nego obtained hug
piece of anthracite, and handing it over Il
The Gov. il was placed in favorable posi-
tion alongside the first lump, and the Cover
nor's eyes fairly danced polkas as. he wi,
messed the fact of The TWO pieces Of blac
rock assuming red hot complexion.
.Isaacl' again exclaimed the. Gov.
Yes, sah.' .04 5sh 79 e.sg.ar . tal
~ Run out and get OnoiherlumP. a
Yes, sah.' ~ ,e .roL h4n.er,l 9d
y A third lump was added tolthe fire. Th
company in the Governors private parlo
was augmented by the appearance Of3th
Governors lady, and oIher portions, Of II
family, who, seeing Isaac Juggling In II
rocks. come 10 the conclusion that The Go
eYDor was going clean crazy over his expe
ineniS. Il was in vain Mrs. Mifflin and q
daughters tried TO suspend the functions
the chief magistrate over lhe roaring fire.
go away, woman what do you kno
about minerulogy, ignilpg or an.hroci'eY-
.Go'away, close The doors, Pyc got the roc
ION fire; III make them laugh ai'oiher side
their mouths at my black rock fres.'as ye
In, the midst of The excitement, as q
Governor was perspiring and exultpg oy
his FREY onerntion. carriage drove I'D, q