The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-18
sponung OIL.

Pit-hole, Pennsylvania, Is almost as
extraordinary a place AS Chicago, and
would surpass ii had Is hail the ~popula-
ton. A fire broke ont in Pit.hoie the
other day. IL was discovered that
throwing water on the flames only
made it burn more fierceiy. Il appear
ed, on examination, thst the water
having been exhausted in the wells,
gas and oil flowed literally. The Pit
mole Record says.
The FIRE lost all interest except TO
the lOosers Many disbelieyed the &C
count, and would hardly credit their
eyesight, some thinking the oil was put
there for a sell But before long il was
found that two other water-wells aud
come springs had also commenced
spoutinE ol, and incredibly gave way
o belief
The news then spread through the
town like wildire, and every one left
his or her work and went to the spot.
We are all accustomed 10 visit the flats
t. e oil flow from deep, drilled wells;
but it was something decidedly novel
for the oil to return the compliment,
and bring its fluid treasures to our
back doors, from water-Wells only some
sixteen feet deep, 10 say nothing OF the
springs, which were flowing fast.
The wells so far are three in number,
and there are some four or FIVE flowing
springs. They are situated on the west
side of Holmdon street. and il the ear
of John street. The oil is accompanied
10y some gas, although not so much az
the wells on the flats show II was
tested during the day, and the specific
gravity IS forty-two degrees, according
" the United States Petroleum Com
pany's standard.
"rhe water of all these wells and
springs has been considered of a very
good quality until about last Sunday,
when a disagreeable taste was noticed,
which has been increasing ever since
Not the least strange thing is that these
new oil wells are at least $50 feet above
the flats" Perhaps the first ~discoverer
of oil in quantity IN Pit hole City, was
Mr.. John Harris, OF the Bath House,
who discovered several inches of oil on
the tank Of the spring, at six o'clock
yesterday morning.
"The first well struck belongs TO
Mrs. ricketts,, a widow who has
heretofore earned her living by wash
ing. 1t is at the depth Of sixteen feet
and was only pumped at intervals, but
the oil comes freely in answer TO the
pumping, and would fill a barrel in ten
minutes. 1t was not worked then on
account of a difficulty in getting bar
rels to put the oil IN. Mrs. Ricketts,
was offered at first $1,000 for it, and
then 81 600, until at last a gentleman
secured the refusal at s., 900, until this
morning.
MI. LII Hills well was the favor
ite, and VAS pumped very vigorously
during the day. much TO the amuse-
ment of the admiring crowd, who were
more used to seeing a steam engine
with its walking beam and other appa-
ratus pumping oil, instead Of a one
man" power at a pump handle. 1t
filled a barrel in five minutes during
the time il was pumped. OF course it
was necessary to stop the pump every
time a barrel was filed. The owner
refused an offer of $1,000 for the well
This well is t~wenty-three feet deep.
The other belongs TO Mr.. w. H.
Dame, of the United States Laundry,
who got some four or five barrels, and
had 10. stop then because he had no
place to put it in. This well did not
attract so much attention, as it was IN
the house