The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-09-19
A Century Fire.


At Parkgate, near Sheffield, most
extraordinary phenomenon can be seen
by all interested in colliery wonders.
About one hundred years ago, several
Parkgate gentlemen sank shaft known
as the Old Basset Pit. They at once
found a rich seam of cOal-the Barn
sley bed, nine feet in thickness. This
coal was worked in a very careful
fashion for several years-great blocks
and pillars of coal, containing many
tons, being left to support the roof in
place of modern wooden props. For
several seasons everything proceeded
smoothly; but one day the pit caught
fire. Nobody can tell how it was igni
nited; and the ancient miners appear
to have been utterly dismayed by the
unexpected disaster, as they left the
pit to burn at will, instead OF closing
up the shaft and COMMENCING anew as
they might have done. Many years af-
terward the burning pitt was again
approached by the lord of the manor,
Earl Fitzwilliam, who began to work
out coal in the locality. A shaft was
sunk at some distance from the Old
Bassett Pit, and the coal in the direc
ton of Rawmarsh was got at-the new
workings being kept at what was con-
sidered safe distance from the fiery
pit. Everything proceeded satisfactorily
till 1868, when a miner named Parkin
descended the Bank Pit shaft-the
name by which the new shaft was
knOwn-and was greatly alarmed to
find fire only ten feet from the pit bot
tom. He at once gave the alarm-the
principle officials were upon the spot,
and efforts made to eXtinguish the fire.
Parkin's flamesn we're soon put out;
=
on fire, and as the Earl's Collieries ex-
fire would spread over the entire work
ings. The Old Bassett shaft was at
once filled up; the old Bank shaft was
also closed third shaft, the Top
Stubbin Pit, was also filed up. A long
and thick wall was built to separate
the Old Bassett workings from the
newly opened portions Of the. pit. Ex-
plOratiOns had to be conducted by
crawling on hands and knees in the
midst of suffOcating smoke; but the
wall was at length completed at tre-
mendous expense and great labOr-it
being 1000 yards in length, and from
one foot to five feet thick. CrOss-walls
were also built to cut off airways,- and
so help in choking the fire. Thick iron
pipes, with iron plugs, were inserted
| III JllS wall dU 1ut6LNttIS Ol uLty JdA US
so that views could be obtained of the
interior of the Old Bassett workings
looking through these pipes. The
great wall Occup pied the time of a large
body of workmen for whole year. A
new " futtrellf-the entrance to coal.
mine-had to be constructed. It had tt
be brick -arched above and below will
strong brick wallis. Entering by thif
place, the wall is inspected daily, to ge
information if the old fire has reached
it in any way. The. last fire was. seel
in 1871, and on being examined las
week, nothing but "black damp" came
through from the Orifces; but the mos
dangerous place-where the workmel
labOred at a great wall at the peril o
their lives-is believed to be the fer,
stronghold. Here the flames are still
believed to be raging, although secure
ly imprisoned by the work of the un
derground heroes who built its prison
walls. Until a year or two ago, the far
} mers found that their crops over thi
pit were materially accelerated i
growth by the heat; and the fact tha
this acceleration is not so apparent now
is the strongest proof to professions
) minds that the burning pit has abOu
4 spent it's strength, and after q "lon
fire" of one hundred years.-[Englis
~ Doron1, -.i