Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-03-04
4 burning We'll.

A MIGHTY GAS JET FED FROM NATURE LhBoRA.
TORY, THE EARTH-sUMMER HEAT IN MID WIN
TEu--TnlEs PUTTING FORTH THEIR BUDS.
Nine miles from Tarentnm, Pa, IS n well
which was tapped, som9 ten weeks ago, at a
distance of las feet below the surface, while
boring for oil. An officer Of the signal service,
who has just visited the spot says:
The we'll is located in hollow about three
hundred feet wide, between abrupt hills. Our
party came in the vicinity OF the well about nine
O'Clock at night, having seen the vast light
floating in the sky on many dark night on pre-
v,ous occasions thirteen miles distant but when
We came in its immediate influence and saw tho
trees OH either hand lit mp, and their trunks and
and branches silvered to their tops by this burn
ing torch, the scene was beyond description.
On arriving at the ground we were met by hun
dreds Of people from sll parts of the country
who, like ourselves, flock nightly to see this
great wonder. The first thing to strike the vls-
iIor OH arriving is the great mass OF hpe white
flame, of intense heat and brightness, the hol-
low rumblng noise heard az the ontrushlng gas
plungcs into the atmosphere and lights all
around by it's imposing brilliancy. The fiame
of this natural torch is abont forty feet long and
fifteen wide and keeps ut these dimensions
night and day with striking regularity. Hence
tile light il both regular and constant
The heat emitted BY SO large body of flame
is very great. he trees all around at propor-
tional distances are budding, and the grass that
has not been trOdden down by the thronG OF WIS.,
tors is growing finely, aud considering this ID
mdwmer this circumstance will give you some
idea OF the great heat. | approached within
sixty feet Of the flame, and supposed it to be at
that distance about l0i degrees. The place has
the character OF u camp meeting ut night, i'll
consequence of the nightly crowds who congre-
gate there. The light ID grand. You can see to
read with ease quarter OF mile from THIS
enormous gas Jet. aud il uninterrupted by trees
and the wind OF the road, reading could be done
at the distance OF a mile and half The noise
as the gas rushes out and is consumed is won
derful. 1t struck me as very much like the hol-
low roaring of mighty liver falling over dam,
uninterrupted and constant. This, together
with the light and heat, fills the beholder with
awe, and involuntarily leads him to reverence
that Being who holds the earth, the air and the
sea in the hollow of His hand. The sound of
its roaring be distinctly heart at the distance
Of four miles.
One of the proprietors informed me that
negotiations are going on for the purchase Of
| this gas well by DR.. Hostetter, Graf, Bennett
Il Co, the Pennsylvania Salt Company, the
Columbia Company and others, who are study.
ing the problem of utilizing this natur al treasure
| in their various enterprises. The gas is con
veyed from the well to tho distance OF about one
hundred and fifty feet by six-inch metal pipe
and discharges itself at the end Of the Pipe witt
the persuasive force of steam. There ia another
we'll of less note six miles distant, at n place
called SaxenhurSh, which also sends out con
slant supply of gas. l may mention that tn,
tools are yet in this well, which. il drawn, wonlt
no doubt allow far greater volume OF gas t.