The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-28
THE BLAZING BUTLER MINE.

TEN ACRES OF ANTHRACITE COAL GLOWING
LIKE FURNAcE-THE MINERS AT WORK IN
THE VEIN BENEATH-A THRILLING SITUATION.
PIrTsroN. Pa, Oct. ~, 1879.
The fire in the Butler colliery. short distance
from the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad on the
outskirts of this town. continues to burn fercely.
At present it is estimated that ten of anthracite
are glowing in the upper ven and the most startling
phase of the affair is that the miners in the employ
of tho company working the vein beneath. A
visit to the workmen in their subterranean
gives some idea of the intensity with
which the fire is raging over their heads.
Although separated from them by seventy feet Of
solid rock. yet the heat is great that they are
compelled to work without particle of clothing
upon them excepting light pair of drawers
ais The perspiration pours constantly from their
bodies and the temperature is continually much the
If they at work in presence of u roaring
furnace. 1t is very seriously questioned by those
understanding tho situation whether the should
be permitted to work this intensely perious posi-
tion Even the air they breathe has pass through
the flames of the burning vein before it reaches
them, and it is understood that Mine Inspector
Jones has already notified the company that they
must construct another shaft to admit pure air to
the workmen or quit work.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE
The fire in the Butler mine has now been burning
upward of two years. originated in the old work
fngs OF an abandoned or worked out mine near what
known as the outcrop OF the fourteen feet vein.
aud on the very highest ground of the property OF
the Butler Coal Company. The destructive spark
was first kindled by poor. degraded woman who
having been driven from the shelter OF the town
took refuge IN one OF the numerous caves on
the purpose of cooking such stray crumbs
she could pick up and to keep her warm at
night. One midnight she was alarmed bv seeing the
entire side of the fire, and she fed in
from the scene. superintendent Bennett, one of the
most practical and careful managers in this region,
had his attention called to the fire early in June,
1877. BY that time it had made good deal OF head
way northeast OF the pitch along the pillars and the
exhaust itself There was nothing to give rise then
to the apprehension that it would work its
way down the pitch or declivity. and immediate
steps were taken to cover the 'cave holes by which
the air was admitted to feed the flames. The imme-
date vicinity of the fire at that time honey
combed with three holes. caused by the cavinG
in OF the surface where the mine had been worked
out and no pillars left to support the roof. The
stopping up of these prevented in measure the
progress of the fire. but owing to the elevated char
acter OF the place it impossible to obtain water
ment was made with a party to open and clear ont
an old chamber III the mine. intending thereby to
cut of the flames, but the work done in bung-
ling manner and failed to do what was intended.
FUTILE EFFORTS TO sUBDUE THE FIRE.
Seeing the threatening character of the clement
the company at length adopted plan at an
enormous expense. which it was hoped would prove
effective. point was selected about eight hundred
feet from the fire. at which an open cut was begun
from the surface down to the old workings. 1t was
intended that this cut would be $50 yards in length.
20 feet wide at the bottom and ranging from IL to
As feet in depth The plan was that Of Engineer G.
L. Conrad who contemplated at tho outset the re-
moy Of $1,000 onsir fleet OF NJ. rock and
circle about tho fire. He tunnelied part
OF the. way. and. in the face OF obstacles
apparently insurmountable, he worked steadily day
and night with strong force of until his plan
effected. The progress Of the flames have since
been slow but now they seem to have gained great
hold and not only the coal but the superintendent
rock is red with fire. 1t has advanced almost to
Engineer Conrads circumscribed limit and much
anxiety is felt lest it should break beyond the
boundary.
WHERE THE DANGER LIES.
The danger lies in the tunne,led part, where 1t Is
feared glowing rock will carry destruction the
archway aud communicate it to the adjoining prop
erty. The great danger from the fire would arise
from its extension into the workings OF the Pennsyl-
vania Coal Company. and. once there, no power
earth prevent it from working its way under the
town of Pttston. Here indeed would be poetic
and terrible revenge the part of the outcast who
to the wilderness.