West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-12-06
The BiaNing Mine.

The fire In the Butler coll,cry, "A short dis
tanCc from the lchigh and Susuuehanno
Railroad, ON the outskirts Of Pittston. Pa.
continues to burn Hereby Al present it
is estimated that ten acres of anthracite
are glowing in the upper vein, and the
most startling phase of the affair Is that the
miners in the employ of the company are
working the vein beneath \ visit to the
workmcn I'm their subtcrrancan oven givcs
some idea of the intensity with which the
IRE is raging over their heads Although
separated from them 10y seventy feet of
solid rock, yet the heat is so great that they
are compelled To work without particle of
clothing upon them excepting n light pair
OF drawers or ovcrals. Jhe pcrspirntion
pours constantly from their bodies, and the
temperature Is continually much the same
os II they were at work i'm the presence Of
"A roaring furnace II is very seriously
questioned by those understanding the stu-
alton whether the men should be permitted
To work I'm this intensely pCriluus position.
The IRE I'm the Butler mine has now beer
burning upwards of two years 1t origi-
mated IN the old work shop of an abandon
eel or Workcd-out mine, near what was
known as the outCrCp of the fourteen feet
vein, and ON the very highest ground OF the
property of the Butler Coal Company. The
destructive spark was first kndlcd by n
poor degraded woman, who having been
driven from the shelter OF the town took
refuge IN one Of the numerous caves on the
outskirts. Here she made n fire for the
purpose OF cooking such stray crumbs as
she could pick up and TO keep ner warm at
night. One night she was alarmed by
seeing the entire side of th cave on fire.
and she fled in terror from the scene. Su-
perinlcndcnt Bennett, one of the most
practical and careful managers i'm this
region had his attention called to the fire
early In June, 1874 by that time il hnd
made good deal Of Roadway northeast of
the pitch along the pillars, aud the course
IT was taking indicated that ii would shortly
exhaust itself. There was nothing to give
rise then TO the apprehension that il would
work its way down the pitch or dccivity,
and immediate steps were taken to cover
tho 'cayc holes by which the ar was ad-
mlttcd TO feed the flames The immediate
vicinity Of the fire at that time was honey
combcd with three cave holes, caused by
the caving In Of the surface where tile
mine had been worked out aud no pillars
left TO support the roof The stopping up
OF these prevented in a measure the pro
grcss Of the fire, but owing 10 the cle-
waited character Of the place 1t was impos-
sible TO obtain water in sufficient quantity
10 be elective. An arrangement was made
with a party tO open and clear out ~ old
chamber in the mine, intending thu by o
cut of the flames, but the work wa done
IN "a bungling manner and failed to 20 villa
was intended. Seeing the threatening char
aclcr OF the clement the company at lcng'h h
adopted n plan at an enormous expense,
which 1t was hoped would prove effective
A point was selected about eight hundred
feet from the fire, at which an open cut was
begun from the surface down 10 the old
workings. II was intended that this cut
should Dc 800 yards in length, 20 feet wide
at the bottom, and ranging from ! 2 20 lj
feet in depth The plan was THAT Of Engi-
nccr G. ]. Conrad, who contemplated at
the outset the removal Of 30, 900 cubic feet
Of earth, rock and coal in the cons. ruclOn
of this magic circle about the fire. lie
iunncicd % part of the way, aud, in the
lace Of obstacles apparently insurmouut-
able DE worked steadily day and night with
strong force Of men until his plan was
Effected. The progress ~ the flames has
since been slow, but now they seem 90 have
gained % great hold, and not only the coal
but ihc sugcrnCumbcnt rock Is rcd with
fire. The danger lies in the tuuncIcd part,
where it is feared glowing rock will carry
destruction over the srchway and cOmmu-
ncatc 10 20 the adjoining property The
great danger from thc fire would arise
from its extension into the workings of the
Pennsylvania Coal Company, and once there
mo- power ON earth can prevent 10 from
working iis way under the town Of Pitts
ton Here indeed would De q poetic and
terrible revenge ON the part of thc outcast
who was denied shelter by the town and
Ted, liEc lIagar, 20 thc wilderness.