Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-11-20
A Blazing Mine.

The fire in Luzerne County, a short
distance from the Lehigh & Susque-
hanna Railroad, on the outskirts of the
town, continues to burn fercely. At
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 en-
ploy of the company are working the
vein beneath. A visit TO the workmen
in their subterranean oven gives some
idea Of the intensity with which the fire
is raging over their heads. Although
it is separated from them by seventy
feet of solid rock, yet the heat is so
great that they are compelled to work
without a particle of clothing upon
them excepting light pair of drawers
or oVeralls. The perspiratiOn pOurs
constantly from their bodies, and the
temperature is continually much the
same as if they were at work in pres
enee of a roaring furnace. 1t is very,
seriously questioned by those under1
standing the situation whether the met
should be permitted to work in this in-
tensely perilous position. Even the
air they breathe has to pass through
the flames of the burning vein before it
reaches them, and it is understood that
Mine Inspector Jones has already noti-
fed the company that they must con-
struct another shaft to admit pure air
to the Workmen or quit work.
The fire in the Butler Mine has now
been burning upward Of two years. 1t
originated in the old workings of an
abandoned or Worked-out mine, near
what was known as the outcrop of the
fourteen-feet vein, and on the very
highest ground of the property of the
Butler Coal Company. The destructive
spark was first kindled by poor, de-
graded woman, who, having been driv-
en- from the shelter of the town, took
refuge in one of the numerous caves ON
the outskirts. Here she made a fire for
the purpose of cooking such food as
she could pick up, and to keep her
warm at night. One midnight she was
alarmed by seeing the entire side of the
cave on fire, and she fed in terror from
the scene. Superintendent Bennett, one
of the most practical and careful man
ayers in the region, had his attention
called to the fire early in June, 1877.
By that time it had made good deal
of headway northeast of the pitch along
the pillars, and the course it was taking
indicated that it would shortly exhaust
itself. There was nothing to give rise
then to the apprehension that it would
work its way down the pitch or decliVi-
ty, and immediate steps were taken to
cover the cave-holesn by which the
air was admitted to feed the flames.
The immediate vicinity of the fire at
that time was honey-combed with three
,ave-holes caused by the caVing in Of
ihe surface where the mine had been
worked out and no pillars left to sup
port the roof. The stopping up Of
,hese prevented in a measure the prog
Tess of the fire; but, owing to the ele-
rated character of the place, it was i'm
possible to obtain water in sufficient
quantity to be effective. An arrange
nent was made with a party to open
md clear out an old chamber in the
nine, intending thereby to cut off the
lanes, but the work was done in a
,ungling manner, and failed to do what
vas intended.
Seeing the threatening character Of
he element, the company at length
dopted plan at an enormous expense,
Which it was hoped would prove eff
ect1ve. A point was selected about
90 feet from the fire, atwhich an open
ut was begun from the surface down
0 the old workings. 1t was intended
hat this cut would be $50 yards in
ength, twenty feet wide at the BOTTOM
nd ranging from twelve to fOrty-fve
eet in depth. This plan was that Of
lngineer G. 7. Conrad, who contem-
lated at the outset the removal of 50,-
90 cubic feet of earth, rock, and coal
4 the construction of this magic circle
bout the fire. He tunneled part of
he way, and in the face of obstacles
pparently insurmountable he worked
5eadily day and night with strong
,rce of men until his plan was et-
,cted. The progress of the flames has
nee been slow, but now they seem to
ave obtained great hold, and not
nlv the coal, but the superintendent
1ck, is red with fire. 1t has now ad-
anced almost to Engineer COnrad's
limit, and much anxiety
felt lest it should break beyond the
oundary.
The danger lies in the tunneled part,
here it is feared the glowing rock will
arry destruction over the archWay,
nd communicate it TO the adjoining
The great danger from the
re would arise from its extension into
le workings of the Pennsylvania Coal
ompany, and, once there, no power
4 earth can prevent it from making
s way under the town of PittstOwn.
ere, indeed, would be a poetic and
rrible revenge on the part of the out
lst who was denied shelter by the
wn, and fed, like Hagar, to the will
,rness.- PttsbITg Dispatch.
THE mill will never grind with the
ater that is pas" sadly observed an