The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1880-11-27
FIRES THAT CANNOT be
QUENCMED.

FIRES THAT CANNOT BE
QUENCHED.
A speoi' S.satch from Pottayille, Pa.
says: The FAILURE of all the attempts t,
extinguish the fire which has been raging
in the Kelley Run colliery for scveraI
weeks it is feared will add another to thu
perpetually burning mines that now exist
in the Pennsylvania anthracite regions.
The greatessof these is probably in the
jugular vein near Coal Castle, this county.
This has been burning since 1885. Lewis
F. Dougherty opened this vein in 1883.
The upper drift of the mine was above
water level. and huge fire was kept in
q CRATE at the mouth of the mine in
Winter to keep the water from freezing
in the cutters. One night, in the above
year, the timbers in the drift caught FIRE
from the CRATE. When it was discovered,
the fire had been carried down the hole
to the lower drifts, and was beyond con-
troll. Two miners entered the mine,
hoping to recover their tools. They never
came out. The mine was abandoned.
No effort was made to mine any Of the
coal near the burning vein, although it
was considered the best coal in the region
until 1856. Then John McGinnis put in
a slope on the east side of it, below watsr
level. He struck othe vein at, place
where the coal was % thick that two
miners could keep large breaker sup
piled. When four hundred yards Of
gangway had been excavated tho heat
from the burning Dougherty mine began
to bother the miners. Mc(ainnis attempt-
ed to open an air-hole. The heat became
80 great that the men were paid double
wages to induce them to work. They
worked entirely naked, and were relieved
every ten minutes. Finally the heat be-
came SO intense that work was abandoned.
The mine was aooded. After being
pumped out, men could again work for 4
few days. The mine was flooded nine
times. McGinnis finally failed, and the
mine was then abandoned. The fire has
been raging ever since. An area of half
a mile in every direction has bsen burned.
No vegetation grows on the surface. In
places the ground has caved in forming
chasms hundred feet deep. There is
but thin shell Of earth over the pit of
fire. At night blue sulphurous flames
issue from the crevices in the ground. 1t
is dangerous to walk .across the spot.
Several persons have mysteriously dis.
appeared in the vicinity during the past
twenty years. It is believed in majori-
ty of the cases they have fallen into the
burning mine. Dougherty, the original
proprietor of the mine, attempted to 60
across once. He sank to his armpits
through the crust, and was only saved by
courageous friends who ventured to his
assistance. The stones on the ground are
hot. and snow never rests there. Rain
turns to vapor as fast as it falls on the
roof OF the burning mine. Millions Of
dollars worth Of the best quality Of coal
mas been consumed by the fire.
The Summit Hill mine, near Mauch
Chunk, has been burning for twenty-five
years. 1t is believed that this mine was
set on fire by disc6ntented miners. Thou.
sands Of dollars have been expended in
iruitless efforts to extinguish the flames.
The Butler mine lhear Pittston, has
been burning three years. 1t was set on
hre by party of tramps, who built fire
in the mine in 1877. The fire is in the
upper drifts. It is confined to an area Of
forty acres by an immense ditch forty
feet wide, which was excavated between
the burning drift and connecting ores.
The digging of the canal cost $50, 600.
But for the obstacle the fire would have
communicated to some Of the most ex.
tensive mines in the Laokawanna Valley,
and subterraneous conaagration would
have swept under the whole Of West
Fittston. Miners have worked in the
lower drift Of the Butler. mine since the
hre broke out, but there are but forty
iset Of rock between them and the fire
above. The water that trickles through
the roof issssaldins hot. ;Ths tsnpsrs-
.ure is 10 Ugh that; ~ rmsn sun Asar VT
little clothing