Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-01-01
The Blazing Mine.

The fire in the Butler coll;ery,a short dis
| tance from the Lehigh and Susquehanna
Railroad, on the outskirts of Pittston, Pa,
continues TO burn fiercely. AT present il
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. 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
separated from them by seventy feet of
solid rock, yet the heat is so great that they
are compelled TO work without 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 the presence Of
roaring furnace. 1t is very seriously
questioned by those understanding the situ-
alton whether the men should be permitted
to work in this intensely perilous position.
The fire in the Butler mine has now beer
burning upwards of two years. 1t origl-
mated III the old workshop of an abandon
ell 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 a
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 fire for the
purpose of cooking such stray crumbs as
she could pick up and to keep her warm at
night. One niaht she was alarmed by
seeing the entire side of tn cave on fire,
and she fed in terror from the scene. Su-
perintendent 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 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 declivity,
and immediate steps were taken to cover
the ''cave holes" by which the air was ad-
mitted TO feed the flames. The immediate
vicinity Of the fire at that time was honey
combed with three cave 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 a measure the pro-
gress of the fire, but owing TO the ele-
waited character of the place it was impos-
sible TO obtain water in sufficient quantity
to be effective. An arrangement was made
with party to open and clear out an old
chamber in the mine, intending thereby 10
cut off the flames, but the work was done
in bungling manner and failed to O villa
was intended. Seeing the threatening char
acter of the element, the company at length
adopted plan at an enormous expense,
which it 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 TO the old
workings. 1t was intended that this cut
should be 800 yards in length, 20 feet wide
at the bottom, and ranging from II to 40
feet in depth. The plan was that of Engi-
neer c. L. Conrad, who contemplated at
the outset the removal of 80, 600 cubic feet
of earth, rock and coal in the construction
of this magic circle about the fire. he
tunneled a part of the way, and, in the
face of obstacles apparently insurmount-
able he worked steadily day and night with
a strong force of men until his plan was
effected, The progress of the flames has
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. The danger lies in the tunneled part,
where it is feared glowing rock will carry
destruction over the archwav and commu-
nicate it to the adjoining property. The
great danger from the fire would arise
from its extension into the workings of the
Pennsylvania Coal Company, and once there
no power on earth can prevent it from
working its way under the town of Pitts
ton. Here indeed would be poetic and
terrible revenge on the part of the outcast
who was denied shelter by the town and
fed, like Hagar, to the wilderness.