The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-10-17
MINES ON FIRE.
Strikers Thought to Be Responsible for the
Fires in the Hooking Valley f0.) Mines
Serious Damage to Property.

Strikers Thought to Be Responsible for the
Fires in the Hooking Valley TO- Mines
SERIOUS Damage to Property.
New LEXINGTON. O., Oct. 1.-THE
worst feature of the strike in the Hooking
Valley is the black, curling columns of
smoke and the lurid flames that issue from
four of the mines at New Shaitsville, one
at Shawnee, one at Carbon Hill and one at
Sand Run. The fire at one mine at New
Straitsville is reported b be raging so furi-
ously that the flames through an air-hole in
the top of the hill ascend to the height of
fifty feet. The theory is that the coal
was knocked down in Jumps, placed
in piles, then saturated with coal-oil, and
the torch applied. The various entries,
rooms and air-holes in these great seam
mines cause a constant draft of consider
able power, which of course becomes greatly
Increased asd intensified after the passages
became heated and the flames begin to
ascend. Quenching these underground fires
is both a tedious and dangerous business.
Efforts were made to fight the fires
in some of the mines. but the most
strenuous exertiOnS resulted in no
perceptible success, and at one of the mines,
at least, the main entrance and air-holeS
were all closed tightly with the hope of
either smothering the flames or so decreaS-
ing their volume and force as to render the
fire manageable at little later period. At
New StraitSvilIe, where two mines are burn
ing, the syndicate has ceased mining alto
gether, abandoned their works, and taken
everything movable to other points in the
mining district But when the news
spread that the mines were on fire train
loaded with miners from other points, ac-
companied with force of Pinkerton guards,
was run to New Straitsville, and an ineffect-
ual attempt made to extinguish the fires.
When this train pulled into the town all
those aboard Of it were Kissed and jeered
by portion of the residents, though it was
believed that the great majority of the pop
ulation, miners as well as other citizens,
disapproved the burning Of property, hop
pers or mines, and apprehend that the result
of it will be an injury to the cause of the
Workingmen, as well as property in
the place and vicinity. 1t is estimated that
the mines now on fire are capable of daily
output Of three hundred cars, and represent
the labor of from two to three thousand
miners. These fires are in the heart of the
very best coal region In the country, and
while the stoppage of work is a serious
loss, as well to operators as miners, the
threatened destruction of the mineral
wealth contained in them must be
regarded as no less than great public ca
lamity. Many of the striking miners and
the Pinkerton police are on the worst Of
terms, and counter charges are freely made.
The military was sent into the Hooking Val
ley in response to the call Of the proper Off
Ger, but the Sheriff Of this county has so far
refused to call for troops, on the ground
that there has been no public outrage OF
riotous proceedings, and that such il
legal acts as have been committed are
not of such nature as to be foreseen OF
prevented by a military force. What the
action Of the Governor of the State and the
Sheriff of the county may be as a conse-
quence of the fires now raging is not at
present known, and can not be conjectured.
All appears quiet on the surface now, but
the mine fires are still burning and smolder-
ing, while an effort is being made to
smother them out, which can not have any
Immediate success.