The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-14
SHOOTING THE ARMSTRONG NO. 2.
Torpcdoing the Now Famous Dry Hole
4 Dangerous Situation.

lbititT ljhlecl
The crowd had gathered around 20 see
what good tOrpedoing would do toa dry hole
Apart from the ret, and at work with some
tin things and cans was big Llnly figure
who seemed 10 he held IA fear by the re t.
The figure arranged the "tin things" OF shells
to suit him and lowered them down into the
well. When the shells had got 20 the depth
he wanted them, he picked up a queer little
contrH ance, with a qieercr name anl drop
ped il into the well saying: Go Devil" AS
he let the little instrument fGll from his
hands. II "went Devil" In a minute or SO
the effect OF the shot was felt and the
crowd rushed up into tho derrick to
sec if tho well would respond. Five
minutes passed and only a gurgling,
choking sound, coming from the bowels Of
the earth could he disccrned Ten minutes
passed ani the only change that could be
noticed was that the gurglins sounl had be-
come stronger, and that the noise OF the
choking had become more painful Then q
number Of me1 looked into tho hole. They
could zee ,ome kind of fluid advancing to-
ward them, AMI then retreating as IL afraid
10 show itself
Suddenly it took new courage, and ap-
preached the top Of the hole. There she
comes, yelled an excited individu Il as the
the fluid boiled out over the top Of the hole.
The men in tho derrick imme lately fled.
From merely boiling over, the fluid and the
fluid was salt water, rose up in the air
about three feet, then it became
stronger, and tried to kiss the top Of the der
rick. But still no change IN the color of the
fluid. Suddenly there was a cheer, the color
OF tho fluid was changing, the column took a
mighty spring into the air, and IL ceased to
be salt water ana was "A solid column Of oil.
High over the top OF the twenty seven foot
derrick, the column stretched itseli out
"Godde mighty yelled big oil man, did
You ever see anything like that, boys"
Anl then the news was sent out. But the
column of oil still poured it~elf forth eighty
five feet into the air, when it would bur I
and spread over the earth. The solid col
umn Of oil still kept shooting cut, and soon
"a river of oil was flowing Gown the hillside
into the creek.
At first the people living along Buster
street were astonished at the sight. then they
became fearful; the gas with followed and
lowered over the river Of oil, was intense.
Breathing became hard. Then came mes
sengers from the well ordering all fires TO be
put out, ard by IL O'clock not "A FIRE was
turning III Nb' chliTS tAstilCl. AT tNtTy
well work hal been shut down. anl not IA
Jingle pnmp was running in the eatire dis
trict. The people living in the district aud
the oil men had 10 lie content with cold
dinners, and in the afternoon tie Philippians
became more fearful AMI began t.
move. The OIL was stu flowing down over
the hillside and the air became so impreg-
mated with gas that even breathing was dan
gcrous. Though the well was got under par
tial control at 3 o'clock. much oil was still
escaping, and the air was still surchargel
with gas. At night but few persons were in
Phillips City, and those who staid did 80 only
because their duties made II necessary for
them to remain. The danger was too gro IT
for tho majority to run the risk by staying
in the town. The cracking Ut a match
within mile of the we'll would have caused
a terrible conhar,ration.