Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-01-17
SEMI. WEEKLY WORLD.
FIGHTING FLAMES UNDER GROUND.
How Professor Agassiz Put Out the Fire
In the Calumet and Hecla Mine.

How Professor Agassiz Put Out the Fire
in the Calumet and Hecla Mine.
The extinguishment of the fire which broke
out in the 900 foot level of the Calumet and
Hecla mine, in Michigan, was one of the
most interesting pieces of mining work ever
performed In this or any other country.
Owing to the great depth $500 feet of the
mine and the extent of its subterranean
drifts, galleries and chambers it is very liable
to fire, and fire underground is most
serious matter. 1t has to be fought in the
dark. The Calumet and Hecla mine contains
more timber than any other mine in the world,
and this timber will, of course, burn when
set ON fire. The fire was caused by the care
leSsness OF a boy who was running donkey
pump. When the alarm was given the fire
had obtained such Roadway that it could be
put out by No ordinary means. The company
has chemical fire engine, which is run down
the incline track into any part Of the mine
but when the alarm was given it was too late
TO run this into the mine
Having learnt from the disastrous expert.
enos Of three years ago what fire meant, the
agent Of the company, j. N. Wright, ordered
all the shafts in that part of the mine, eleven
in number, TO be Theoretically sealed with
timbers and dirt Tho work was done quickly
and the fire was left to barn all tho oxygen
in the mine and 60 out of its own accord
Professor Alexander Agassis, OF Boston.
president Of the Calumet and Hecla Copper
company, arrived on the scene few days
after the fire broke out, and TO him the credit
Is due for dcvising the ingenious plan which
extingushed the fire. Steam, supplied by
several large boilers, was forced down No 2
shaft through a four inch pipe which ex-
tended 500 feet below tho surface The
necessary apparatus aud material were
secured and carbonic acid gas was manufac
tured on large scale from sulphuric acid,
limestone and other materials This was also
forced down No. shaft, where the fire broke
out, by a heavy pressure from the engine.
The carbonic acid gas, being heavier than air,
sank to the bottom OF the mine and inmc-
dinteiy extinguished any flame with which IL
came in contact The amount OF material
used in making this gas was enormous, and
many million feet OF carbonic acid gas was
poured into the mine
Many believed that the plan was doomed
to fail, but its signal success has surprised
those who caviled at 1t. When the shafts
we're unseaied a few days ago the fire was to
tally extinguished. and q candle would not
burn ten seconds when lowered five feet from
the mouth OF tine shaft. Men cannot descend
into the mine for several days, as the gas is
fatal to life as well as to fame, but by means
Of powerful air pumps and fans strong cur
rent Of air is being sent into the mine at one
shaft, while the deadly gas is being pumped
from the mine through another shaft Had
the mine only one opening 1t woukl be a labor
OF months to clear it OF gas; as ii is, work
can be resumed in n short time. The achieve
ment is unique and unparalleled In the annals
Of mining work, and by suggesting this plan
and putting it in operation Professor Agassiz
has won the thanks of all who arc Interested
In mines or mining. New York World