The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-16
AT PLEASANTON.
Natural Gas Has Been Struck in the Odd
Fellows Cemetery.

Natural Gas Has Been Struck in the Odd
Fellows Cemetery.
Pleasanton is in high state of excitement.
1t has not struck oil, but it has struck the
next thing TO il. aud that is, magnificent
flow of natural gas which burns with clear
fame and is perfectly odoress. The discovery
was purely accidental, and came about in the
following manner:
Tie Odd Fellows Cemetery is on the road lead
ing 10 Suuol, and is Just below town. One OF tile
greatest difficulties experienced by lot-owners
has been 10 obtain sufficient supply OF water TO
keep the graves in The burial place green, and to
remedy the evil the officers of the local lodge de-
termned TO sink an art-sian well. Men were
employed aud set to work, but success did not
attend their efforts to any very considerable eX-
tent and after reaching deptn OF about 100
feet the supply obtained was so small that
The work was abandoned. few days Of inact-
ivity caused Tie members 10 reconsider Their
action, ana the result was That tbe worKmen
were instructed 10 go on sinking the hole, hoping
for better results. Tuesday. after sinking the
hole several feet, the men Knocked OIL Tor dlnDer,
and, as was usual with them, one OF the number
stopped over the pipe TO put a cap on It, In order
TO prevent debris from falling down tile pipe.
While ID STOPPING position, ana before placing
the cap Oh the IRON tube. lie stfucN a match 10
llghI his tObaccO-pIpe, which had gone out. The
effect was electrical, or IL might better be e&-
pressed CLASSICAL" tAll rights securely An
odUrless gas pouring ouI OF the orlhee, which
lguited, and the flame shooting up luto the air
carried the wOrkman'S whiSkers, hair and eye
brows Win 1t, astonishing him not little al the
rapid manner In which II got IN ITS "Darber"-ouS
work. IL beat the time OF the shaving tourna-
ment at h. B. Hall out Of sight, but lett differ
eut impression.
The pipe which is being sunk is a seven-inch
pine, aud the volume OF name was consequently
large Alter some trouble the cap was got on
ana the flames extnGuished, and tue men
then went TO town and told OF their wonder
full strike. At night The men. women aud chill
dTeu turned out masse aud proceeded TO the
cemetery, when the cap was removed and the gas
was gnted. 1t made great blaze aud tllumined
the country Tor some distance around. IL was
then exIinguished. and after an interval re-
| lighted, when the discovery was made that eacn
| time of eXtlnguishment and Tellghtlng the vol
| ume Of flame was stronger aud higher. During
| the tIme this exhibition of natural pyrotecenicS
was going on peltinG rain was falling, aud the
wind caused the flames to roar in an uInalni al
| manner.
The news of the sttike was FIRST telegraphed,
| ana shas since been confirmed by tile word of
mouth statements of residents OF PleaSanton
who have come up TO the city and have rehearsed
| the wonderful tale. Immediate steps VIII De
taken to try ascertain~Ihe extent OF the ressr-
| vUlr with view TO utilizing The subtitle huid.
The sandstone formation from which The gas
| escapes is similar In every respect TO the lorna
| lions found In other gas-produclnE regions aud
| The continuous rumbiing and roaring noises
heard point 10 the conclusion that The reservoir
| is large one and that IL IS led through crevces
| from other storage places 1t this conclusion Is
| confirmed immediate steps Will be taken TO
| utilize the discovery, ana maybe In snort
| time il will be under such control as VIII enable
the residents OF that district to 1t for heating
| lighting and manufacturing purposes.