The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-06-05
Result at Colorado an Import
ant Achievement.
OF VALUE TO OPERATORS
Years AGO the Mine Would Have Been
Closed Up to Allow the Fire to Burn
Itself Out-Pluck and Perseverance
Conquered.

The extinguishment of the fire at the
Colorado colliery is considered one of the
greatest achievements in the annals of
mine fires in this country. Twenty years
ago, and perhaps more recently, this fire
would have been isolated as much as
possible and left to burn itself out. This
has been done in many instances and
many valuable coal properties have been
destroyed. Some are still burning.
In the Colorado case, Immediately after
the discovery of the fire, the officials
resorted to different water lines and
fought the fire up and across the pitch,
never yielding a foot of ground, although
often discouraged and doubtful The
leaders and men determined to fight per-
sistently and took every advantage pre-
sented to them in order to save this large
deposit of valuable anthracite coal.
Now that this method of putting out
mine fires has proved a complete success
it may be the means of commencing
itself in the future to those who are
mining coal and who may be unfortunate
enough to have mine fire; but it is
earnestly hoped that such fires may be a
thing of the past, as they are attended
by unusual risk and danger to the lives
Of those in any way connected with the
operations.
Messrs. Heber S. Thompson, engineer
of the Girard Estate, and William A.
Lathrop, general superintendent for the
Lehigh Valley Coal Company, spent all
day yesterday at the colliery and eX-
pressed themselves satisfied with the
results. These two gentlemen have been
frequent visitors to the mine since the fire
was first discovered and have, by their
advice, given valuable assistance in put
ting the fire out.
1t is very gratifying to know that while
some of the men were overcome with the
gas generated from the burning coal and
wood, no lives were sacrificed.
The workmen speak highly of Mine In
spector Stein for his daily and constant
care and vigilance in looking after the
safety of the workmen. One of them
said yesterday that the Inspector has on
two occasions been seriously overcome by
the gases, and but for his wisdom week
ago in calling out a shift of men they
would in all probability have succumbed
to the effects of gas which the miners call
white damp.
The men sent from the Lehigh Coal
Company's collieries west of Pottsville to
assist in fighting the fire returned to their
homes yesterday.
Speculation is now rife as to the origin
Of the fire and where the two missing
men are likely to be found. A reporter
called on Mr.. Stein last night and the In
spector said he was not prepared to say
how and where the fire had its origin and
would not allow a searching party to eX-
plore for the dead bodies until he was salts
| fed it was absolutely safe to do so.
| The walls of the opening through which
| the air current passes have absorbed the
| heat from the fire to the extent that the
current of air is heated to tempera.
ture not fit for respiration, and the in
spector will wait until these walls are
| cooled off rather than the men should
suffer any inconvenience from an over
| heated atmosphere Mr.. Stein will &C
company the searching party, and If il
his opinion he thinks at any point it is
not safe he will recall the men.