The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-24
THE MUIR TUNNEL FIRE.
Burning since September 15-How the
Northern Pacific Is Fighting Ii.

Tacoma. Oct. &.-Special.-The Northern
Pacific Is carrying on "A vigorous warfare
with the ire fiend in the Muir tunnel.
fifteen miles east OF BoZeman, Mont. The
fire started in the tunnel September Is
and has been burning slowly since. all
efforts 10 subdue II having az yet proven
frlltless. Trains are passing around the
tunnel on tracks rebuilt hurriedly by tho
division forces. and this arrangement Will
continue till the fire Is eXtinguishsd and
the tunnel Is repaired.
General Manager George W. Dickinson
this afternoon gave the Post-lnteliigencer
correspondent the following account %
the fire and the efforts that are being
made 20 Eubdue 81:
The Muir tunnel is S5Os feet long. and
the fire started i.&0 feet from the east
portal The natural draft through the
tunnel Is from east 20 west on account q
the fact that the west end Is somewhat
higher than the east end. ON account az
the natural draft We were able 20 get into
the tunnel right up 20 tho FIRE on the east
end. 80 that we Will have about LOO feet
% unchanged tunnel at least on the east
end
The point where the IRE caught. and
where II is burning. IL IN a rock section:
that T.. solid rock All around. but on ac-
count ~ this rock taking and pieces fall
Ing from time 20 time timber ssgmen's
were placed through the rock section the
same as IN softer ground on top. and on
the sides hack % the timber segments.
there is a tagging % cordwood, 80 that
the space is entirely taken up between
the timber segments and the .0ck wall
20 proven; anything falling. and IT Is this
material that Is burning We made
number OF efforts 20 get in from the west
end taking advantage OF days when the
wind was blowing from the west 10 the
east. This draft, however. from ne west
20 tho east does not continue long enough
% clear the tunnel Of fire damp. and al
though We have been able 70 get In 100
or 90 feet. we have not been able 10 get
anywhere near the fire from the west end.
Consequently. We have procured A large
coal mine fan and will have that working
today or tomorrow. This is set IN the
west portal OF the tunnel housed
M behind 81. and when running
will create an artificial draft from the
west 70 the east. and with the aid of this
draft there is very little. " any, question
that we viii be able 10 get up 20 the fire
from the west side.
1--WE have pumps and a good supply 81
water ~ both ends Of the tunnel. and
when we get this fan working the suhiec-
ton Of the fire is merely a question OF
time There have been no caves IN the
tunnel. and the travel Of tho fire has been
slow. owing 20 the dampness 81 the tim
her and the filling. so that do not ex-
pect to have 10 renew the timherS after
extingllshiug the fire 20 a greater length
than 80 feet. possibly.
In the meantime our overhead line,
which is three-quarters or a mile long on
he west side and two miles on the east
side and which was rebuilt, including
bridges IN three DAYS by the division
forces. is operating perfectly. and our pas
senEer trains and all other trains are
moving on time.
~ noticed IN the Helena Herald an ar
ticIe where some genius stated that We
were throwing kerosene oil into the tun-
mel for the purpose ~ destroying tho tim
her rs soon as possible and letting the
tunnel down or cave in; in other words.
with view az after the cave took place.
starting in and driving new tunnel.
This statement. ridiculous as y0u VIII
readily see tt 70 be by the description ~
the work given above, seems 20 have re-
ceived considerable credit 7 think that
the tunnel viii be IN operating condition
IN about two weeks and owing to the
Helena Herald article / am not Only will
ing but anxious that it b. published
through the medium of the P0st-IutelIi-
gencer. whose circulation viii not only
reach those who have possibly rad ine
Herald article but many others. and
probably save the officials u the North
ern Pacific from what 7 would consider
proper condemnation X the Herald article
was correct -