The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-26
THE BOHEMIAN TUNNEL FIRE.
Remarkable Battle OF the Northern Pa
cif7e Railroad with the Flames

tunnel on the Northern Pacific railroad
through Southern Montana, at last seems
TO have nearly exhausted It's fury. For
more than three months the Interior or THIS
tunnel has been one mass or flames the
raging fire withstanding every effort 10
subdue *. and its equal has not been known
IN railroad history. A few weeks since II
was reported to have been smothered or
extingu.shed. but this was an error, as IL
has only been within comparatively lew
days that II has been possible to enter ule
tunnel. and even al present writing the hre
Is still burning 10 some extent. and the neat
Is so intolerable that workmen can remain
In the bore but few moments al time
The Bozeman tunnel, sometimes called
the Muir tunnel. from the town by that
name situated al its eastern entrance, as
Bozenan Is at the western extremity. ex-
tends through a division OF the ROCKY
mountains known as the Bridger range,
and Is the second longest tunnel IN the
state of Montana. the longest being the
Mullan tunnel on the same railroad. Inc
Bozernan tunnel is nearly mile IN length
and its original cost was in the neighOor-
hood OF half a million dollars Instead,
however. OF being lined with masonry, as
was the Mullan tunnel, ii was simply TIM
bered on the inside; hence the terrDle
havoc and ruin wrought by three
months fire may be imagined How the
fire originated, whether through the care
lessness Of the employees, or in what man
ner. will always remain mystery as
these facts probably can never De ascer-
tanned. and even If known by the railroad
company they would certainly never De
given TO the public
The fire was first discovered on the morn
ing OF September i3 by the train which ar
rived at Muir at 4 a. N. Though no one
realized the fearful extent of the lire at
that tine. IL was soon discovered tnat II
was beyond control for the time being, and
arrangements were Immediately made Tor
the temporary transfer of passengers over
the top OF the divide by means of carriages,
wagons and various vehicles furnished by
the railroad company. Progress AT this
rate was necessarily slow. requiring an
hour at best TO cross the divide. orders
were given for the tunnel to be sealed at
each end. and 1t was expected that the ire
would soon be extinguished for want OF air.
This proved OF no avail, however. and at
the end of three weeks the interior OF the
tunnel was like a furnace. Notwthstand-
ing the fact that the fire was situated al
most al the centerof the bore and the smoke
had nearly half a mile to travel each way
before escaping at the ends, dense columns
Of smoke We're constantly rising skyward,
marking the entrances Of the tunnel.
Every device known to men accustomed
by long experience 10 battling with fires
no effect Two weeks were spent in trying
TO extingulsh the flames with water. Hun
dreds OF water tanks. oil tanks and cars
were filled with water and run up 10 the
mouth OF the tunnel. TO which hundreds OF
feet of hose were then attached. and pres
sure secured by forcing air into the tanks,
thus pouring the water upon the hames.
But this work was necessarily slow, ss
what was gained by one train load OF water
was lost while another was being switched
into position. and the supply OF water be-
Ing also Inadequate. IL was impossible TO ac-
complsh any permanent good Such clouds
of smoke were constantly pouring from
both ends OF the tunnel that the pipemen,
who were sent in TO fight the flames. were
Obliged TO fasten stout cord around their
waists. the other end of which was held by
men outside and which they jerked every
few seconds to assure those at the other
end OF the line that they had not been suffo-
Gated by the somke. To keep as much as
possible from inhaling the latter. they were
compelled TO crawl on all fours, with
sponges and cloths fastened securely over
their faces. They would soon be overcome.
however, by the smoke and gases, which
fact was made known by the suspension OF
tho jerking OF the safety line. when they
were Immediately drawn out where the
fresh air would revive them.
But Notwithstanding every effort, the
flames only burned hotter and hotter until
at last the Northern Pacific officials were
compelled 10 acknowledge that even a
railroad company had been defeated. that
the flames were entirely beyond their con-
troll, and that no earthly power could check
them in their advance. but that they would
have TO be allowed 20 burn until everything
was consumed. Accordingly the tunnel
was ordered 10 be sealed for the second
time aud the fire was left to take its
course.
Before this time had elapsed track over
the mountains. which had first been put IN
condition Tor the conveyance or freight.
had beer adaVted for the transfer OF pas
sengers. ana this is stiil in use at the pres
ent time. the train being taken over the
mountain in one section with three hog
engines. two pullers. and one pusher.
one marked popularity during the whole
time has been the manifest unwill!ngness
on the part OF the officials OF the road 10
admit to outsiders that the fire was of a
serious nature. or that any great amount
OF damage was likely 10 ensue. But this
IS supposed 20 be simply in accordance with
an unwritten Law existing among railroad
companies TO give tho most fiattering ac-
counts OF any trouble occurring along the
roads on this account very few who have
not been on thu ground realize the extent
OF the fire or OF the damage which IL has
caused.
\ great many cave-ins have been report
cd all along during the progress OF the fire.
incIud.ng many hundred feet Of the roof,
which was weakened by the burning away
OF the timbers. but not until the working
crews entered the tunnel was the extent OF
the cave-ins realized
The work OF clearing out the debris has
begun. bat progress must % necessity be
very slow unier existing conditions.
crew or men Is AZ work AT each end % the
bore but as the IRE Is stIl burning. and tie
tunnel st5u steamlng and smoking. the ter
r.hle heat. the smoke and gases render It
impossible, Tor the men 70 work FOR any
lonEth Of time At the eastern entrance
an engine has been run a distance OF !. o0o
feet at which point the heat IS 50 intense
thar the workmeu can remain bat few
moments az "A time. ana ali lights are *
tretfshei From the western entrance jhe
crew has been aole 10 proceed but 40 feet
as pragress beyond this point IS rendered
sf,,n-ss. .,e uv an enormous caVe-ln. which
extends directly through from the .cp.
leaving cave CT The outer surface ~ the
mountain 10 Is hoped that the draught
caused - This opening through - the sur
face VIII assist u bringing the FIRE now re-
naming 10 termination At tbs Part of
the tunnel ONLY tWo or thres feet 81 the
debris and earth can be rem ye8 At a time.
as The men are then compelled 20 stop 20
nut IN supports 20 prevent che further stak-
ing 81 the Garth. yAus it viii BE seen that
"a. work must necessarily proceed slowly
Il q intended - rut on additional crews rs
saan as she condition OK the tguael Rsu per-
init
OF course the fun extent % the damage
cannot - estimated. bot there is no aoyh.
&. VII extend far into the hundreds OF
thousands 1f dollars In al probability the