The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-03-02
Big OIL GUSHER REPORTED
But There Has Been No Confirmation
of the Strike at Beaumont.
A BIG DEPOSIT OF GAS WAS STRUCK
In Well Which Was Sunk by the Star
and Crescent People; It Is
Wonder.

iNNuns -hhlNh Ia lfitDuuu'
inquiry from Port Arthur threw Beaumont
into feverlsh excitement this afternoon,
an impression being created that Sturni
Brothers. who are digging well for the
Jefferson County oil and Pipe Line com.
pany, had struck gusher on Taylors
bayou. Tho query was caused by a food
of oil reaching Port Arthur on the bosom
Of Taylors bayou. This was announced
over the telephone together with an cx.
PLANTATION that on the western horizon there
was discernable n strange object. which
through glass resembled the Lucas oil
geyscr. Immediately the news spread over
the city that another gusher had been
struck and excitement became intense
As to whether oil has been struck by
Sturm Brothers on Taylors bayou The Post
correspondent is not in a position to say
automatically. 1t Is known that the drill
In this well had penetrated n depth ex-
cecdlng 1000 feet three days ago. Since
then the operators have been daily eX-
pettlns to reach the oil strata ana 1t Is
not Improbable that they have. The VOL
Is about eighteen miles from Beaumont
and, as there is no means OF Communicu-
ton, confirmation or denial Of the report
can not be obtained before tomorrow.
Mr.. W. II. j. Stlatford, one of the com
panF for whom Sturm Brothers are op-
Grating, gives the opinion that oil has not
yet been struck in the well. He says he
left there shortly before noon today and at
that time II was not the expectation to
penetrate the oil strata before two or
three days lie also says the oil on Tay-
Tors bayou at POrt Arthur can be easily
accounted for. While the Lucas geyser was
Spout.ng considerable oil ran oil IN raVines
to Taylor and lIil!ebrandts bayou. For
the pan two or three days the wind has
been torahic for carrying this oil to the
CUR and he Is of the opinion that is what
caused the excitement at Port Arthur and
Is the foundation for the new gusher re-
port.
One Of the most Important discoveries in
the oil held here since the Lucas gushcr
broke loose was made Wednesday after
noon when the drill of the star und ores.
cent OH company struck natural gas de-
post at depth OF sixty feet when very
much astonlshed the drilcrs aud has since
Dten a source OF surprise to all who have
learned of the lind.
In every possible way this field proves
an exception TO all other oil fields or formn-
lions ever known before beginning with
an oil well. which has no equal In the
Worid perhaps. the field under the inspec-
tl.n of numerous drills develops variety
OF surprises which are bewildcring The
formation OF the earth around the hill upon
which the Lucas well is located Is a puZ-
; re 5 to- tne gG2l3glsts and problem for
OF each other find an entirely different
formation beneath the surface of the earth
One well strikes a strata OF gravel and
another within haillng distance. at the
same depth, finds strata of pure white
sh9d. AT depth OF sixty feet the Star
anu crescent company have found an I'M
usually strong, pressure. of natural gas,
While the drill of the Southwestern on
company. but few hundred feet below
ms spot, has gone down about 400 feet
Una saw no signs of gas, or If they did
the iact was not made known
Recently The Post correspondent men.
Toned mat the star and Crescent company
vas vas lyst ready TO start drilling for oil
but when they thought they were ready II
was found that the water supply was NOT
sufficient for the purposes and Ii was de-
ciued TO sink a small well and get n sup.
ply. of water IL possible With this object
four-iuch pipe was sunk into the rro2nd
hut found instead OF water a strong pres
sure or natural gas, which may prove of
water. "'
1t was late Wednesday afternoon whc,,
The drill touched the gas and the fluid
escaping from the pipe created confusion
moved and an examination was made or
Ihe escaping gas. The sun was shining
brightly. and In the strong light it was
impossible to detect anything OF a mate
rial nature coming from the pipe vet the
noise ana the odor told very plainly tnnt
gas, win a strong pressure behind ii, was
escaping. During the Investigation n
lighted match was touched to the mouth
OF the pipe and instantly tremendous
name sprung W. The blaze was white
and in the sunshine ii was scarcely visible
" was there. After burning awhile the
workmen tried to cXtinguish II anil tho
surprise, felt by them can be underst uoi
when they found, after cxhausting All
means Mt hand, the flame stil burned on
Alore extreme measures to put ont the
hrc were then introduced, and finally. ar.
Ter throwing sand, lumber, water and any
amouht OF stun, over the pipe the tame
was extinEuished A cap was placed on he
pIhe ana Il pressure gauge attached TO It.
- : was round that the pressure was be-
do IN tb.,
lnch' strong force pump was then
placed In connection with the nine and
the suction started with the object of pro
auclns wafer, II possible, 10y creating
vacuum, but this was Impossible ana. no
matter how much the pump pulled the Cis
was still there. 80
lhey VIII sink other wells like this one
TO nnd water II possible. This gas well is
located about twenty feet from whore the
derrick of the Star and Crescent company
stands on the Charles ingalls, tract or
land, owned hy O. Il. Greeves. c. 4. Haze
man q, A. and NJ n Fletcher and contain.
very top of the hin upon which is located
hl the oil wells, including the Lucas gush,
n. MIR. Ike Fietel Is In charge of drill.
ing Mr.; o. II. Greeves said this morning
Ihat ne dlu not know what would ho done
with the gas, further than Ii had heeu
decided to use II for drilling purposes. If
y estimator that tho gas viii furnish IRE
enough TO run the boilers aud pumps
IL Is, of course. Impossible to determine
low long the gas would flow If relcased
but from the fact that smaller wells In thnt
neighhorhond have been flowing gas In
much smaller quantities for all time 1t
would not seem unreasonable 10 oNpect
his one 10 continue for an indefinite time
When 1t Is considered that the pressure of
sas in the tanks and mains OF the gas
companies In large cities is from two 10
hrNe pounds per square inch, the extent 1
II this discovery here Is significant. Pipcd I
% the city II would furnish gas for al .
PURPOSES provided Tho sunntc |
S maintained. F'''
Other wells Will be put down at once on |
MS spot ana II gas Is again found it may |
PC PC ~, tnnt lnere VIII he change in the plans |