The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-15

*. NJ. Smith. superintendent of the
Alden Coal company's mines at Alden,
has described as follows the method
used in extinsushins the serious fire
which occurred in the Alden mine in
January. 1885:
''On the 25th of January. through the
carclessness of miner in handling
dynamite, Il serious fire was started in
the Cooper vein workings. 600 feet from
the surface and near the shaft, in Il
heavy tmbered airway. Notwithstand-
ing the water at hand. the employees
were unable to stay the progress Of
the fire, and in an incredibly short time
all was in a fierce blaze
Heavy gas explosions followed dam
aging the air courses and Sunmarily
suspending ventilation. After the en-
plosion gas accumulated rapidly ana
no further work was possible in the
immediate vicinity of the fire. further
than turning water down the shaft in
order TO prevent its destruction.
Immediate preparations We're made
to food the mine. TO this end q bore
hole was commenced, 50 located as to
tap the gas at the top of high breasts
near the fire. Large pumps We're placed
at the creek and the construction be-
gun of a dam in the tunnel to raise the
water over the fire and permit the re-
sumption of work in other sections of
the collery. After six days cOntinu-
ons work, under the most trying con-
ditions, substantial dam of sawed
timber and concrete was completed
twenty feet long by twelve feet high
which finally sustained Il pressure of
over $50 tons.
When the water reached II height o.
1o3 feet, this being al least thirteen feet
above the fire limit, the pumps were
stopped, having forced about 81, 900 COO
gallons In the mines. The water was
not raised higher for fear of flooding
the workings of an everything vein The
bore hole was completed on March t.
Wooden tanks We're built ON the hoist
Ing cages, each holding 1000 gallons.
and arranged with valves and gates for
fllling and discharge. In one months
time all Of the water had been hoisted
and work was begun To repair the
shaft. On April 1G the airways We're
connected to the ran, restoring Venti-
lation. Within fOrty-eight hours after
this, steam and the products of COM
bustion We're discovered coming to the
fan, and these We're soon followed by
heavy gas explosions. Water was again
turned down the shaft into the mine
and raised to height of forty feet
stopping the explosions ana issue of
steam.
'There was no possible means of as
certainne the exact location of the
fire. but it was certain that the water
had covered the entire fire area. Ap-
parently the only plan was to again
Hood to the highest point, and wair.
though serious damage 10 the mines
would result 1t is Il we'll established
fact, and the results have shown to our
satisfaction. that in an extensive mine
the damage by water far exceeds that
by fire.
1.-THE coal seam in the vicinity of the
fire and No. 2 shaft has pitch to the
south of twenty degrees. The opening
from the shaft into the airway "A is
thirty-five feet from the bottom of the
shaft. 1t was proposed to lower the
water enough TO permit an entrance
into these ailways. and to work through
the burned district with view 10
locating the fire. if nothing more. Ven
tilation was entirely suspended. and all
openings filled With fallen rock and the
entire area thick With firedamp The
safety of the workmen depended upon
preventing a mixture of air with this
gas: TO this end. as the work advanced
only sufficient air was admitted by
brattice for requirements of the men
There was one favorable condition
The large amount OF gas generated by