The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-17

well as possible and then try to smother
1t with steam.
The crowd at the neld today is as large
az II was at the time the well came In.
but in an entirely. different mood In
place Of shouts of triumph expressions Of
the deepest regret are heard on every
nand. Early this morning the southern OIL
company commenced pumping from their
further spread IL the Ore breaks loose and
spreads to the adjoining field.
The loss can hardly be estimated at this
hour. Both Of the i2oo-barrel supply tanks
We're full az the time the IRE originated
aud are a total loss The machinery that
is used IN pumping from the supply tank
Is badly warped aud damaged by the heat
There can be no estimate placed on the
amount Of oil that Is being consumed by
the IRE
President Alba Haywood, in an inter.
view, said; The lossi Well, no, no; ! dom, Ion,
be enough. AS soon rs we get this Ore
out we viii begin where we left of and
as soon as II can be done, will be supply
ing the people with oil.
MIDNIGHT REPORT.
The situation at the oil field at mid.
night IS practically the same. No progress
has been made In conquerins the flames
and II anything they are getting stronger.
The continuous flames for the past thirty
six hours is showing on the valve and
pipe for the opening is growing larger.
The entire day has been passed In ad.
vancing new Ideas and passing on them,
and absolutely nothing has been accom-
piished.
Late this evening the chemical engine
that arrived from Beaumont last night was
tried and did not even queuch the ire
In the small streams that extend from the
pool At O'Clock four boilers had been
connected and as many streams OF steam
we're turned on the fire. The only appar-
ent effect OF these streams was Ia caus-
ing the ire to burn hercer.
The latest plan devised is to build wall
several feet high around and as near the
ire as the workmen can stauu, ana a
force Of twenty-five men are now at work.
The steam pipes are then TO be turned
Into this leevee TO food the surplus oil
out through a lead ditch thar is being dug,
by this means they hope TO reduce the
tire and connne II strictly 70 the well. A
carload of chemicals has been ordered and
is now on the way.
Owing 10 the peculiar formation OF the
we'll the difficulty In conquering II Is
greater than would otherwise be. The well
was never finished, o 4.inch pipe is set
In a 6-inch casting and between the two
the oil is escaping. The experts who came
over from Texas are unable 10 advance any
workable ideas for this fire is an entirely
new feature in the history of oil neld
TRES
The remaining portion OF the field Is Idle.
The only company now at WORK Is the
Pelican. nearly quarter Of mile to the
north, entirely out Of danger.
The chemical engine has just arrived IN
the city and will be shipped home to-
night.
The owners Of the well do not seem
20 be in the least downhearted and talk
encouragingly OF being able 20 cope with
the situation in a day or two although 1t
does not at present seem possible. The
loss is now nearing the $4,000 mark ana
will probably pass that before 1t is over.
The plan OF covering the well with acid.
which was advanced last evening and then
abandoned, viii be tried should the present
one fail.