The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1904-07-21
that snortin' cratur this day or me
name is not Dinnis.'

livening speech, and with few words
the grizzled veterans prepared for a
struggle on the islands summit, IL
they could get there. The landing was
made and then came the ascent.
Ropes and tackle were brought into
play, and the whole force of men on
Goats Island turned to to assist in
pulling and showing the fire com,
pany's steamer" to the top of the
steep hill. The task was a mighty
one, but with encouraging words
from the resolute O'Reilly, the heavy
engine at length gained a point high
up near the summit
Then with run the hose was ad.
justed and slipped down over the
precipice into the bay. Fire was up
and the steam engine began its glad
chug-chug-chug as 1t got q vigorous
suction at work on the salt water far
below.
Flocks of sea gulls, excited by the
fire and smoke, screamed shrilly on
the heights to the music of the puff
fing, throbbing engine; the fremen
ran out the hose with a will and a
stream was soon playing fiercely on
the fiery hillside. Fortunately there
was plenty of hose, and after half an
hours hot work, scrambling and
stumbling over the rocks, the fire was
beaten back and the government build
ings saved from threatened destruc-
ton. Foreman O'Reilly and his men
had never quit fire until it was out,
and the order was to advance and
keep at it.
Faith, an IL there's water lift in
the bay" asserted OReilly, "well be
drvin' the diyil himself out av the
volcanny for fear av dthrownin'!"
Steadily the men kept at work until
they had approached almost to the
margin Of what appeared veritable
miniature volcano, perhaps twenty
five feet in diameter at the top, and
furiously vomiting flames high in air.
The heat was intense, and a resinous,
tarry odor was perceptible amid the
dense smoke.
At first their endeavOrs seemed to
have no effect other than to send I'D a
volume of Kissing vapor. But by de-
-
empts showed its effect, and the Joy
of Dennis O'Reilly manifested itself
vociferou1ly. Along in the afternoon
the spouting furnace Of the island,
which had alarmed a wide population,
had been subdued to spiteful spurts
and gurgling Accomplishments which
denoted q near finish. Soon. indeed,
the brave O'Reilly and his staunch
supporters could claim with reason
that they had extinguished a crater,
or something very like 1t.
The men were peering curiously
down into the black hole, and could
see that it extended sixty or seventy
feet. Startling rents were visible In
the solid rock. torn open doubtless by
the great heat, the sides narrowing
as they descended.
The government employees had retir.
ed from the scene, and having sent
below for stout rope, O'Reilly swore
he would go to the inside of the ugly
hole and ascertain what divl OF
thing was In it, anyway"
Having been warned to use discre.
ton, his companions carefully lower
ed him until he alighted in safety
upon a fiat ledge within few feet of
the bottom Of the pit. The odor in
the place was powerful and savored
Of kerosene. He broke of chunk of
dark substance and called up that the
volcano" had been filled with tar.
What the adventurer held in his hand
was, in point of fact, a half consumed
piece Of natural asphalt, and highly
in1ammable. This discovery heralded
another so astonishing that for the
moment the supposed tar was for
gotten.