The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-12
NEARLY HAD IT.
Burning Gas Well Was Almost
Under Control.
Then the Joints Of the ''HOOd'
Gave Way.
WILL BE TRIED OVER.
Tomorrow Morning New Effort
viii Be Made.
Now Believed End of~TrOuble Is
in Sight.
WILL BE TRIED OVER.

Caney, Kan. March 12-The burning
gas well here viii be exting7lished with
in a day or two, at least this is the
conviction of those who have the work
in charge. While the attempt to cap
the well late Saturday evening was
failure, it was suf1icienaly successful to
demonstrate beyond a doubt the eftici-
ency Of the present apparatus. The trial
last Friday demonstrated the fallacy OF
trying to run the crane up to the Wen
on trucks. When the damage was re-
paired on this occasion the trucks were
moved up to a distance from the well
equal to the length Of the boom Of the
crane. The crane was then swung at
right angles from the wei and the hood
attached to it with chains. In this.
special care was taken that, in case of
accident the danger Of losing hold Of
the hood would be reduced to the mini
mum. It seemed that every possible
precaution had been taken to prevent
accident. In just three minutes from
the time the signal was given the heavy
hood swung over the well. IT'S sue
cess thought the men and the specta-
tors. Just at that moment. when sue
cess seemed to perch upon the boom, the
hood swung loose from the lead pipes.
the flames from the roaring volcano
turned the hood of 5000 pound weight
to a heat as White as paper. The hood
was constructed of steel and the IL
inch T for the lead pipe connection was
of ca stiron. The castiron expanded more
than the steel and the Joint was broken
The gas, however, was passing through
the hood and esca ping from the per
pendicular vent of the hood, demon
starting beyond doubt the efficiency OF
the method.
Sunday was spent by the weary work
ers in making q. joint that the heat can
not affect. Straps OF steel are being nv
eted across the joined parts, so they can
not fall apart in case Of expansion 9th
er possible weak places are Delng
strengthened. This work, it is expected,
will be completed and another trial will
he made Tuesday morning. There is
every confidence that this viii be the
last and successful effort
Hundreds of oil men, among thousands
of others, have visited the well curing lhe
last few days, and al agree tnat llolh-
ing of this kind has ever be1ore peen
known to the oil or gas industry A great
deal Of interest in the method Of shutting
tJe veil in is being taken as 1t Will be
of great Importance TO the l119usLl y Al
though the we'll has been flowing TOT over
+ y,ro- weeks. there is no .dinlimutons IN the
pressure or volunaes IN lacl, lIrss7tiS go 81
Increase in fury from day 10 cay, a Iesl
was made at some WelLs ao9lI d ne ne oll9
put Of those had been arrected IN the
least. = -.
ing well in the Bolton district soufn OF
three years ago. Inc noe noe
on the sewen farm witch registered about
Isl 900 900 feet The New York OIL and Gas
company drilled q. well about 2 mile from
f1a wei and got a gaEser Of the same
size which they were unable to shut in,
and it continued to blow for weeks w hen
the gas was finally gotten under control
it was found the well only registered g.
o0O O00 cubic feet and The sewen farm
sunday was one of the worst days OF
the winter. During most Of the day a
freezing sleet fell and the WIND blew a
rale II was cold and raw. yet thousands
~ DeonIe visited the well All the avail
able couveyances from Casney, 1ndepen-
aence. Coheyvil1e. Cherryvate and the sur
~o11r7rliuer farming country were pressed