The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10
Efforts to Quench Gas Well
Baked Again.
Trucks Carrying the Big Hood
Break Down.
TO TRY AGAIN SUNDAY.
Trains Still Carrying Excur-
siOnists to Caney.
Many People Have Plans to
Queneh the Fire.

Caney, Kan, March 10.-The mon
gtroua hood which was calculated to be
TIIn ever the gas wen broke down, leav-
ing the situation as hopeless as ever
The pressure OF the well SIS constantly
increasing, and the flames shooting
their fnFlked tongues higher. The blaze
can be seen for miles. even IN the bright
est MONDAY The heat is so intense
that it is difficult to keep men working.
The great railroad that was puslAd up
to the well to run the trucks that sup
port the hood had to be drawn back,
as the heat is so great as to melt it
down. The influx of sightseers is con-
Etantiy increasing. Every train brings
in many. There will be an excursion
tonight over the Missouri Pacific from
Fredonia- Sleeping apartments are at
q premium. The acc ommodatfons can
not begin to supply the rush.
George Barnes, Of Muskogee. 7. T., in
looking over his leases adjoining the
burning monster. says that he has been
in the oil and gas business al Of his
life, but never yet has he seen anything
to equal it, a1a
The managers Of the well are con-
stantly receiving offers from persons
to put out the fire but when they go
out they change their minds and sim
ply say: 1T is awful"
The pen cannot describe the magni-
tude Of this mOnstrcus fiery demon.
The great roaring, seething flames
could only be realized by seeing and
hearing The people living near the
well are moving away. The noise Is too
great to endure. Experts say that this
well viii burn for years without even
eXhausting the immediate field. This
"a =s~-A1 a
producing from 16s100sO00 to 80, 900 600
cubic feet per day. Tt is thought that
the trucks will be again ready. for roll
ang the hood on the well by Sunday.
1t had been planned to make the at
Tempt after the crowd dispersed last
might General Manager Mcdowell
fearful OF some accident, preferring
not 20 have any spectators around when
1.-the attempt was made. The crowd sus-
pected the ruse and remained at the
weli until nearly II O'Clock when the
men, worn out and exhausted from long
hours in the intense heat, gave up and
went home.
In order to reach the-w with the
lbig crane which had been built upoI
car trucks, 1t was necessary to con
Btruct a railroad track for which ar
kembaukment about ave feet high was
thrown up from the field to the well
In order to keep the rails from beinl
warped by the heat, streams Of watei
porary pumps from the creek. Whel
the trucks with the heavy load struel
this Watered place the soft earth CAV
} way and the trucks broke down unde
the load. The hood had reached a poin
60 close to the flames that It quick.
turned TO a red heat and 1t require,
rapid work to get It cut of the way
The WOrkmen, almost exhausted from
the heat, for an instant were discour
aged. 1T Is expected, however, the re
pairs win be made and another attemp
made today.
Opinion to the probable success o
the plan to put out the fire is divided
Many still incline to the belief that tn
well VIII have to exhaust itself befor
81 can be put under control The com
pany IS receiving suggestions by lette
and telegraph from all parts Of tn
United States Many are offering Z
come and extinguish the flames in shor
order If the company will pay their ex
penses.
It Is estimated the Efforts to extin