Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-24
CENTENARY OF ANTHRACITE
II oceuru on February II. IpOs, and
Wukesbarre is Going to
Observe II.

WILKESBARRE, Feb 23.-On February
1905, Wilkesbarre is 20 celebrate the
Tooth anniversary OF the day on which an
thracite coal was first burned IN IN open
crate. Incidentally the ruthless seRrcher
after facts has shown that what was SUD-
posed 20 be history was merely tradition.
for It has been learned that the original
CRATE is not now In existence and that the
CRATE now carefully preserved in the Fell
house IN wilkesbarre as the original Is a
duplicate which was placed in the original
fireplace in 1873.
Before the experiment made by Judge
Jesse Fell in his tavern in wiIkesbarre, on
the old wilkesbarre and Eastern turnpike,
now Northampton street anthracite coal
was held to be OF little value. for 81 was
thought that It would not burn; except
under forced draught. BY burning anthra-
cite in an open CRATE Judge Fell opened
The way TO an industry which now gives
employment to 16s.O0O men, who produce
6o.O00OO tons OF anthracite annually and
which has given millions OF dollars in royal
ties TO the owners OF the lands
Just fifty years after his experiment
four young men were travelling toward
Wilkesbarre- One Of them was a grand
son OF Judge Fell He had that day been
reading in an old copy Of q well known
masonic book an account OF the experiment
made by his grandfather When ne men,
toned It one Of the members OF the party
recalled that the experiment had been
made just fifty years before. The young
men determined that something must be
done.
When they arrived in wiIkesbarre they
called a public meeting. 10 be held in the
same old tavern in which Judge Fell made
- IT..
James Platter Dennis. a grandson OF Judge
Foil; Henry Martyr Hoyt RfterwHrd gov
ernor OF Pennsylvania: John Butler Cunyng-
ham and Stanley Woodward. afterward
one OF the leading lawyers Of the state,
Thus they became the founders of the
| Wyoming Historical and Geological society.
| II - this organization that now proposes
/ to celebrats the Tooth anniversary Of tbs
experiment Of Judge Fell.
! II was at q meeting Of the society that
| the facts concerning the old Jesse Fell
/ CRATE were learned. A paper on Where
| is the CRATE which Jesse Fell made his
successful experiment OF burning anthra-
cite coslY' was read by the Rev. H. f.
Hayden
! Mr.. Hayden has come to the conclusion
| that the original CRATE is not now In exist
enee. and that the "Only well authenticated
CRATE extRnt belonging 20 Judge Fell il
that heretofore known as the Herman OF
Eick CRATE and now in the possession oi
the society.
Concerning the original CRATE as many a
six statements are made. The first IL thai
the CRATE was made OF hickory withes
Mr.. Hayden declares this 10 be untrue.
Next comes the marble crate. 20 called
because its claims were hrst put forth
~ = a -.
the First National bank OF Los Angeles
He states that while visiting mis- grand
father at Wyoming he was told the story
Of Judge FeUs experiment.
According 10 this story some iron bar,
were set In the old chimney which is still
in existence IN the Fell house. bricks wer,
piled IN front and on both sides and on tn,
iron bars a fire OF hickory wood was built
Coal was then procured and placed on IN,
fire. and il was found that II burned nicely
Judge Fell was so pleased, the story con
tinnes. that he took out this CRATE and had
another more substantial one made on tn.
following day. This. then. disposss OF tn,
original crate.
In lS5S there WAS no CRATE IN the fireplace
The projectors OF the historical sOcietl
secured from a Mr. Carpenter an old graf
which had been used by Judge Fell ant
placed II IN the fireplace for this oelebrs tion
The old crate was worn out and whsthe
! IL was the one made by JudEe~ Hell afts
} his FIRST experiment or W.hat became Of /
! sfterwRrd Is not known.
) Later In Judge Fen's life he married
widow named Culver. When IN lSSO the
; moved from the old Feb house they tool
: the CRATE with them. and this IL the graf
now IN the possession Of the historiaS
{ society.
, The old CRATE now IN the original freplRo
} at the Fell house. was, according 20 Cap
. tain Calvin Parsons, placed In the fireplac
. by him IN lB76. when q centennial celebrz
; ton was held for the Wyoming masaacrs
When IN 1915 the original tavern wa
! torn down the old fireplace and chime
> were preserved intact and now occupy
} plaza of honor N ths nsW buIldinE.