The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-05-20
A FIRE THAT WON'T GO OUT.
Phenomenon Exhibited at Raiwa,
Station In Scotland.

Stdt'oH w oSObldHu
II is not generally known that in
Scotland not more than three mUes
out OF Glasgow, there Is fire raging
at a railway station. which has been
going on for months, and notwith.
standing that tons OF water have been
poured upon this insidlous fire. il can
not be put out. 1t seems incredible
but 1t is nevertheless true. The de
tails are as follows:
Several months ago waste piece Of
ground close to the station was want
cd by the railway company as sldlDp
The level OF this ground was too low
so truckloads of refuse were dumped"
on 1t to bring It to the necessary level
A large proportion Of this refuse con
sisted of rotting vegetation, and in the
course Of a little time It heated In
such an extent that combustion rot
in and started not only d smolder.ar
fire, but flames actually burst through
the ground.
Attempts were made to quell this
fire, and IL was thought after several
weeks of hard work and tons of water.
that IL had been put out. What was
the surprise, however. to see 1t break
out afresh in another place and nearer
the station. Fears then began 10 DO
felt for the safety of the station build.
ings, especially as the main double
line to important coast and country
towns led through 1t.
Fresh energy was then brought 10
bear and much more water was pour.
ed on this fire, which seemed to have
its stronghold in the bowels Of the
earth, but from the volume OF steam
and smoke issuing from innumerabla
crevices 1t was seen that the fire dem.
on was resisting all efforts and was
slowly creeping nearer and nearer to
the foundations of the railway station
1t was now whispered and soon be
came known that the station had orig
inally been built upon a sort of shale
which came out Of the mines in tina
near neighborhood years ago. These
shale mounds have been known to take
years burning right through. and tho
stencil from them Is anything but
pleasant
Now when Il became known tha,
the fire referred to was gradually eat
ing It's way to the foundations Of thu
station. a mild sort OF alarm began to
be felt. not only by the railway com
pany, but the aristocratic passengers
who daily use this suburban station.
For the mines have been worked ont.
and hundreds of beautiful villas havs
arisen out Of their ashes-so to speak.
The fire gained ground every day,
until by and by 1t reached beneath ono
Of the platforms. and any day there
after might be seen the novelty OF a
crowd Of people waiting on a platform
from the chinks and crevices OF which
were arising in many places Jets OF
steam from the fire below. Such a
volume Of water was kept continually
playing upon 1t that actual flames
were prevented from showing above
ground; but any casual observer could
see the evidence Of the great hea.
below.
In time 1t was observed that the
foundations of the station were set
Ting and cracking and twisting in
many placer, and all sorts of efforts
had to be resorted to to keep tho
buildings from being permanently in.
jured. At this present moment, as
tn 'se lines are being penned, the fro
has reached under the main line Of the
track and 1t is one of the curiositiej
Of the neighborhood to see the jets oi
steam and smoke issuing from he
tween the jleepers.
1t is foregone conclusion that the
fire cannot be extinguished, and it is
being left to have its own sweet way
and burn itself out. When this will
happen nobody knows, as there is a
large part of the foundation of the sta
ton not yet reached and as this has
be n going on for many months, it is
quite probable thai this fire in the
bowels of the earth will go on sapping
under the station until the buildngs
tn BILE about the passengers ears
III