The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-04-21
GUSHER ECuPSES
WELLS OF ALL OTHER FIELDS
Produces at Rate of Nearly $4,000 a Day
and Has Continued More
Than a Month

Monday, March ID, the drill of the
Lakeview, well was pounding method
ically through a sandy formation more
than 200 feet below the surface. Grad
ually the sands hardened and the signs
of approaching water appeared. Prompt
orders were given to cease drilling.
But once again it is the story of the
man who dared to disobey. The next
day the big drill was hoisted and sent
down for another exploration. There was
a crack as of breaking bones, and the
long cylinder slid into the soft ooze.
rush of gas sent warning hiss up
the tube. In few moments there was
a rumble, and then an explosion. A
column of black mud shot over the
derrick and splashed over the boiler
house Another roll of thunder sounded
from the depths and the slime from
below was hurled high over the tower
as though from a volcano. Again and
again the pitch was elected by inter-
mittent explosions. AS it gathered force
the well threw stones and boulders
high into the air Then, clearing it
self of all refuse, it spouted full free
stream of petroleum 400 feet high.
Thus the famous Lakeview gusher was
born.
SEEN FROM AFFAIR
In its brief career of 80 days it has
poured forth more than 1,25O,O00 bar
rels and has earned for its owners
nearly $3.50. 900 1t has maintained a
steady flow between 10000 and 10000
daily. gaining the first place among the
gushers of the worlds oil fields.
IT is an imposing sight out on the
edpe of the unproductive desert, pour
ing its unlimited wealth into the zap
of man. The great well lies within
sight of the beautiful Buena vista
lake. and this it was that suggested
la To
Of Maricopa, standing almost on the
edge of the Midway district.
Eror,, far across the desert the column
of oil can be seen, blackening the earth
and darkening the sky. 1t throws
Great nah over the landscape, giving
the impression that the entire sectloh
lies under the shadow of threatening
cloud. For two miles In each direction
the oil spray has been spread by the
wind until the sage and the greasewood
,;sa black from blacker earth. The
houses nearby have been coated as with
tar.
SPOUTS LIKE GEYSER
The gusher itself plays in a most
spectacular manner. 1t spouts oil.
geyserlike, to great heights, the fluid
forming into darkened spray that
swirls in the wind. 1t is as though
bridal Veil falls in Yosemite, linked to
blackuess should shoot upward from
tho nrecipice with the same wonderful
grace with which it descends. The
falling drops pelt like hailstones upon
tbe earth, the heavier stream tumbling
1ilxa a cataract AS the oil rises from
Tho well ii carries a fine sand. The
wind carries the oil some distance from
the derrick, but the sand, falling at a
slight angle, has heaped up a mound
that has risen to the roof OF the boiler
house and has almost buried the build
ings on the lease
MEN DRESS IN RUBBER
The great stream has passed far be-
vond the stages of control. Night and
day an army of men has been at work
endeavoring to cap it and building
large storage dams to accommodate the
flow. It has filled the pipe lines and
still as much runs to reservoirs as a
rayine the size of an irrigating ditch
and several pipes can carry.
The men employed have been paid
extra wages and special offer has
been made of $4,000 to the man who
can cap the geyser. Dressed in rubber
from hat to boot and with glass look
outs for the eyes. the employees of the
lease have struggled valiantly to curb
the flow. They labor amid a rain of
oil The greatest danger comes, how
ever, from the poisonous gas that the
petroleum gives off.
Wells in the neighborhood of the
gusher have been forced to shut down.
Fires in cook stoves of the several eat