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HARNESSING A (fI'SHEK.
IT’S A CREAT FEAT TO SUBJUCATE
AN OIL WELL.
Tlie Mighty Stream That Iluslietl Faith
Whon tlie I. uvits (inther at Heamnont
Was Struck Skill, Haring and Great
Fiiduranre I: qHired W hen Caviling.
Everybody who reads the daily pa
pers knows that a big hole was sunk
in the ground near Beaumont, that a
mighty stream of oil rushed forth and
that the Lucas gusher was created.
Everybody knows that after several
days had elapsed the well w*.s
• capped,” and the further waste of oil
vas prevented. But everybody does
not know what a great feat of engi
neering skill, daring and endurance
the process of “capping” was nor
what an effort it took to control and
bring into subjection that mighty
belching of nature.
, On Jan. 9 the well had reached a
depth of 1160 feet, and there were four
metal tubes in the hole. The first cas
ing, a pipe 10 inches in diameter,
reached a part of the way. Inside of
that there was an eight-inch pipe ex
tending still farther down, and within
that there was a six-inch pipe reach
ing almost 1000 feet down. All of these
pipes extended above the surface of
the ground. Below the end of the six
inch pipe was a rock formation,
through which the contractors had
been drilling for several days. The
drill was driven by a four-inch pipe
extending through the others. The
four-inch pipe was merely used as a
tool and was not intended for casing.
On the evening of Jan. 9 the four
inch pipe was drawn out in order that
anew drill might be substituted for
the one which had become worn. The
pipe was left out overnight. The next
day anew bit was affixed to it and the
men began lowering it. It had got
down about 700 feet when the oil
gushed out. of the rock, forcing the
four-inch pipe out, hurling it 300 feet
aioit, carrying away the tackles, hy
draulic pump connections, etc. The
oil deposit was not drilled into. The
commotion in the bowels of the earth
broke through the rock 17 hours after
the drill made its last turn, and the oil
gushed forth and shot heavenward
wiin terrific force, a belching, ungov
ei nod monet'r.
To cap. and curb and control this
great pillar of force, the upward pres
sure ot which it was afterward deter
mined was 105 pounds .4©- the square
inch. The men had to work under the
torrent of greasy, dirty oil as it de
scended to the earth. In order to do
this they wore goggles to protect the
eyes and gauze shields to protect the
nose, all the apertures around them
being closed with plaster. Speech and
hearing were impossible, and the work
was directed by a code of signals pre
viously agreed upon.
A plan was devised for putting a
whole valve in place. A frame was
constructed of railroad iron as a slide
to carry the valve. Two bars were
laid horizontally across the derrick
frame, passing on either side of the
stream of oil. These bars were in
tended to support and hold the valve
in place from the sides. Above these
were two other bars, engaging the top
of the valve and intended to keep it
from being thrown upward when it
should com 3 in contact with the
•stream.
Just beyond the stream bolts were
fastened in the bare so as to stop the
valve over the stream and at the prop
er plane. The bars were securely an
chored so as to withstand the strain
to be put upon them. Into this frame
or si do the valve was put. A block
and tackle was rigged up and con
nected with the valve, and when ev
erything was in readiness a team of
horses was driven forward at a rapid
spe ed. The valve was, of course, open
at both ends so as to permit the
stream to pass through it when it
should come directly over the pipe.
Hut it was known that a tremendous
pressure would bs exerted upon the
half of the valve passing through tha
stream before the valve would reach
its place and surround the flow. As
the horses moved forward and the
valve cam? in contact with the stream
tht-re Avas a fearful strain, a tilting
movement and a terrific spattering of
oil. It was an anxious and critical
moment for the men who were trying
to harness this force of nature, but
the crisis was safely passed. The
valve reached the stop bolts and set
tled into place directly over the end of
the pipe and perfectly inclosing the
stream. The oil again flowed unim
peded toward the sky. but with the
circle of iron around it.
One step in the closing of the well
had been safely accomplished, but the
valve hung in its frame 12 inches
above the top of the pipe. Anchors
were made, and the valve was pulled
down to the top of the eight inch pipe
and screwed on. Fortunately there
were good threads on this pipe. The
six-inch pipe was what is known as a
blind pipe and was not threaded.
it next became necessary to put
down anchors sufficiently' strong to
hold the pipe in place after the clos
ing of the valve should bring the pres
sure of the stream against it. As the
oil was still rushing upward through
the orifice at the top of the valve and
falling on the ground around the well
the men could not w r ork at digging the
necessary holes, and furthermore the
saturation of the ground made it soft.
It therefore became necessary to divert
the stream. An orifice on the side of
the valve was opened. Then the orifice
at the top was gradually closed, and
the stream shot out horizontally some
.‘b'M) feet. Then the holes were dug,
the anchors put in and screwed down
upon the top of the valve.
The oil was returned to the upward
flow in order that a T might be
leached at the side of the valve. When
this had been accomplished the side
orifice was again opened and (he
stream turned in a horizontal posi
tion.
Now the momTnt had arrived to
shut off the stream altogether, an 1
every pound of pressure exterted by
the hidden force deep down in the
ground must be borne by the valve
and by the anchors chaining it. A
pressure gauge was fitted into the
valve. Then the gate of the side ori
fice was gradually closed. Gradually
the pressure rose in the gauge. Pos
sibly something might, be wrong with
the gauge. The stream was turned on
ngi'in. and anew gauge was substi
tuted. Gradually the pressure rose
in this gauge as the stream was shut
off. Again it stopped at 105 pounds,
and not a drop of oil trickled from
the pipe. The anchors held firm; the
great pillar of oil was stopped; the
commotion in the earth no longer was
manifested on the surface; the great
roar was hushed and silence again
reigned. In 10 days and 10 minutes
from the time the oil burst from its
rocky bed the Lucas gusher had been
closed. The six men who had done the
work shouted for joy, and Mr. Lucas
threw his hat in a pond of oil.
The work of closing the well oc
cupied two days, the beginning having
been delayed several days to secure
material.
After the well had been closed Mr.
Lucas built a large iron casing around
the pipe above the earth and filled it
with sand to protect the well from
fire. Last week the valve was uncov
ered and opened a little. Mr. Lucas
says the pressure continues the same,
and they now have the oil confined in
natural reservoirs from which they can
draw a gill or a million gallons at
will. —St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
GUAINT AND CURIOUS.
Buffalo, N. Y., has an automatic
clock in one of the public schools
which announces by a ringing of a
bell the closing hour of each recita
tion. It is said to he the only time
piece of its kind in the world adapts!
to such work.
A party of 10 California automobil
ists recently indulged in a wildcat
hunt. They followed the hounds as
closely as possible, the country being
favorable to the operation of the vehi
cles, and had the satisfaction of bag
ging a dozen of the felines.
Some years ago there was a remark
able migration of crabs at the mouth
of the St. James river. They moved
slowly along to the north, and not
only covered the bottom, but countless
numbers swam in midwater. Not a
foot of the sandy bottom was free of
crabs, so that it was impossible to put
an oar down without striking one or
more. For several days this move
ment continued.
Const is the smallest republic as to
area, but Tavolara is the smallest re
public si s to population. Goust is only
one mile in area. It is located on the
flat top of a mountain in the Pyrenees,
between France and Spain, and is rec
ognized by both these countries. It is
governed by a president and a council
of 12. It was established in 1648 and
his 180 inhabitants. The president is
tax collector, assessor and judge.
Devotees of golf are fond of refer
ring to it as “the ancient and royal
game.” It is probably more royal and
certainly far more ancient than most
of them have any id>:a of. At all
events a pictured (ablet was recently ;
unearthed at Carchemish, the old cap
ital of the Hittites, whereon are de
picted men and women engaged in a :
pastime, which, if not exactly golf as 1
played at present. Is something ex
traordinarily like it.
How to stop the Indians of the South
Dakota reservation from eating each
other's food is an amusing but per
plexing problem with which the In- {
dian bureau is now dealing. It is an
unwritten law of Indian hospitality :
that a guest may stay as long as he
likes, and that as long as the guest re
mains the host must provide the food.
It has become the custom among the
Sioux, who have a feast with their
two-week ration as soon as they re
ceive it from the government, to go to
the more provident Indians and live
on them until all their food was gone, j
The Gun-making Industry
As an illustration of the magnitude
of the business involved in the pur
chase by the smaller powers of war
material in Europe, one has only to
look at the number of men employed
at such great plants as the Krupp of
Germany, the Creusot in France, and
those of the Armstrongs and Vickers
Sons & Maxim of England. Krupp
employs something like 25.000 men;
the two English firms employ collec
tively about 36,000 men; and the Creu
sot plant about 19,000. No reckoning
is here made of the famous Loewe
works of Berlin, or of Italian, Belgian
and numerous French firms. With the
exception of Krupp, the above estab
lishments ordinarily confine them
selves to filling foreign orders. —Har-
per’s Weekly.
Well-15ro<l Princesses of Slnm.
A somewhat curious school has
been opened at Bangkok by an Eng
lish lady. The pupils are 15 in num
ber, and they are all princesses of the
royal family in Siam. They are
taught to do everything that a good
housekeeper should do. They cook,
wash clothes, bake, sweep the rooms,
lay the table, arrange the flowers, and
in short, learn to make themselves
generally useful. They leave the
school to be married at the age of 15,
and it is said that a Siamese princess
now makes an admirable wife. —Lon-
don Globe.
THE WEEKLY NEWS. CARTE IIS VILLE, OA.
Start The New Century Right*
Don’t try to get along with those old fashioned,
out of date farm implements. What’s the use, when
our prices on up-to-date implements are so low ?
for quality and durability, has been given
the machinery which we sell and recommend,
“Iried and true ’ makes are the only ones
good enough for our customeis.
WE ARE PROUD
of our new spring
line of
STYLISH
BIGS
Hlf
WATERED MILK BARRED.
Atlanta Sanitary Officials Sorely liar
rassthe Dairymen.
T he Atlanta sanitary department is
making it warm for the dairymen who
sell milk in the city. Nearly every day
cases are made against dairymen
whose milk does not come up to the
standard required by city ordinance.
The inspector secures samples of
milk from wagons or at stores, when
it is least expected, and the samples
are analyzed. If the analysis shows
that there is not enough cream in the
milk and too much water, a case is
made. Under the milk ordinance the
minimum fine that can be imposed by
the recorder is $10.75.
On. Sickles >erlously 111.
According to a New York dispatch
General Daniel E. Sickles is seriously
ih in Pleasantville, N. Y.
PROMINENT PEOPLE.
The report of the Pope's illness
proves unfounded.
Count and Countess von YValdersee
will visit America next year.
General Maximo Gomez, the Cuban
patriot, is on a visit to the Unifed
States.
The Sultan of Turkey is one of the
most enthusiastic chess players in
Europe.
Admiral Dewey and General Joseph
Wheeler have been widely entertained
at Newport, It. I.
Prince Oman, a brother of the Em
peror of China, will visit the United
States in the fall.
Andrew Carnegie has increased his
library gift to Port Jervis, N. Y., from
$-0.000 to $;{o,ooo.
Governor-General Wood, at Havana,
Cuba, is improving, but his physicians
advise him to rest.
King Edward has conferred on the
Sultan of Morocco the Order of Knight
Grand Cross of the Bath.
Mrs. Creighton is at work on a biog
raphy of her late husband. Dr. Creigh
ton, who was formerly Bishop of Lon
don.
M. Carnbon, the French Ambassador
at Washington, bade President Mc-
Kinley goodby before sailing for Faris.
He expects to return in the fall.
The new Italian ambassador to Lon
don, Sig. Alberto Panza, is possessed
of a very intimate knowledge of Euro
pean statecraft. He is fifty-seven
years old.
The Rev. Dr. Byron Sunderland, for
many years pastor of the First Pres
byterian Church in Washington, died
at the home of a son-in-law at Cats
kill. X. Y.
President McKinley is planning to
make a trip to the Northwest early
next summer. He will visit Washing
ton, Oregon and other States of the
northern tier, taking in Yellowstone
Fnrk, which he has never seen.
KNIGHT HARDWARE CO
—■————ww-fri——————
FAVORABLE TO CROPS.
i Weather Conditions In Georgia the
Past Week Encouraging.
The Georgia crop report for the week
ending Monday, July Bth, issued by the
local weather bureau shows that the
weather conditions of the week were
generally very favorable to crops, and
much cultivation was accomplished.
Local showers occurred in a few sec
tions, but in a majority of the coun
ties dry and hot weather prevailed.
Cotton has taken a start, is growing
favorably, blooming and forming; its
general condition is, however, still re
garded as inferior, and black root has
appeared in some or the southern
counties. Corn needs moisture in near
ly all sections. Melons are poor,
peaches continue to rot; cane, pota
toes, peas and minor crops are pro
gressing well as a rule.
LAMES OPEN TO PUBLIC.
Cession Made By Indians Now Ready
For White Manbi occupancy.
The proclamation of President Mc-
Kinley opening to settlement the lands
ceded by Indians in Oklahoma was
made public at Washington Sunday.
The proclamation covers the cessions
made by the Wichita and affiliated
hands of Indians in acqrdance with
the act of March 2, 1895, and those
made by the Comanche, Kiowa and
Apache tribes in pursuance o- the act
of June 6, 1900.
Tne proclamation provides for the
opening of the lands in those reserva
tions which are not reserved at 9
o’clock a. m. on August 6th next, the
land to be open to settlement under
the homestead and townsite laws of
the United States.
JELKS MEANS BUSINESS.
Alabama Governor Offers S4OO for
I-arh Member of a Mob.
Governor Jelks, of Alabama, has bro
ken the record in offering rewards. He
has offered S4OO for evidence to secure
the conviction of each memner of the
mob which lynched Robert White in
Elmore county recently. No one knows
the size of the mob and the total re
ward may figure into the thousands.
Son of Ambassador Suicides.
Attorney Frederick D. White, son of
Ambassador to Germany Andrew L.
White, committed suicide at Syracuse.
N. Y., Monday night by placing the
muzzle of a rifle in his mouth ami pull
ing the trigger. He had been suffering
from neurasthenia.
Climax of Hot Wave.
Monday tue climax of the hot wave
at Pierre, S. D., was reached. The
government record was 104 and it was
hotter on the streeta. Business is
practically suspended.
Rheumatic pains are the cries of protest
and distress from tortured muscles, aching
joints and excited nerves. The blood has
been poisoned by the accumulation ol
waste matter in the system, and can no
longer supply the pure and health sustain
ing food they require. The whole system
feels the effect of this acid poison ; and
not until the blood has been purified and
brought back to a healthy condition will
the aches and pains cease.
Mrs. James Kell, of 707 Ninth street, N. E„
Washington, TANARUS). C., writes as follows; “A few
months ago I had an attack of beiatic Rheurna
film in its worst form. The
pain was so intense that I
became completely pros
trated. The attack was an
unusually severe one, and
mv condition was regard
eif as being very danger- “lly KB
ous. 1 was attended by '
one of the most able doe- nB AJegr
tors in Washington, who is ,
also a member of the fac
ulty of a leading medical J '
college here. He told me
to continue his prescrip
tions and I would get well. After having P filled
twelve times without receiving the slightest
benefit, I declined to continuous treatment anj
longer. Having heard of S. S. S.(Swift's Specific)
recommended for Rheumatism, I decided, almost
in despair however, to give the medicine a'mal,
and after I had taken a few bottles I was able t<
hobble around on crutches, and very soon there
after had no use for them at all, S. S. S. having
cured me sound and well. All the distressing
pains have left me, my appetite has returned
and I am happy to be again restored to perfeef
health.
the great vegetable
purifier and tonic, is
the ideal remedy in all
Lm ja. al rheumatic troubles.
There are no opiates or
minerals in it to disturb the digestion and
lead to ruinous habits.
We have prepared a special book on
Rheumatism which every sufferer from
this painful disease should read. It is the
most complete and interesting book of
the kind in existence. It will be sent free
to any one desiring it. Write our physi
cians fully and freely about your case. Wo
make no charge for medical advice. &
THE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO.. ATLANTA. GA.
CHINESE TURN TABLES.
Pigtails Ask Pay For Damages Done
By American “Boxers.”
The Chinese government through
Minister Wu Ting Fang has filed a
claim for indemnity to the amount of
a half million dollars on account of al
leged outrageous treatment of Chinese
at Butte, Mont., in 1886. There is a
suggestion of boxer outrages reversed
in the presentation of the case to the
state department, the treatment inflict
ed upon the Chinese at Butte being
claimed to have been cruel and oppres
sive. It is charged that some of them
were killed, others lost their property
and many of them were driven out.
The claimants number several hun
dred.
Do yoo want an up-to-date, live
newspaper—one that will keep you
posted on affairs at home and abroad!
Ton will answer the question affirm
atively by sending ns your name aud
subscription for this paper for a year
or at least sis mouths.
RUSSIA OFFERS
TO RACK DOWN
Makes Proposition to Call
Off Tariff War.
THE MOVE COMES TOO TATE
Secretary Gage Notifies Minister
DeWitte That the /latter Is
Now In Court.
A Washington special says: An
other important exchange has occur
red between the Russian government
and the United States relative to the
tariff. The Russian minister of fi
nance, M. De Witte, has proposed that
Russia will vacate all of the additional
duties levied on American goods since
the imposition of the sugar differential
if the United States will vacate its ac
tion on the sugar differential. To this
Secretary Gage has replied that the
offer of the Russian government can
not he accepted, as the question of the
sugar differential is now in the hands
of the court, thus precluding action by
the executive branch.
The proposition of the Russian min
ister of finance was the result of Sec
retary Hay’s note of about two weeks
ago. In that note Mr. Hay pointed out
that the action taken as to petroleum
was not new, nor was it meant to have
any connection with the previous ac
tion of the government on sugar. This
appears to have confirmed Russian of
ficials in their view that the petroleum
order was only another step in the
policy previously taken respecting su
gar.
M. De Witt’s response is not long,
hut is quite to the point. It makes no
further issues as to the petroleum or
der. The chief attention is given to
sugar and the specific offer Is made
to vacate immediately the increased
duties which Russia has levied if the
United States will vacate its action on
sugar. This would amount to re-estab
lishing the status quo which existed
before the United States tooiv its ini
tial action relative to Russia.
The Russian proposition was com
municated to Secretary Gage, who re
sponded promptly that as the • sugar
question is now before the courts it is
not possible for him to avail himself of
the Russian suggestions. Anus the
matter stands.
The reductions which would have
resulted under M. De Witt’s tender
are those affecting cast iron wares,
manufactures of Iron and steel, boiler
work, tools for .artists, factories and
workshops, gas and water meters, mo
tors and dynamos, sewing machines,
portable engines, not including thresh
ing machines, fire engines and other
machinery of iron and steei, also white
rosin, galipot, brewers’ pitch and bi
cycles.
DEADLY DUEL IN FLORIDA.
j Farmer and Son-In-Law Use Shot
Guns Willi Disastrous Results.
News comes from Plant City. Fla.,
that a fatal duel with shotguns was
fought near that place Monday after
noon and that as a result Edward
Franklin, a farmer, is dead and David
Kinard, Franklin’s son in law; Mrs.
ivinard and their baby are seriously
wounded.
Franklin, it is alleged, had employed
a farm hand to do some plowing, for
which he was to receive 700 strawber
ry plants. The work having been nu
ished Franklin gave an order on Kin
ard for the plants, who refused to fill
it. This was reported to hranklin, who
immediately armed himself with a
shotgun and went to the Kinard home.
Arriving there he immediately opened
fire, it is said, on his son in law, miss
ing him, but striking and seriou-rly
wounding his daughter and grandchild.
Kinard ran for his gun and returned
the fire. Another volley was fired at
each other, Franklin falling dead and
Kinard being seriously wounded.
Evans’ Good Management.
The report of the commissioner of
pensions for the fiscal year just ended
will show that the commissioner will
turn back into the treasury $5,000,000
as unexpended balance of the amount
appropriated to pensions. The total
appropriation made by congress was
$140,000,000.
SEEKING A SETTLEMENT.
Str king Machinists In Atlanta Ap
point a ( onference Committee.
An important step looking to har
monizing the differences which exist
between the Southern railway on the
one hand and the striking machinists
on the other was taken Tuesday at a
meeting in Atlanta. Ga.
By unanimous action resolutions
were passed by the machinists calling
on the other lodges interested to ap
point one representative each for the
purpose of conferring with the South
ern railway management, with a view'
to harmonizing the differences now ex
isting.
STEEL LURS INEFFECTIVE.
Seven Prisoners Cut Through Jail
* age at Hinesville, Ga.
Seven prisoners escaped from the
county jail at Hinesville, Ga.. early
Tuesday morning. They broke through
the steel cage, but it. is not yet known
yet how this was accomplished.
Six of the prisoners were colored.
One was in for murder, others for va
rious lesser crimes, including Willie
Sims, white, for cow stealing.