it seemed that there remained but to close the gate valve in the top of the hood and our work was done. For several hours we had worked close to the hood, and with one or two others I had climbed to the top of that pile of earth (a veritable volcano it was, but in our enthusiasm we had no fear), to examine the valve.

We had not yet sat down to our late dinner when a message came from the well to tell us that the flame had broken out from beneath the hood even worse than before. An urgent message; but as we were tired out, and as we had left a force of men to look after things, we decided to take a much needed rest.

The next morning we found, to our dismay, that our hood was a ruined, mangled mass; that our boom had been destroyed, and it would be necessary to commence again where we had been two weeks before. To add to the general wreck, the wind changed, the flames burned the guy lines of our mast, and it fell. New mast, new boom, new hood, these were what were necessary before we could go ahead again. The machine shops were again started working day and night. This time 5/16 boiler plate was used for the hood. No changes were made in the design except that a 6" opening was put on the side of the hood as a sort of relief to the pressure. On Monday, the 19th, the new apparatus was in place ready for another attempt. By the usual method, the hood was placed over the well. By this time we had become experienced, each man knew what he was to do, and it was an easy matter for us to land it. But the gas flames, coming from underneath the edge of the hood from those side jets which had been at every turn a source of trouble, again were our Waterloo. The struggle that followed during that afternoon and evening in a vain effort to beat that flame was worthy of a nobler cause. We attempted to smother it by piling dirt and gumbo about the hood. Each man felt that it was his own personal struggle. For six hours, one shovelful at a time, we carried dirt and piled it around the hood. Crowns of men's hats were burned out, the shoulders and backs of their coats were scorched till they fell in pieces, the soles of their shoes were burned through, yet not a word of protest. They worked till

from sheer exhaustion they were compelled to retire, again to renew the attack when they had sufficiently recovered. It was

all to no avail. With the experience of the first hood before us, we felt that this also would be ruined, and not waiting to get it out decided to build another hood-this time cast iron was decided upon; however, we were able to recover the hood practically unharmed. During the next few days while the cast iron hood was being made, several attempts were made, but always with the same results. Our efforts had been so handicapped by the side flames that it was decided they should be united with the main body of the flame. This could only be done by dropping the eleven hundred feet of inch casing in the hole. It was the last hope. A cannon was secured to shoot off the elevators and thus release the casing. It was at about this time discovered that the links holding the elevators had been burned off and that if they could be spread apart the pipe would drop. By this means no damage would be done to the collar at the top. A spear was made and fastened to the end of sixty feet of three-inch pipe. The elevators were spread and the casings dropped. The relief at this change in flame was marvelous. By means of over-head screens we could work with comparative comfort immediately at the mouth of the well. We were thus enabled to clear the ground away and make a level area about eight feet in diameter in the center of which was the well. We sank this a couple of feet below the surface of the surrounding ground. Water was played upon it, and the ground was kept soft. Several times the men working there allowed the tips of their shovels to get into the flow of the gas. They were thrown fifty feet in the air. The first time this occurred, the workman hardly knew what had happened. His shovel disappeared as by magic from his very hand, and he saw it no more. Once also a steel bar was hurled high into the air.

Up to this time only once had we got to the point of attempting to close the gate of the hood. We used an extended stem made of two joints of two-inch pipe for this purpose. The method was too slow, and as soon as the pressure began to increase, due to the shutting of the gate, out she broke from the bottom. The extended stem was

abandoned, and a reel placed upon the regular stem. Upon this was wound a coil of light, flexible, stranded wire. It was the intention to have a couple of the men, the fastest runners among them, take the end of the line and run with it until the gate was closed. So confident were we now of success that on the afternoon before the final effort we had a group picture taken. Every one present, including spectators, was invited to get into it. We went to our hotel that night making plans for getting away the next night. Most of us would not be needed there after the fire was out, and very little other business had been done for a month.

It was Thursday afternoon, March 29th, when we landed the hood. Not a bubble came up through the pool of water in which it was standing. The work of weighting the hood down was carefully looked after. Nothing must be neglected, for we felt that if care was exercised we were to be triumphant. Successive layers of gumbo and canvas were placed around the hood. The canvas was stretched flat, and extended twelve or fifteen feet away. Water was kept constantly playing over

all. The canvas was also well soaked in water before it was put in place. One hundred feet of six-inch pipe was connected to the opening on the side of the hood and the gate valve opened. Wire cables were thrown over the hood and fastened to dead men buried deep in the ground. These were then drawn as tight as it was possible to get them. We did not dare to cut our boom free, as in the remote event of failure we must be able to lift the hood away by means of the crane; but the boom was lowered to get it as far as possible from the flame.

At about four o'clock we were ready to shut the gate. We had exhausted every available means of holding the hood down. Six hundred pounds to the square inch exerted on the inside of a cone, three and a half feet at the base has a lifting power which is considerable. When the final word to go was given to the men on the end of the wire line there was a certain degree of nervousness evident, although everybody was smiling. Two steam pipes had been hooked by means of a nipple and elbow over the top of the short piece of 12 inch pipe away from the hood and above the gate valve. If any small

leak remained after the gate was closed it was intended to snuff out the flame with the steam.

As the men started on their 120 foot dash across the field there was at first no apparent effect. Not until the discs had begun to throttle the opening was there a change. Gradually the flame grew less until finally with a puff and a hiss nothing. but a column of white steam was left; but by this time things were doing about the hood. It commenced to bob up and down and dance as if impatient at the restriction upon it. There also began to be an agitation set up underneath our carefully constructed pile of gumbo and canvas until again the forces of nature predominated and the gas broke forth through our flimsy barriers. It was not ten seconds after the fire was gone until the gas enveloped the hood. But what cared we? Our fire was out. Five weeks of incessant battling with the apparently unsurmountable obstacles presented by a combination of the physical and chemical forces of nature had resulted in man's supremacy.

The rest of the story is quickly told. After a number of unsuccessful efforts to screw into the top of the six inch casing which had been dropped in the hole the well was shut in on the 84 casing and in that shape she stands to-day. No gas has yet been taken out of the well except for local drilling purposes and the enormous gas reserve, stands available when it is found necessary to use it.

Although this was the hardest piece of work upon which I have ever been engaged, it was also the most interesting, and although the physical and nervous strain during the entire five weeks was most severe, I would not have missed the opportunity afforded; yet I question if I would knowingly enter upon another such battle with the forces of nature.

THE PRESIDENT: Gentlemen, you have heard the paper by Mr. Welch. What is your pleasure concerning it?

MR. SHELTON: Mr. President, I move that a most hearty vote of thanks be extended to Mr. Welch for this paper. I think the American Gas Institute is indebted to the Natural Gas Association of America, and to its representative here, for having given this paper to the Institute as a contribution

to its work. I ask that the same course be taken in this case as was suggested before.

Motion seconded.

All

THE PRESIDENT: Gentlemen, you hear the motion. those in favor will signify by saying "Aye." Contrary minds, "No." The motion is carried. Mr. Welch, you have the thanks of the American Gas Institute for your paper.

MR. HENRY L. DOHERTY, as Chairman on Methods of Testing Industrial Appliances, gave an extemporaneous resume of the work done in preparing the report and some of the conclusions arrived at. In closing, he said:

"I would move, Mr. President, that this report be accepted, and that we be given leave to amend at the convenience of the Secretary, so that the report may appear in the proceedings. We do not want to delay its publication, but we want to pass it over from one member of the Committee to another, and have them all pass upon it before it is published. I make this in the form of a motion.

THE PRESIDENT: Gentlemen, you have heard the motion which has just been made by Mr. Doherty. Any remarks? Is there a second?

Motion seconded.

THE PRESIDENT: All in favor will signify by saying "Aye." Contrary minded, "No." The motion is carried. I think a little appreciation for the work which has been done on this should be shown by the Institute.

MR. WALTON FORSTALL: Mr. President, I will move that a vote of thanks be extended to Mr. Doherty for the valuable work which has been done.

Motion seconded.

THE PRESIDENT : All in favor of the motion as stated will signify by saying "Aye." Contrary minds, "No." It is carried. Mr. Doherty will please accept the thanks of the Institute.