All About Inventions and Discoveries
The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements

The Age of Oil 295 As a rule, a burning oil-well can generally be extinguished. But 11 Dos Bocas proved absolutely untamable. How much oil vanished in smoke and flame will never be known, but it is computed that 4,000,000 gallons of oil disappeared in this manner during the twenty-four hours. As the fire progiessed the well gradually resolved itself into a volcano, the crater of which increased until at last it was 1,000 feet across. The authorities strove to kill the fire by smothering the flames, and by mining with dynamite so as to cause a tremendous cave-in ; but both expedients had to be abandoned. The heat was so intense that approach within 300 feet of the roaring torch was impossible. The Mexican Government assisted the company with 450 sappers, but even this force failed to make any impression. At last, seeing that “ Dos Bocas ” was beyond recovery, it was decided to kill the fire by drastic means. Powerful pumps were installed beside a river 2,000 feet away, and they were set going for all they were worth, throwing water into the huge crater that had been formed. Even this heroic measure did not achieve the desired end. After flaring madly for fifty-eight days the fire suddenly collapsed. The we gave out, but only to belch 70,000,000 gallons of salt water a day. Even now the erstwhile gusher is dis- posed to reassert itself at intervals, but only to hurl salt water and gas into the air for a brief period. Nowadays, petroleum is fully recognised as being a dangerous master although a servile servant, so no precaution is considered to be superfluous so long as it secures the greater safety of the pioduct.