UNTAMED GUSHER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 941, 7 April 1930, Page 9

UNTAMED GUSHER

COUNTRY FLOODED FROM OKLAHOMA WELL £15,000 A DAY LOST L nited I*.A. — By Telegraph —Copyright NEW YORK, Saturday. The giant oil gusher at Oklahoma City was brought under control late this evening after a picked crew had worked 36 hours to strap a 3,0001 b cone over the mouth of the well. This stemmed the tide of oil which had flooded the neighbourhood for days, entailing tremendous loss of valuable products. Later, however, the cone was blown off the gusher and a vast stream was again emitted with unabated force. The engineers intend to make one more attempt to control the well. If that fails they will destroy it by pumping in cement until it is completely dammed. This is to be done in order to end the enormous damage and increasing risk of lire. Troops are patrolling the area for miles around.

The workers were under the direction of Mr. Homer Craig, famed for liis taming of wild oil wells. He flew to the spot from Tulsa. Several men were overcome while lashing the cap to the well. They were forced to work immersed in oil up to their armpits. It is not known yus t whether the well will remain under control. Farmers and dairymen in the vicinity have suffered great losses from the escaping oil and gas. The owners of the well estimate their loss at £15,000 a day for nine days.