National Geographic Society 



8o 5 



the light was visible for more than 100 

 miles at sea. Many of the superstitious 

 natives, believing that the world had 

 come to an end, fled in mortal terror 

 from the vicinity, and the Mexican au- 

 thorities were alarmed to such an extent 

 that several companies of troops were 

 sent to assist in the work of extinguish- 

 ing the fire. By the enormous pressure 

 quantities of bitumen were thrown high 

 into the air, and it was evident that the 

 flow contained a large proportion of dry 

 gas. The casings of 4 and 8-inch pipe 

 were hurled from the well into the flame 

 and rapidly converted into a twisted, 

 molten mass by the terrific heat. 



Every method of fighting fire known 

 to the profession was adopted, but it was 

 not until six centrifugal pumps were in- 

 stalled and sufficient mud and gravel 

 forced around the gusher to concentrate 

 a pack, restricting the fire and confining 

 the oil to a limited area, that it was con- 

 quered. 



After the fire was put out the flow 



continued as rapidly as before. Embank- 

 ments were then heaped up to confine 

 the oil until it could be disposed of. A 

 lake of oil, nearly 1,000 feet in width, 

 has already been formed. 



Upon a recent examination it was 

 found that the flow of oil had somewhat 

 decreased, and that the well was making 

 considerable salt water highly charged 

 with sulphur. It is a general rule that 

 such conditions indicate exhaustion, but 

 it was determined later that the unfavor- 

 able elements were not present in suffi- 

 cient quantities to cause any alarm, and 

 that the flow is more uniform and with- 

 out the intermittent pulsations. The con- 

 ditions are such, however, that it will be 

 impossible to arrange adequate tank 

 storage of any kind for some time, and 

 the oil continues to flow, spreading itself 

 over a vast area. The company is now 

 attempting to throw up encircling mounds 

 or dikes of earth, forming an enormous 

 reservoir, and in this novel manner hopes 

 to recover a great part of the production. 



NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY 



ANNUAL BANQUET 



The attention of all members of the Na- 

 tional Geographic Society is directed to the 

 Annual Banquet of the Society, which will be 

 held on Tuesday evening, December 15, at the 

 New Willard, Washington, D. C. The Board 

 of Managers have decided to make it a Navy 

 evening. The Secretary of the Navy, Hon. 

 Victor H. Metcalf, Admiral Robley D. Evans, 

 who commanded the American fleet on the 

 recent cruise from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 

 and other naval officers and their wives will be 

 among the guests of honor. Members of the 

 Society journeyed from New York, Philadel- 

 phia, and other cities to attend the Society's 

 banquet in December, 1907, and it is hoped that 

 this year an even larger number of members 

 living outside of Wasbington may be able to 

 be present. There will be several brief toasts. 

 As the number of persons who can be accom- 

 modated at the banquet is limited, members 

 planning to come from a distance are urged to 

 send in their reservations for plates at once. 

 The price per plate is $5.00. 



MEMBERS VISITING WASHINGTON 



Members of the National Geographic So- 

 ciety visiting Washington are cordially invited 

 to call at the Society's home, Hubbard Memo- 



rial Hall, Sixteenth and M streets. The Society 

 maintains a considerable geographic library, 

 and receives all the popular and scientific 

 periodicals. The library is open from 9 a. m. 

 to 4.30 p. m., except on Saturdays, when it 

 closes at 12. 



Members of the Society residing at a dis- 

 tance from Washington and who visit the 

 Capital for a few days during the lecture sea- 

 son will be given complimentary cards to any 

 address of the Society during their stay in the 

 city. 



PROGRAM OF MEETINGS 



Practically all the addresses to the National 

 Geographic Society during the season of 1908- 

 1909 will be held in the auditorium of the 

 Masonic Temple, Thirteenth street and New 

 York avenue. Commencing with Friday, 

 November 13, there will be an address in the 

 auditorium every Friday evening at 8.15 until 

 April 2, inclusive, excepting December 25, 

 January 1, and March 5. The addresses will 

 be published as far as possible in the Magazine 

 of the Society. 



One season ticket, admitting two persons to 

 all the lectures, may be bought by each member 

 for $3.00. 



The completed program of meetings to be 

 held in the Masonic Temple is as follows : 



