I'm frustrated by not being able to find a letter I have from my grandfather's cousin describing the fires in the mine (New Straitsville). Going from memory it was started during the 1884 strike. They lit coal cars (half tracks?) filled with coal on fire and sent them deep into the mine. it was at about this same time that a couple of my great great uncles disappeared for a while into the countryside. The fire burned until the WPA put it out in the 1930s?? He told me that several years ago the Columbus newspaper did a story on it. You might be able to find it in the newspaper's archives. If I ever find the letter I will know the name of the newspaper. Kathy Researching Shields, Dugan, Donohue, Friel, McMahon, Baird, Baker, Cotter, all in Perry, Hocking, Athens counties _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com