Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-30
Burning Fluid.

We have no desire to do away with that most ne |
cessary caution and in relation to this popular
and beautiful material for light But as much has
been said about the danger Of its use it is but fair
t. hear both Sides and it will be interesting to all
who the fluid to read the following remarks con-
corning it. They are from the Newark Advertiser
AT Mr. Ennis lecture. in Library Hall, he sta
ted that verv unfavorable and unjust views en-
tertained by many about the common burning fluid,
now much in use as fuel for lamps. Camphne is
spirits of turpentine burning fluid is combination
of alcohol and camphene; phosgene gas the bright
est and best of these articles differs from burning
fluid in having all the water taken out of the alco
hol before mixture. and this account it will
bine with much greater amount of camphene.--l
The great error now in the community is suppo-
sition that it will explode dangerously The danger
is not in any explosion. glass lamp was exhibit
ed before the audience, which had been burning
for than three hours; the fluid was neatly OUT
and above the fluid, in the upper part of the lamp.
was mixture of the vapor Of the fluid and the at
mospheric air the whole was considerably heated
from the length of time it had been burning from
two tubes. The lecturer extinguished the flame
unscrewed the metallic top and laid it aside, and
then applied lighted taper to the opening in the
top of the lamp The result slight puff, scarce
ly audible. and no movement whatever either of the
lamp the remaining fluid within it, great ma
nv such experiments had been tried by MIR. Ennis
with these three substances. eamphene, burning
fluid. and alcohol, and in all the results had
convinced him that the explosions are by no means
dangerous and that they have nothing to DO with
the many sad accidents we hear OF from the careless
use of burning fluid
The real sources of danger may easily be avoid
ed if once they be pointed out, and then there
be little objection against the use of these re-
ally good articesso far superior to oil in cieanli-
ness and hardness and pleasantness of light. The
only way that mischief can be done is by spilling
the fluids in burning state over things that easily
take fire and this splitting generally takes place in
two ways. BY suddenly shaking glass lamp quite
full of burning fluid then. unless the wcks be very
TIGHT in the tubes the fluid will flow out OF their tops
and run down all on fire the outside of the glass
Of course the heat will crack the glass, and all the
| fluid within VIII flow out over the surrounding OBJ
jccts in devouring fame. This may happen in a
PERSONS hand from violent shaking while walking
along: and the garments of ladies being combustl-
BILE, many lives have been lost Every one who uses
the burning fluid should try his own lamps whcnev-
| err they have wicks, and see how much violent
shaking they will hear. If you see the fluid coming
rapidly out of the tubes in stream of fire, blow 1t
out quickly with your breath. and do not light it
gain, if much has come out until 1t has been wiped
off.
1.-The lecturer once was present when young
lady quickly took two lighted glass lamps from the
mantelpiece and placed them on the tea-tabe. As
the fluid gushed out and gnited down on the
glass. she and the whole company started back. in
stantly expecting an explosion. He rushed up and
blew them both out, and no harm wasdonc. Again
they were lighted, without having the fluid wiped
.
again. Had they not been quickly blown out, the
glass would have cracked all the fluid within would
have run flaming over the table cloth, which with
the table would have been on fire. The very
plain remedy for all this is to put in the wicks tight
ly, and then try how much agitation the lamps viii
bear when full.
The other mode of camphene accidents is the
sudden taking fire Of the fluid in the lamp and can
when the fluid is replenished while the wicks are
burning; the person holding them gets frightened
ttb, lor- Aot6 ~ fbo
liquid is spread around in every direction setting
fire to all combustibles within lis reach. Such acct
dents may be avoided just easily not. simpl,
by filling the lamps in the day time. When any Of
these fluids are warm, by being an hour or two in
a lighted lamp, their vapors, though invisible, ri<t
thickly and may take fire foot more from the
lamp
1T is advisable for housekeepers to try expert
mcnts for themselves, so as to know Familiarity thu
nature of these fluids. This may be done in the fol
lowing way: Pour some of the burning fluid in
, small plate saucer, and with match set it OF
fire. and see the mode of its burning Also, unscrev
the top of the lamp when lighted: remove the wicks
, and with match fire the liquid within 1t may b
easily blown out again before even glass lamp viii
crack. The agitation Of lighted lamp, when it ha
been recently filled, is another useful experiment.
Y ..Am Dead"
The clipper ship Flying Cloud, Capt. Cres<ey. o
: the passage from Canton 10 New York. boarded
English ship, and received from her several America
i papers. These unexpected treat, and there
II fore the agreeable. Throwing himself into a
easy position. along a seee, Captain Cressey wa
soon at home among the sayings and dongs of Yanke
land. Mrs. Cressey near him. and OCCASIONAL,
Interesting paragraph met his eye, he read il
II her. But hold on as the sailors say. Somethn
of more than usual interest has met his eye he spring
/. to his feet, holding the paper in his right hand. wi il
IS with his left he rubs his eyes.
:. Mrs. Cressey was startled, and half rising,
bout to ask the cause of his surprise, when, stampn
e his right foot. # to make of his standing
v demanded, a sail only can demand" Am
/ dea %
e Mrs. CreSscy rose and rerealed step or two hu
y following her up he again demanded-s' Am dead
:, Il should Think" said Mrs. Cressey. standing h
lie ground ''tbat you are mad. Why do you ask II
= such question:
J. There" said he. handing her the paper, if T.
n not dead, somebody has made slight mistake Read
j. capt. CREssEV OF THE SHIP FLYING CLoUD-,It wi
o be by the telegraph news in another column TIL
j. this gallant sailor is more Two days after sailir
1t from-San Francisco, bound China, he died. and II
i. ship proceeded in charge of the mate. He was III
ID tive Of Marbehead, and about 46 years of age
il For many years he commanded the ship Oneida,
o New Bedford, in the China trade, and distinguish
ed for the uniform rapdity OF his passages In II
m Flying Cloud, he made the shortest passage on reco
ID to San Francisco and ecpsed The finest and mos cos
~ y merchant ship in the world. And yet, this crown
IF ing triumph of his life attended with many disa
10 tiers 10 his spars and sails still he pressed on, disdai
ing 10 make port short of his destination. In ever
of scene of sailors life with skill superior gIowed
daring mind his dauntess soul rose with II
storm and all IFS dangers shared" But now he res
from his tolls. regardless OF his ,riumphs. Peace
his names -