Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-02-12
A Coal OIL slaughter.

From the Holmes County U. Farmer
On Saturday last Daniel Erb, his wife and
three children, who reside in the western
part Of German township, went en . visit
to Jona'h han Mast. residing two miles east Of
Farmsrsville, in German township, who has
q family consisting Of himself his wife and
two children. A child of John Helmuth
was present. During the evening
lamp in which they were burning Aurora
Oil, sold as non-explosve, became low. NJ
Mast Il ghted candle, and extinguished the
light from the lamp for the purpose Of fill
ing it. His son, child Of about nine years,
Was holding the candle while the father all
cd the lamp from two gallon jug. and, by
some mishap, lighted the oil, which s1pls-
dcd, Flowing the jug to pieces, and immedi-
aisly envsloped the room in flames, the ten
persons oil being in the room at the time.
All were immediately made hslpless. except
Mr.. Erb, who exer,ed himself to the utmost
to save the others from DEATH He succeed
ed in getting Mr.. Mast. and perhaps some
others, from the house, and ran to Mr.. Stu
ber's, about quarter Of a mile distant, for
| help. His way could be plainly traced af-
| tsrward by blood and pieces of Gesh. which
fell from his body. Timely assistance saved
| the building, and, it is hoped. some Of the
| inmates. Mr.. Mast livet about an hour aud
. half after the accident, aud his little 500
some longer Both were buried on Monday
One Of the children-Mr. Helmuth's SON
died on Monday night. Of the remaining
seven, Ill were alive on Tuesday but tn rec
Of them cannot live, and it 10 feared all will
die. This 10 the most terrible sccident that
| has ever occurred in this county.
II 10 . we'll ascestainsd fact that there ID
nanuiactursd and sold in the msst pspulsss
and compact " Isilt parts Of cur city, liquid
and mixtures Of . highly explosive shsrae.
ter, the products Of petroleum or coal oil,
| in direct and epsn violation Of the city or.
dinancss and Of the u. 8. laws On the sub
jsct.
For the purpose Of protecting the lives
and property Of our citizens thus rscklsssly
imperilsd. and il possible preventing the
occurrence of similar terrible accidents q
above narrated. the Board Of Supervisor
Of this city At its last meeting on the 6th
inst, took the following action. which VI
sincerely trust will meet with the cordia
approval Of our citizens and the prompt CO
| operation Of the authorities:
"Rssolssl, That this Board rsspectfull,
petition the Honorable The City Cosncil 4
authorize the City Attorney 10 appear and
prosecute in behalf Of the city in any sui
OF suits commenced before the Pslice Aagis
tfate, on information or complaint, made By
this Board for violations Of Chapters 81 snt
- Of the Revised Ordinances, and that th,
President and Secretary affix their cficia
signatures thereto.
i Be it further
Resoleed. That il to made the duty of th
Executive Committee to file information
and complaint With the proper officers in ca
es OF violation Of the said erdinaness ant
4 also Of Section % OF Act "a Of the acss q
the 40th Congress Of the U. s., approves
March 2nd. 1857"
| The said Section Of the Act "a Of The 4otl
Congress reads thus:
| And Be itJurther enacted, That no psrso
shall mix for sale naphths and illuminatin
oils, or shall, knowingly, sell or keep 70
sale, or offer for sale such mixture, or sha
| cell or Offer for sale cil made frem pstrolsur
for Illuminating purposes, in6ammable I
less temperature or fire test than one hur
dred aud ten degrees Pahrenhsit-an
, sny rerson so doing shall Be held TO b guilt
. Of . misdameauor and on eonvictio
. thereof by indictmeot or prcssntmsnt
apy cou:t Of the United States having con
! petent Jurisdiction, shall Be punished BY
: fine Of not less than one hundred dollars M
: | mere than i3vs hundred dollars, aad by n
3 | prisonmsnt les . tssm ef net lsos than q
months nor more then three years.