The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-01-23
Kerosene Lamp Fxpiosions.


coal oil lamps, the terrible accidents,
thereby occasioned, not only in de-
struction Of property, hut Of life, have,
caused me to compile the following
from the publications of chemists,
whose science enables them to give
la competent and disintcrcstcd opin-
ion:
MD.
Kerosene accidents occur from two
causes.
First, Imperfect manufacture.
Second, Authorizations.
Kerosene is no, explosive; benxine,
gasoline, &C., are not. in themselves
explosive. Accidents occur from the
vapor which is produced from them
at low temperatures: bat the vapor
by itself is not explosive; to render
it SO, 1t must be mieef .eith air. In
lamps when impure ~ adulterated
oil is used, the space, aoove is always
filed with vapor;s as long as it is
warm and rising freely, no air can
reach it, and it is safe.
At bed time, the family retire, the
light is extinguished; The lamp cools;
a portion fthe vavo, is condensed;
this creates partial vacuum in the
space which is instan, " filled with
air. The mixture nov is explosive;
and when the next ev ming the lamp
is lighted, without re,,lenishing with
oil, as is often done. ia explosion is
liable to-. take place. Late in the
evening, when the oil is nearly con-
stunned, and the SPACE above filed
with vavor; II will not explode AZ
Hong as it remains at rest upon the
table; but carrying it about, take il
in a cool room, the v.por is conden.
sed, air passes in. and an explosion il
liable. i'a4eaga 9g8 Gs1i@1 ia4 I'll
Pure well manufactured kerosene
issafe. Kerosene tina will not burn
at ITO degrees is the egal standard
You can easily tellif our Kerosene is
safe. Fill pint bowl two thirds
full of boiling water. and place in it q
thermometer, gradually add cold
water, and bring dow The tempera
ture to l1Oo, then pour in a spoonful
of kerosene, and apply alighted match
ifit takes fire it is dangerous; il moi
you may use it with safety
There are severe e,.actmcnts, botf
State and National against the sale
of kerosene of a dangerous character
lint fear Of the law does not deter
many from adulteratil,gitwith CHEAP
napthas. .assa*.Ia1 a9sa.1
Many pretend to compound and
sell burning fluids alle ged to be safer
or cheaper or better. than Kerosene
Chemical examination Of many Of
these fluids proves chem tobc danger
Gus mixtures of coal ail and naptha
or Benzine, with alittle coloring mat
ter added Avoid them all. ANY
family using such liquids are .jeopardi
zing their lives constantly.
~ We think it fair to infer from infor.
nation given, that nearly one hall
the burning fluids used in the conn
trysere fraudulent sne dangerous.
A class ofscoundrels are travelling
about the country, and from our cor
resnmdence we judge they are quite
plentiful in the west. selling receipts
for making cheap iaerplosive burning
oils. They are called s'enrela. Z & car
bon or scrystal Il oils; and the Ne,
ceipts are peddled to the poor, oraold
to grocers and druggists, and large
sums realized thereby Here are the
directions for maxim, one of these
oils, taken from a private circular
sent to MS from Illinois. e,s
ssTake one pound Oh. camphor, two
and one half ounces oil of spruce,
one half ounce alkanet root; dissolve
"and mix altogether ia one gallon Of
"benzine, stirring well for ten MINI
"ntes then pour it into q barrel (for-
sly gallons) of bensine; stir well
till Incorporated and it Is ft for
g nse."
Consumers are informed they need
have no fear Of explosions. We
wish to state what we think of the
man making and vending such Ii
guilds. He is dangerous impostor,
and wherever he appears, or any one
else selling cheap oils, or receipts for
making them, have him arrested At
once. A person offering for sale
mixtures ofnaptha or benzine infam
able at less temperature than 110o f.,
can be, under United States Revenue
law, punished by, fine and imprison-
ment. A special act was passed by
Congress, March End. 1867, to punish
Just such offenders. Camphor dis
solved in bcnzine, or naptha, conters
no desirable qualities: as the flame
of benzine when burned with free ac-
cess Of air is white and brilliant
enough without il. II neitherincreas.
es or diminishes the dangerous ma
turc of benzine. The oil OF spruce
is added to cover, or eliange the odor
of the liquid; the .alkanct root to color
it. Any family using this, or liquids
Of a kindred nature, are jeopardizing
their lives constantly. The fisk is q
fearful one. Let 1t be understood
that there is no substance or number
Of substances, known to chemists
which can be added to benzine, gaso.
lene or naptha, capable Of rendering
them safe, without destroying their
combustibility or Illuminating quail.
ties. All Illuminating oils offered for
sale al less than fair market price
for standard kerosene, should be look.
ed upOn with susniciun and heforo