The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-17
THE FIREsIDE BUTCHERIES.
How N Father Saved his Wife and Family from
n COnl-OM EXplOsiOn.

The accompanying communication is from re-
spectacle citizen of this city whose address has been
left at this office. 1t tells plain tale:-
To the Editor of the Eoeni,lg Telegraph.
Having barely escaped a cOal-oil lamp explosion
last evening, would respectfully present the par
tculars OF the case, hoping that statement TO the
public through your columns might be the means
Of averting the terrible caamlties which are at pre-
sent of such FREQUENT occurrence in many families
The facts are as follows: ON being needed in my
family, it was bought at the corner grocery on
Wednesday, Our large lamp of the usual style with
the glass tube, trimmed and set on the mantel-
piece. Coming home in the evening, noticed my
wife, my three little girls, and our servant girl all
around the lamp and looking up curiously at 1t.
saw in an instant that an explosion was threatening,
for the inside OF the lube was filled with blue flame
Of gas reaching about high the fire of the wick.
Had not been there providentialy to at once blow
out the light, believe my family would have been
catching fire from the bursting of the lamp tube.
The very clean transparent appearance OF the oil,
together with the strong smell of benzine, then
excited my suspicion as TO its character; so, after
the danger had been averted, procured a small
quantity in saucer and touched it with a lighted
match, when it Immediately burst into flame with
pun like quantity of gunpOwder. This was enough
| at once went TO the grocer and asked If he knew
what he was selling to the people, as he had sent me
for endangerng. life in its use. He said he got it
from very reliable parties who warranted it, and
who sold 1t extensively to the retail dealers. He fol-
lowed up his remarks with the assertion that many
of his customers would not any other kind of oil,
from the fact OF IFS not smoking or backing their
lamp chmneys, and being also so nice and clear; in
fact he preferred it himself for these reasons. He
then eXultingy touched OIL portion in
an open vessel which he held in his hand,
declaring the utter impossibility OF explosion
in article that would burn freely left telling
him he would learn more tomorrow. took vial
OF the stun to Mr. Evans the inspector, who pro-
nounced it what the grocer called it, Combination
Burning Fluid. He said he would stop the sale Of 1t
fpossble but the courts recently decided adversely
in case Of this very kind in which he was the prose-
cutor. He called the grocer at once and informed
him OF the nature OF his beautiful combination and
that grocer viii sell no more OF it,
Now, how is this frightful danger to be avoided?
Ignorant interruptions dealers will sell the article
as long as there are customers for it, II no law can
reach those who sell such burning fluids, let every
one who coal oil refuse all stun that will blaze
In contact with ame All can In this manner test TO
certain extent for themselves whie.to the faithful
performance OF the Inspectors duty we must add
| our own in point Of caution to ensure success
Respectfully M0YAMENsINd AVENUE.