The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-18
Original communications
ACCIDENTS Faox LAMP EXPLOSIONS


To the Editor Of the Cambria Freeman
Kerosene must he considered among the
wonderful Developments of the age The
name Kerosene is fancifui one It origin
ated with one of the early manufacturers
and now possesses general significance. 1t
is applied not only to the oil distilled from
Goals. but to the illuminating liquids which
come from earth oil. or petroleum. 1t is
needful that this important article should
have name generally understood and adopt
ed, aud the word Kerosene is "a good as
any that might be suggested. aud for my
present purpose l will adopt and use it
when and wherever needful to express or
identify burning fluid known by many as
coal oil. 1t being rectified or distilled from
Petroleum
have long since felt that it was the du-
ty Of every journalist in the land m take up
those scoundrels who are connected with the
oil frauds and drive them 20 the wall; yet
no one seems TO comprehend the gigantic
Importance of the subject. l therefore feel
stimulated by the destructahle article in my
owr household to commence an exposition.
Fortunately. damage in my case was pre-
vented by timely warning Immediately
after the threatened explosion I tested the
fluid and found il to be very very danger
Gus Sorry am to acknow ledge that the
article in question was obtained very near
home. 1t is indeed alarming to learn of the
extent to which dangerous napthaS and nap
tha mixtures are used in this country
thiUk it safe to infer that nearly one-haif of
the liquids used in the country are fraudu-
lent and dangerous. | have had number
of receipts sent me (frnm New York and
Bost0n) for the manufacture of these spuri
GUS and dangerous fluids. and the following
is one cf them Take ID. of camphor. q
OF. oil of spruce, ~ alkanet root. Mix all
| together in one gallon of benzine. stirring
we'll for ten minutes then pour into bar
| rel 40 gallons benzne-stir till we'll incnrpo-
rated. and It is fit for use. Pulyerized al
UNI and other ingredients are added in 9TH
er receipts. for the alleged purpose of de-
stroyin the explosive properties of the f1u-
| i'd. One dollar is charged for family right
| to use these mixtures. Each vender of re-
| ceipts aas u name peculiar to his own liking
! or fancy; for example. the Z" Solar" the
Crystal and the a. Eureka - burning flu
! ids. ETC.. etc. These charlatans will allege.
with all seeming candor and trnthfuness
that their fluids are harmless-perfectly
| safe and non-ex plosive-and to prove the
safe character of their fluids, will thrust a
| lighted taper or match into the lamp or va
! pors; which is seemingly very plausible
! testimony. But. gentle reader. do not be
deceived. That is wholly and entirely en-
pirical. No oil or vapor, either naphths,
benzine, or gasolene. arc in themselves ex-
plosive. The vapor of these liquids must be
mixed with atmospheric air 10 order to ex
plode. ft't oH
The shocking occurrences reported as
Kerosene lamp explosions have become
fearfully frequent of late. They are of al
| most daily occurrence. This is really an
alarming state of affairs. l saw some time
since the report published of fourteen deaths
| and nine persons very seriously injured all
! in one week. Nov these are not accidents
they are murders From the best testimony
we are assured beyond cavil that no serious
accident has ever resulted from true hern-
some oil which will stand the fire test Of llOo
| Fahrenheit. Hear the testimony of DIR.
| Nichols. the well-known Boston chemist, de-
ivered before the legislative committee al
Massachusetts. He says: " Kerosene oil nj
the legal standard. viz such as would not
take fire below l 100 Fahrenheit. could not
explode. and was as safe as candles; and
with sHch Kerosene there was positive as
surance of safety" He further stated that
SO for many years he had experimented with
burning fluids and did not believe serious
accident ever occurred from Kerosene which
would stand the fire test of lIOo" Again.
see what the Chemical Journal says on the
subject :1f'S So much has been said respect
ing the explosive nature of Kerosene. this
point demands consideration. A general
impression prevails among coasumcrs that