The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-14
APPALLING CALAMITY.

Dreadful Gasoline Explosion - A Woman
Burned 20 Death and Three Others Horribly
The Chicago Tribune of Wednesday, the 18th
inst, has the following
new burning fluid has recently come into
vogue and is sold extensively under the name of
gasoline" an extract of petroleum, which is
advertised as non explosive. 1t is more easily
ignited than the ordinary kerosene, which re-
quires to be heated to O temperature of at least
10 degrees before it will burn. Gasoline viii
burR readily at freezing point. The new fluid
has acquired some degree of popularity and has
been rapidly coming into use in families, under
the belief that it was non-explosive. Recent exc
perience has demonstrated that this quality is
fictitious one, and the Health Department have
had their attention called to it from several dis
asters of an alarming nature which have lately
occurred. One of these occurred yesterday
morning, in the dwelling house of Mr.. B. +. Lam
terman No 1S1 South Robey street. 1t may be
attributed to careless use of the burning fluid,
but where accidents so fearful are occurring
constantly in spite of the utmost precautions, It
may be questioned whether the sale of such q
dangerous material is permissible.
About o'clock yesterday morning. Mrs. Lam
terman was making preparations to iron some
clothes in q small room off the kitchen, where
she kept gasoline stove. This article she had
found very useful, and great saving of labor,
especially in heating irons. Her husband some
time ago, had persuaded her to adopt it, which
she did with considerable hesitation, but after
while she came to approve of 1t, and was always
lt.
is poured into reservoir which is placed several
feet above the iron plate, and connects by means
of a tube, through which the fluid passes to be
ignted and heat up the surface Mr.. Lanterman,
who is manufacturer of planning knives, had
gone to his work, and his wife had placed her
infant, eleven months old, in high chair
in the middle of the kitchen, where she
could watch it while doing her ironing. Clara,
little girl of six years, was playing in the
kitchen. The mother appears to have taken the
two-quart can containing the gasoline, from
which she was to fill up the reservoir, and
set il upon the stove near the flame, the stove
having already been lighted, and the irons put
on to heat Before filling the reservoir she went
into the kitchen to fetch chair, leaving the can
upon the stove, when the gasoline took fire.
Mrs. Lanterman Immediately rushed back and
seized the can, while it was blazing and ran
distractedly into the kitchen. Her dress caught
fire, and the can fell from her grasp upon the
floor, scattering its contents all around, and
creating gas which nearly suftocated her. She
opened the door and fled into the yard, the
flames by this time having completely enveloped
her person. Her piteous cries for help soon
attracted the attention of the neghbors, and
number of workmen employed at an adjoining
house were speedily on the spot. Lucius Ian
terman, the brother of the lady's husband, who
occupies the upper part OF the house, was the
first to render his assistance. He heard first a
noise from the basement, like the rushing of
wind followed by loud explosion. Then the
screams of the woman and children brought
him down stairs. In moment he sprang to
the infant in the chair, which was already wrap
ped in flames, and carried it out to the yard.
Then he endeavored to eXtinguish the flames
around Mrs. Lanterman, by seizing the wet
clothes which were hanging on the line, and
wrapping them round her body. She was, how
ever, burned in fearful manner from head to
foot, and, as it proved, was beyond human aid.
By this time the house had caught fire. and
the flames were quickly spreading over the
kitchen floor, and to the walls. The clothes of
the little girl, Clara, had also taken fire. Mr.
Lanterman, leaving his sister-in-law in the
hands of some neighbors, proceeded to arrest the
progress of the confagration which he sue
ceeded in doing by great effort, and at the ex-
| pense of severe personal injury. His hands
were so badly burned that he will be disabled
| for some time.
The husband did not hear of the occurrence
| till it was all over. His wife was thirty-seven
| years Of age, and was the mother of four chill
| dren. He is the owner of the house in which he
| lives. two-story frame dwelling which appears
| to have been but recently built. He seemed
| completely overwhelmed by the calamity which
had overtaken his family. He stated that his
! wife had used the gasoline stove for some tlme
| She was generally very cautious in using 1t, and
although she had been averse to its introduction
| into the house at first, she had gradually come
! to like it. He said he had never entertained any
| fears about the 1ud and was less uneasy on the
| subject than he had ever been about kerosene.
| lie had encouraged her to use it, as it was O
| great saving of labor to her in cooking or iron
| ing. and enabled her to look after her family
while she was preparing meals for them.