New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-07
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
" HIGHLY DANGEROUS"
DEATH IN THE LAMP.


EXPLOSIVE ELEMENTS OF SAFETY OILsr-NINE-
TEEN PER CENT OF THE FIRES OCCAsIONED
BY BURNING FLUIDs-THIRTY-TWO PR CENT
OF DEATHS FROM BURNS ATTRIBUTED To
ThEM-THE LAW VIOLATED BIZ DEALERS
WHO THE CULPRITs ARE, AND WHENCE
THEY UNLAwFULLY DISPENSE DEATH AND
RUIN THE LAW NOT ENFORCED BECAUSE
OF A CHARACTERISTIC DECISION BY JUDGE
BARNARD - FURTHER LEGISLATION DE-
NANDED.
Highly dangerous and explosive oils, advertised
under the attractive titles of Liquid Gas" Aurora
Oil" Safety Cas-" Anchor OilD Burning Safety
Fluid" and other names, are moro dangerous than
the poorest Kerosene, being merely naphtha or gasO
line deodOrized Of their pungency The news
columns Of the daily papers show only few Of the
great number of accidents conhagrations and
deaths caused by this means In response to a series
Of articles on the explosion Of kerosene oil, which
appeared in THE TRIBUNE about three years ago the
Legislature passed law requiring all uminators
made from petroleum to stand fire test Of at least
10 degrees-in other words TO be heated 20 10 de-
grees Fahrenheit before lighted match or taper ap-
| piled to their surfaces will ignite them. Inspectors.
under the direction of the Health Bureau were up
pointed TO examine the different articles sold under
the name of kerosene. and their examination re-
yealed that % out of every 100 of the samples col
| lected were not Of the proper standard. Prosecu-
/ tons followed, penalties enforced. and for
time this prolific source # coDfagration and dis
aster was held under control But time has abated
! the public excitement, and new and more dan
gerous article rapidly coming into in the city
Until some appalling dlsaster-sure TO result if this
! traffic is not stopped-shall awaken the author
tiles to another spasmodic effort secure the safety
of people and property, the sale of dangerous
! oils will continue unrebuked. The explo-
| siye force of so-called safety-ols il ten-fold
! greater than that Of the kerosene which occa-
siOns much disaster Kerosene oil becomes danger
to burn just IN proportion IL contains napththa
or gasoline which give 10 kerosene its eXplosjveness
and the only dangerous elements which enter into
the composition Of petroleum, crude or refined. The
danger Of handling naphtha is equal TO that %
nitro-Glycerine, but its cheapuess induces many
people it constantly in their houses It's valve
in New-York in large quantities. is about cents per
gallon. Naphtha is also eagerly desired by persons
who have burned it without accident, because il
gives very brilliant light which is pleasant TO sew
aud read by, and although intense, is not trying to
the eyes. This is due to its extreme inf4mmability
! and its peculiar chemical composition. The illumi-
mating properties the cOncomtants OF it, cxplo
! sveness.
The people who chiefly buy this material belong 10
the middle and lower classes with whom a few
cents saved in gallon Of burning fluid is a matter
! OF some concern to the extent Of taking risks
if by doing they the outlay of large
| amount. But experiment lately tried by officials
of the Health Board demonstrates that it IL more
expensive to burn this material than pure aud safe
kerosene While q quart Of pure kerosene Vac
consumed in one lamp. three quarts Of liquid gas
we're consumed in another lamp Of the same bum
ing capacity placed by it, side, demonstrating that
kerosene is the cheaper article 1t three
the price Of these burning fluids
The veuder Of the article generally eulogizes il to
q high degree, laughs away all expressions of fear
which the purchaser may use points out the bright
light which the naphtha gives, and induces the pur-
chaser TO buy In the event Of no accident happen
ing the person using IT, after short time naturally
becomes careless in handling it, and the result IN
ex- losion loss Of life, and line two IN the news
papers, mentioning another case Of 6coth from tho
careless use Of Kerosene Tie fires which Cccur
in tenemeut-Louses nearly always result from she
use Of these dangerous fluids and the modes Of
egTess being fcw and poor, IN few MN
Utcs after n ire breaks out, the occupants
become blinded by smoke and bewildcrcd by the
confusion. communication to the street is cut or
and loss of life is almost 70 occur II is safo e
say that in % out of every 100 such recorded
the ire was occasoned by naph,Da its vap ~
coming into contact with fame. In fact it Is lie
dangerous element in petroleum, and bears tie
same relation to kerosene, pure and unadulter4ioC.
that fusn oil does TO whisky,
DANGEROUS LAMPS AND GENERATIONS.
There are two ways in which it is coming into
popular use for Illuminating purposes A common
way is TO burn it III glass lamps which differ from
the ordinary kerosene lamps only in the shape and
length If the tubes, which IN most extend, 10
the number of five or six, upward and outward from
the lamp. Within the tubes small wicks placed,
and the ends of the tubes arc surmOunted with q
cap just beneath which there are holes perforated
TO admit Of the escape of the naphtha gas. This dif
ference of construction in the lamp does not insure
safety but perhaps makes the chances of explosion
rife less by running the lighted end further from
the naphtha in the lamp than could be done With
the ordinary kerosene lamp. But the aaDger il i'm
minent as the naphtha is in continual process Of
evaporation; and the vapor with difficulty be
contained in any vessel, there is continual ten
dency for the gas in the lamp TO escape wherever
an opening appears and should it find any other
vent except through the wick, or should the
lamp be broken. terrible explosion would take place
second manner in which naphtha il used for burning
purposes IL where IL Is used gas generator and this
Is the latest aud popular way. chandelier ike
that general for the burning OF streegas hung
from the ceiling and has the ends OF lis horizontal
piece the ordinary gaburners In the piece
which is fixed in the ceiling, and Immediately
center Of the branches, there is reservoir
made for holding the naphtha. when ready
for lighting the burners heated with alec
| hol placed in the cups surrounding the jets,
and after minute a minute and hall spent in heat
ing the tubes the faucet is turned the naptha PUSHES
toward the outlets where coming contact with heat
and fame, il Is converted into gas, which, being ill., gives
bright and mellow light. should AZ any time leak be-
sprung in the reservoir above naphha very destructive
to JOINTS and soder should there be any escape
OF the gas by Of the wearing away OF the screw