Daily Republican., 1882-06-01
DRUNK ON PETROLEUM GAS
A CurtOus kind of IntOxicafl on
How persons feels under thu
Innuence OF Gas,


d From nearly every we'll from which
petroleum is obtained large amout o.
gas escapes. In some cases an ahun.
dance OF gas exists where no oil is
found. 1t is the rising of the gas in
the wells which causes the oil to flow.
Sometimes the gas pressure is such that
1t is used to run the engines, in the
place of stea n, and under large ma.
ljority OF The boilers gas is used for fuel
Exclusively.
1t arises not only from the wells, but
from the tanks in which the oil is stor-
cd, 1t is dangerous, and many serious
accidents have resulted from ignorance
of its effects. 1t has caused numerous
cont1agrations and disastrous explo.
sions, and when inhaled is frequently
fatal. A short time ago little boy in
Oil City was playing about a small
tank. While looking into it he was
|overcome, tumbled in and was drown
ed. But short time before two lads
were sutfocated while watching a we'll
flow into tank, aud not long ago
man was found standing dead by the
side OF an oil tank, his chin resting on
The edge, which was also grasped by
the hands of the corpse.
| He had been standing in that posi-
ton, breathing the gas which arose
from the oil until he was overcome.
Probably his senses were acute after
his body became numb and his limbs
refused to perform their functions in
obedience to his will.
The Times correspondent met gen.
tleman a few days ago who was once in
position similar to that described
above. He had just completed his first
oil we'll, and every cent he had in the
world was invested in the venture. 1t
was beginning to flow, and the next
few moments would determine whether
he was penniless or wealthy.
Naturally enough he was Interested.
Standing on board which was placed
at an angle against the side OF the tank,
he rested his elbows on the edge of the
huge tub and leaned forward, watching
the foaming, steaming liquid as it was
forced from the mouth of the well apd
boiled about in the bottom of the tank.
The gas rose from the oil in cloud, but
the novelty Of the sight and the pleas
ure afforded by the thought that it was
his own property, and that every drop
of the boiling, bubbling fluid was
equivalent to so much cash in his pock. |
ct, caused him to forget the danger.
He said he felt buoyancy of spirit |
never before experienced.
He wanted to shout for joy as the oil |
poured out. His enthusiasm momen-
tarily increased, and his happiness rose
to such pitch that he was tempted to |
spring forward into the foaming oil and |
dance with it in its giddy whirlpool.
The transition from state of conscious
ness to one of Inconsistencies was 80
gradual and imperceptible that he knew
nothing about it. The feeling was SIM
liar TO that experienced by a man who
drinks too much champagne, only a
thousand times more pleasurable. The
gaudy colors of the rainbow appeared
before his eyes and his body felt as
light as the air.
How long he remained in this way he
could not say, but he was called to his
senses by his brother, who was near by
in the derrick. He attempted to turn
his head when called, but the muscles
refused to obey his will. He endeav-
ored to move his feet, but could not do
20. They felt as when they are
asleep" 1t was simply impossible to
move muscle. He still felt the ,
greatest happiness, although fully =
.wsre of his danger and the necessity !
or immediate action. +,
'Indeed," said he, sit is highly pro. :
'able that in thirty seconds more the ;
fleets of the gas would have been such :,
hat, though knew death was immi- [.
lAnt llRh puyo q tho a or ~ II ~ s%ol
md the happy, exhilarating state of !,
ny mind, l would have embraced it .
With pleasure rather than move sim !,
le muscle to break the enchanting
pell.
But was not yet so far gone but .
THAT selt-preservation overbalanoed the
'leasure. l made another effort to move y
~ feet, and as did so can remember q
ny thought was "Oh, how happy 1 ami :
Why shouldn't 1 die now, In perfect :
Hiss" Whether l actually did move 3
~ feet or not l cannot state, but at any :.
ate they slipped along the slanting %
oard and fel. to the ground"
"Were you injured by the fall?" .
felt no pain whatever when 1 got
p, but the next day several large dis
olorations on my body, a scraped elbow
nd soreness all over my body, testified
lat the fall was quite severe one.
he effects of inhaling the gas did not q
cave me for forty-eight hours. During q
10 balance of the day was in the best n
spirits, could laugh heartily at the q
'eblsSt jokea, and thought every per. G.
IN around me the best fellow l ever te
let. was drunk on gas, and the next II
ay my head ached as had been on q "
SPREE" IA
As liquor has different effects upon te
lferent temperaments, so it Is with "
as. A few years ago oil wells were c'
rilled differently than they are now q,
some respects. The we'll was started "
= digging ''conductor hole" in the u
'ck in the same manner an ordinary "
ell is drilled. A man whose name OF
as Smith, owned we'll which had u
nan dri1 lad tn tho ypuun1 rou1 huf ,,of