The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-02-21

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lively low temperatures, and that
this vapor Is very infammable, so
much so that it may be hOated con
siderable distances by the atmos-
phere and then ignite by coming in
contact with fame. This is pre-
cisely what happened at the Beaver
Saloon. Vapors from a gasoline
container opened in the yard, or
under a shed, were carried into the
kitchen and there took fire, produc-
ing the disastrous results with which
we are all familiar
Like gun powder, dynamite and
other powerful and dangerous agents,
these volatile and infammable liquids
are too useful, too necessary to be
prohibited. They must, like powder,
be handled with care by persons
who understand their properties, and
especially be kept at a safe distance
from fire. Now and then, as with
powder, there viii be carelessness,
and some one will suffer. In the
recent instance there is no blame Of
Encouragement eXceptsuch as grew
out Of ignorance of the proper hand
ling which such substance re-
quired.
There are a considerable number
Of gasoline arrangements in this
city, for lighting both public build
ings and private residences. We
trust the tragic lesson just given will
not be lost upon the owners of any
OF these, and that they will omit no
possible means of impressing the
same upon their servants. In addi-
tion to the ordinary risks arising
from the nature of the substance,
gasoline is likely to be especially
dangerous when it has recently
been shaken mp by transportation.
Under these circumstances it tends
to disengage gas in considerable
quantities, somewhat as spent soda
water will do if shaken. If, under
these circumstances, the vent of the
container is opened, gas will issue
with no little force, and in such
quantities as to be dangerous even at
considerable distances from any fire.
IT follows also from the volatile
nature of gasoline that it not only
gives off vapor quite freely at ordi-
nary temperatures, but that a differ
ence Of a few degrees makes a
marked difference in the quantity
evolved. 1t is to be remembered,
therefore, that when its temperature
has been raised by any means, as by
being exposed to the rays of the sun,
in the course Of transportation or
otherwise, it should never be opened
until it has remained sufficiently
long IN some cool place to have
parted with its extra dangerous
qualities.
In the Beaver Saloon case, we
understand that the two barrel gaso-
line cylinder which caused the ex-
plosion had just come in it had not
only been shaken up, but probably
exposed to the sun as we'll. Gould
it have been set aside for day or SO
the accident would most likely not
have happened. That there was a
heavy pressure Of gas in the cylin-
der when opened is shown by the
rushing, kissing noise, like that Of
escaping steam, which those in the
saloon at the time describe as pre-
ceding the explosion. We see too
that the evil would have been much
less had the gas escaped into the
open air instead of under a confined
shed.
But the most essential precaution
which must be enforced on every
mind by this painful experience is,
that fluids which give off infammable
vapors should never be opened or
handled in the vicinity Of fire. In
connection with this it should be re-
membercd that the tiniest flame
coming in contact with the gas will
ignite it as effectually as a stove full
e 1