The sun., 1891-06-26
BURNED FROM HEAD To FOOT.
INSTRUCTOR NonTHRUP OF COLUMBIA
COLLEGE FATALLY INJURED.

An UneNplained Explosion OF Alcohol.
which He was Drawing for Use In HIS
Laboratory - About TO Leave for n
Years vacRt'on-Two Others Hart.
Under the provision OF law which exempts
from tax alcohol and other dlstilled spirits
used IN the arts Columbia College 10 allowed
to keep in bond certain quantity Of the stun.
which is stored in small room in the base-
ment Of tho School of Mines building at Park
avenue and Forty ninth street. One full barrel
and another barrel partly 6lleh with alcohol
were the,e at O'Clock yesterday alter
noon whom DR.. John ]. Northrup went
to nll demijohn Tor use In his ZOO
logical laboratory ut the college Janitors
William Simpson and Thomas Tigh went with
him. The room Is q small. close. unventilated
apartment which daylight does not roach. 1t
contained nothing but tho barrels NJ alcohol
Some steam pipes pass through 1t and make It
pretty warm.
DR.. Northrup unlocked the low door and en-
tered. and ono OF the janitors lighted the gas
at jet just outside. 80 that the light shone
into the room. There is no gas in the store
room itself. DR.. Northrup tipped down the
partly filled barrel 30 that II lay across tho
doorway while he stood inside. Tho alcohol
was running into the demijohn when the bar
rel exploded with terrific report. The barrel
head was blown out and the LIQUID was scat
tered in all directions 1t spattersl all three
men. DR.. Northrup worst OF all. Wherever 1t
touched IL car led fire with 1t. and It burned
with heat even greater than that given BY
the volatile oils.
DR.. Northrup was afro from head to foot.
His only chance to escape wac across the llaz-
ing barrel. which filed the doorway With
wonderful fortitude and presence OF mind he
20, across the obstacle and followed the flying
ianitors. whose clothes also were burning.
SeGre r reached hS onen or ar MS
was all gone. and the blue flames were eating
He threw himself upon the grass in the court
were layiug foundations ior a new building
there. and thor had TWO or three pals of water
.1ey sS IN tho m.n
and in u moment the fire WAS out. They per-
formed the same service lor Tieh and slmp-
fS msHs sure a'e ol exnsnishfnr @ ths ias spsrt
in Dr. Nor,hrup's clothes hi. coat WAS torn oG:
"a sem. shld 81 om
b hands aud arms calne with Il.
The had been yosn that Hs the
tho aronnds had feilsp. The saOerIntsndent
Pnl 70 TiRh @ and - Simpson Ito, 70 Bellevue. Bell
Northrans injuries would prove fatal. Hi;
~S az SS he Ii: ss si Sill S$.os. Wiz
juries to face and nands are also serious but
he will probably recover. unless he breathed
tho flames Tigh's burns are about tho fnce
and neck. but he will probably get over IT,.
The tiremen drowned out the erare are before
the explosion is a good deal OF . mystery. The
spirit was. supposed to be nure "a per cent.
alcohol which does not generate an explosive
was four or five ieet from the barrel.
DR.. Northrup recently received years leave
OF absence. from bic dut!Os as an instructor in
zoology. He was to start Tor Europe In a few
daysto study biology In the German univer-
sities. Cn his return he expected 70 become
mem ber OF the staff 10 that department at
Columbia His home is IN Yonkers.