The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-23
FIRE IN patent OFFICE
Five Gallons Of Ether Explode with
Startling Effect.
SEVERAL PERSONS ARE BURNED
Chemicals In the Pilot Og raphic Depart.
mont Arc Ignitcd aud Destroyed-FIint
and Lattimcr Blown Out Of
Doors - Others Injured.

Washington, April 22.-The United
time visited by fire about Lis O'Clock
this afternoon. The scene Of the blaze
was In the southwest corner Of the
basement In the Photographic blue
print room, close to crowded public
thoroughfare. Mr.. Flint, chief Of this
room, was pouring ether into five gal
lon jugs when the liquid exploded, and
running down the floor came In contact
with the stove and ignited. Mr.. Flint
was caught In the flames and severely
burned about the face, arms and shoul-
ders.
'Watchman Perkins. who ran into the
room where the trouble was, was also
caught In the flames and received pain
full burns. Miss Nevins, In charge Of
the telephone lines In the building,
whose Office Is located in the adjoining
room, was overcome by smoke and
tainted, but was carried out uninjured.
The room was filed with vast volumes
OF smoke which caused a hasty STAN
pede Of the numerous clerks employed
In other parts of the building.
After half an hours hard work the
firemep extinguished the flames before
they could spread to the adjoining Of
fees. The loss was about 81, 500, princi-
pally In Photographic apparatus. Most
OF the original drawings were saved,
and If those destroyed q good many
can be replaced.
Previous COnflagrations.
no on ha
been on fire. In 1877 fire occurred
there which burned for twenty hours
and totally destroyed the museum Of
the patent office. necessitating the en-
tire reconstruction of that portion Of
the interior department building.
the photographers and assistants had
many narrow escapes for their lives,
and nearly all We're on fire as the ex-
plosives flew about the room. Beside
Mr.. Flint, the chief, there were at the
time of the explosion assistant photo
grapher Theilkill, ]. B. Wheat. ]. f.
Latimer and Mr.. Blackage. assistants.
Mr.. Theilkill's story OF the occurrence
was that when Mr. Flint was pouring
about five gallons OF ether into a bottle.
the bottle fell to the slate floor and
broke, the contents running along the
place. He began sweeping 1t toward
the door. remarking to those about to
be careful with the lamps, and 80 forth
Some Of the fluid reached the stove
and there was an explosion. which was
quickly followed by second with con-
siderable force, blowing up about sew
enty-five bottles. Mr.. Flint was blown
through the door, his head striking q
mass of papers piled in the hallway.
He arose, his clothing in blaze, and
rushed for the area calling for help.
Blown Through Window.
]. f. Wheat, jr., was standing near
Mr.. Flint, and was also blown through
the door. his hair ablaze and clothing
torn. He received no permanent in
juries, and attended to Mr.. Flint. Mr..
j. +. Latimer was blown through the
open window on to the lawn, and was
followed through the adjoining window
by Mr.. Blackage, who was in the dark
room at the time.
Mr.. Theilkill was blown across the
room by the first explosion. He was
blown through the window by the sec
ond. His escape from injuries was 4
miracle. His apron was on fire, his
head slnged, his hat blown into frag-
ments and his coat torn in numerous
places. Stored in the room was eigh-
teen gallons Of collodion, two hundred
gallons of ether and one hundred
pounds of gun cotton. OF course these
and everything else in the room We're
totally destroyed.
BY O'Clock quiet was restored about
the building, and the panic-stricken
clerks resumed their work