The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-13
SISS-BOOM-AH.
A Chicago Photographer Blows
Himself Up,
Seeking to Invent New
Flash Light.
EYES AND HANDSOME.
Some Time Ago He Offered to
Sell Himself
To Anybody for Any Purpose
for $4,000.
EYES AND HANDSOME.

CHICAGO, March 13-Dr. A. V. Burg
hill who caused sensation by Offering
through a Chicago paper to sell himself
absolutely for $4,000 doing anything,
even sacrificing his life if the purchaser
required, was blown up and terribly in
jured in An explosion last evening.
The $4,000 was wanted he said, to pro-
vide for his aged mother. The explo-
sion was in connection with hazardous
experiments in fash light photography.
previous trials of which in this city had
almost invariable resulted disastrousIy.
Burghill lost both of his eyes, and both
of his hands were SO mutilated that they
will have to be amputated.
The accident occurred in the office of
DR.. w. c. Lindquist, No. so Hill street,
where DR.. Burghill was experimenting
with some dangerous explosives with
which he was endeavoring to compound
a preparation for taking flash light pho
tographs. It completely wrecked the
office of DR.. Lindquist and the detona-
ton was of such volume that it could be
heard half mile away.
Photographer Vernon W. Lawrence, of
342 West Sixty third street was with Dr..
Burghill at the time of the explosion,
but was saved from similar injuries by
waiting in outer Office while
the experiment was being conducted A
little less than two months ago Lawrence
experienced two explosions willis in
search of the same flash light effect
His gallery was damaged and he was in
jured. Early in February he made a
third experiment. 1t like the first two
ended in demolition of retorts, bottles
and tubs and nearly killed the photo
grapher.
His gallery was wrecked and it was
hofO ha a..b Ia rn
his work. He inserted an advertisement
in one Of the Chicago papers saying he
would pay Hberally for the discovery of
the combination he sought. DR.. Burg
hill answered the advertisement, telling
Lawrence that he made the discovery he
was seeking for A meeting was set for
last evening at DIR. Linz q1ists's laboratory
and it was while BurghIll was preparing
the mixture for producing the fash light
that the explosion occurred.
Burghill claims to have obtained his
knowledge of chemistry in Russia, al
though born in Sweden. He alleges that
he was driven out of the country for his
advocacy of better treatment for Jews
and Lutherans. He received signal hon
ors at the hands of the czar, among them
being the Roumanian iron cross and
after the great nihilistic riots was pre-
sented by the emperor himself with the
order of the cross of st. George for
bravery during those troublous times.
In America he became desperate aud
wrote a letter to one of the Chicago
papers, in which he offered to sell him
self, to keep from starving. He declared
he would do anything the buyer asked.
He said he would kill steal, or kill
himself, while insured in the owners
favor.
No name accompanied this strange let
ter but it was published and attracted the
~,F n . he
writer if he could find him. After an
investigation it was learned Burghill was
the writer. but that already he had re-
pented of his rash offer.