The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
FLoTD's WONDERFUL FIRE.
a Paste which When Oneo lighted Moth.
Ing Can Put Out.
Prom the Cincinnati Enquirer.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
There Is q IRE that never dies, and II is here,
and in this world. too. This strange fire is of
the consistency of paste. and Is harmless while
in q quite state. The friction caused by rubbing
1t against o hard surface will. however. set 1t
aglow. and nothing will extineulsh tho flames,
which will burn with a blue light and an in
tense heat until the compound is completely de-
strored by combustion. Water has no effect
upon 1t; It can be made into balls and thrown
anywhere. and 1t will burn with O slow but
fierce combustion which makes 1t unlike any
known fire.
Dynamite and Runpowder requires o spark to
ignite them, and powder produces An explosion,
not q regular fire. To ignite this compound
there is Just tho slightest friction of rubbing IL
against some ordinary substance. There is no
explosion or rapid spreading of flames. but a
strange, pasty substance composed of living FIRE.
which cannot be stamped out or killed In any
known way.
John Floyd. the discoTerer. has beon for SOW
eral years delving in all sorts of chemicals, as
his numerous inventions required constant
study. One day he wished to make a certain
substance with which to experiment. and for
that purpose placed In a liquid some waste sub
stances which he thought would. when dis
solved, produce the wished for compound. But
he found the material he wanted before the
liluIu - obDlNt bO Ic II jar COntalD-
ing the solution ON the shelf for several weeks,
thinking no more about II.
when lifting 1t down from the shelf, some of the
liquid split on the floor. Mr.. Floyd thought
nothing about the matter TIL he noticed "a sem
sation Of heat about his foot. and on looking
down found that the soft paste which had
fallen out OF the bottle had become a mass OF
soft. flickering flames emitting an intense heat.
He put his foot on the spot, stamping 1t out, as
he thought. ana turned TO his work.
When he turned around again he saw that in
stead OF kOlnk out tho fire paste was steadily
burning. that his rubbing it had only smeared It
every moment. He then threw several buckets
Of water on the stuff, but the water had no
effect other than 70 be converted into putfs OF
steam. ana the nre burned steadily on, cutting
Its way through the soft pine flooring. AS tho
experiments were being conducted in the back
chemicals, no knew that something must De
done to put n stop TO It's ravages or the whole
place would be blown to atoms.
After many fruitless attempts to put IL out he
procured a Ratchet, and 1t was only by cutting
rested that he succeeded in stopping the nre.
which burned for at least an hour.
Afraid OF tho uses to which this discovery
might be put, Mr.. Floyd has never made the
secret OF the ingredients public; but he says
that the cost OF making 1t is SO small that 1t
waste materials. And for that reason he Will
not let the formula become known, for incen.
diaries would take advantage of 1t and no place
would be safe from burning. those who usp
oil or dynamite or powder can be easily traced.
as some preparation is necessary. but, with this
Nf,' ~ N'AA'l ''f
tion could burn his way noiselessly through
any door or set any home on fire by throwing
against 1t a noiseiess ball of the composition.
The cost OF making this LIQUID lire is so small
that IL can DO easily used instead OF coal IN
heating u furnace. But the most valuable
properties are those which it Possesses which
are absolutely foreign TO those OF fire AS known
Ia us. All forms OF heat. except that of cleo
tricity. must DO generated IN some kind of u
furnace and be constantly supplied with fuel.
but this tre Is both flame and fuel itself;
| About u cupful can be set on fire and IL will
burn with a steady glow for an hour,
This wonderful fire can be utilized In tho
kitchen, and stoves can be dispensed with alto
Rether as entirely useless. In order TO fry any
thing IL Is only necessary to hang the pan from
a wire and smear over tho bottom with a spoon
ful Of the liquid. In an instant there will DC "A
hot fire which Will burn for over AN hour. 80
that the coo. OF the future can take her fire out
into the country; II can be USED in COOKING IN
camping; there Will be NJ coal bills, but the
work or heating furnaces, OF burning fires In
CRATES. or running motors can be done by a
harmless lItIle spoonful OF Taste, which can DO
taken around in the vest pocket.
OF It's practical uses there is no end. for the
5 subject is yet Ia its infancy. the inventor. think
ing but OF the harm that might come having
stopped his ex He, however saws he
intends TO resume them and find out more about
this explosionless, noiSeiess, unquenchabie naste.
which 10 fire pure and simple.