The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-16

London has received a shock Of an IN
usual character. AS the metropolis cf
the world, IL affords a greater variety
Of crimes. folIies and accidents than any
other place in the world, and seems 10 be
able TO add to those " most other Gen.
tiers of population. The papers there are
now discussing a singular accident, In
which woman's vanity plays a consider
able part.
A daughter-in-law OF Sir Bernard Sam
usison was at a fashionable hair dress
er's having her hair washed with PREP
aration OF which petroleum forms an In
gradients. Suddenly there was a blaze.
and the woman's head was enveloped In
flames. The scene which followed is told
by an eyewitness:
'T was In Emiles shop on the morning
OF June -, between Y and 1880. I did
not see Mrs. Samuelson go in. but I heard
the explosion and saw the fisme In tbs
saloon. / thought the place was on fire
and ran into the street. When heard
that a lady was on fire l went back into
the saloon. There was a good deal OF
smoke hanging about. but the fire was
out. Mrs. Samuelson was standing with
the remains of one Of the linen gowns OF,
her head. / took the gown off, and she
screamed out. 1 spoke to her. and she
said: My God. ! am in awful agony;
somebody put me out of my misery.
There are flames all around me- / said.
No: the flames are all OUT
Mr.. Alfred Spencer. chief OF the control
department of the London county coun-
Gil. gave evidence as TO the petroleum.
hairwash used He said that the saloon
in which the accident occurred was light
ed from window over the division OF
the compartment where Mrs. Samueison
was being attended to. He was inform
ed that almost half pint of petroleum
wash was used in the operation of wash
vapor. the chief characteristic of which
was its extreme infiammabili,y. The va
por might easily be ignIted by electric
sparks or a light or fire. An electric
spark would invariably cause ignition
and the preparation would become VIC
lently explosive IL mixed with atmos-
FHeIic ar ne nlgnSr tho temperature
the more rapidly the vapor would go of
Another characteristic OF the vapor was
that 1t was heavier than air. and that
1t would flow easily and spread. 1t was
an invisible vapor.
1t might happen, said the witness, that
the vapor. before going off during the
washing o. Mrs. Ssmuelson's hair
spread into the shop or along the bottom
OF the saloon into the work room. More
particularly would it spread IL the room
were undisturbed. The vapor would flow
a very considerable distance The heat
of the day would have nothing whatever
to do with the explosion. An instance
had been recorded where petroleum va
OF forty feet. The Regents park explo-
sion Of lsis when the vapor Gan the
whole length of barge, was caused
through this The petroleum was used
considerably as solvent for india rub
Der anf for dry cleaning. The London
county council licensed ail the establish
ments where petroleum was used In this
connection.
No other explanation is offered OF the
cause, but !. seems almost Incredible that
city 50 advanced as London would
permit ,he use Of such dangerous cos-
metics. or that women OF repute and in
good social standing should take such
risks fer the purpose OF heautisying
themselves.