The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-06-24
Gasoline Fires.

q FAfe9.
While almost every body is talking
about war in the Philippines and won
dering when the boys will get away
from that undesirable locality. suppose
We talk about something else-gasoline,
for instance, for this is the season
of the year when the volatile fluid gets
in its work with the tornadoes. A wom-
an at Brookings a few days ago is the
latest case Of a mix-up with gasoline
in this state, though luckily without
fatal results. This particular housewife,
like many others, showed lack Of judg-
ment to start with, but unlike most Of
her sex, rare presence of mind at the
finale. The gasoline in the supply tank
running low. she brought into the room
in an open vessel another supply, but be-
fore she got tho fire turned out it caught
fire. In attempting to get the burning
fluid out doors che spilled 1t over her
dress and ina moment was all aGre,
but instead Of running, screaming to a
neighbors. which would have meant GER
tain death, she rolled in the grass and
smothered the flames and escaped with
but a few painful burns. Her poor judg-
ment was in bringing gasoline into the
room, especially in an open vessel, with
out first extinguishing the fire in the
burner. Her presence of mind was in
getting down on the ground and not in
haling the flames.
Now, this housewife did not know that
when the gasoline in the measure or
pitcher, or whatever it was in, caught fire
the very worst that could happen had
already occurred. II she had not attempt
ed to remove 1t, had simply let it alone,
1t would have simply burned itself out
in a few moments ard MOI one chance
in ten Of doing any harm more than a
%blackened ceiling. Unless there is
some inflamable material directly above
the flames, gasoline burns itself out like
alcohol without doing any harm, as can
readily be demonstrated by pouring
some of the fluid onto a table or floor.
The great trouble is that people gel
scared whenever anything goes wrong
with a badly constructed gasoline stove
aud expect an explosion when there is
not the slightest danger Of one. As a
matter Of fact, the American African has
had a standing offer for years of $1W
for a we'll authenticated case OF an ex
plosion with a gasoline stove. II the
gasoline runs out OF the burner
on the drip of the stove or on the
floor and the flames stream up, or the
can takes fire when filling the tank will
the stove lighted the very worst tina
can happen is at the start; but thu
woman gets frightened and either trie.
to throw the can out of the window OF
door and usually gets a lot of it on he
dress, where it takes fire and she rum
out in blazing clothes, tanning the
flames AID inhaling them at ever!
breath. Explosions only occur whe1
the gas or vapor are mixed in proportion
Of n Of gas to six of air. This i
almost if not quite impossible in tn,
tank of a gasoline stove. One can tax,
an ordinary gasoline tank, gil it partl.
full of gasoline, unscrew the top AM
If a lighted match is applied to til,
opening the vapor will burn as fast a
it comes from the opening only, lik
the flame Of "a candle. The fire canno
get down into the can because the cal
is full of gas and will not either burr
or explode as 1t has no air mixed wit
it. In such a condition, If a lighte
match is plunged down through tn
vapor and into the oil the match will b
> extinguished.
:. While explosions Of gasoline an
benzlne frequently occur. where 1t hal
pens in dwellings it is almost invariabl
! when the flnid is being used for cleans
ing purposes and the air becomes sal
urated with just the right proportio,
Of gas (six to one. as stately to cause a
explosion. Fires from gasoline stove
are caused from other reasons, either b
leaky stoves or gross carelessness, usual
the latter. Probably nine fires out Q
ten are due to 6lling the tank with til
J fire going. Another common cause /
, filling the tank too full, causing q flo,
!, of oil down the outside of the suppl
/ pipe.
, In case Of burning fluid running owe
j the floor, never throw water on il
which simply spreads the flames; throy
i flour. which chokes it. Never hav
gasolIne in an open vessel with a ligll
!, in the room; and 1t is not safe with
fire III the stove even, as there Is liabl
to be a suction Of the yapor or gas int
!, the draft Of the stove.
!, Under nj circumstances GIL a tan
on a gasoline stove until all burners ar
turned out. A properly c%onstrncte
stove should haze an automatic cut OF
!, Ito make accidents Of this nature i'm
possible.
LYON Township.
Wheat is about harvested.
Frank Dorwart is working for WA. Gregg.
John Henzlik was elected school clerk Tues
J duy,