The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-04
EVERYBODY ESCAPED.
City Hall Il Receiving an Inpromptu
Eumigation.

Forma1dehyde to the extent of half a
gallon and of full strength was distri-
buted through accident over the floor
of the room occupied by the city SAM
tary department about 10 o'clock last
night, and as a result the city building
is practically impregnable today. Per-
sons in quest of city officers have sud-
denly changed their minds before reach
ing the landing of the stairs, and the
officers themselves and their employees,
have been compelled to keep the
doors tightly locked and have made
exits and entrances in haste and with
protective measures in favor or mouths
and nasal organs.
Formaldehyde is something new in
the line of chemicals, and probably only
those who have been interested in con-
tagious diseases recently or are IN the
habit of handling chemicals can appre-
ciate the effect of the half gallon dis
tribution of the product. A visit to the
city hall, however, could make the prop
critics of the drug very well understood.
The suffocating odor of the chemical
permeates the atmosphere of the halls
and is present in all the offices and the
lodge room above. 1t is strong enough
in the halls to make one gasp for breath
continuously until partial shelter is Sc
cured in the office rooms or complete
freedom in the open air.
Formaldehyde is now the most power
full disinfectant known even in a great
ly diluted form. Two of the sanitary
officers We're in the act of transferring
a quantity of the chemical from a stone
jar to bottles when the jar slipped and
fell and the liquid ran over the floor
of the room The men were compelled
to get away with all possible haste, and
in a moment the hall was filed with the
fumes of the chemical.
A lodge of the knights and Ladies of
Security was in session in the room
on the third floor, and within five min
uteS after the escape of the contents
OF the jar every member realized some
thing had happened. AS the fumes be-
came stronger the realization grew
upon them. Several members asthmati-
cally affected commenced to gasp for
breath. The keeper of the outer wicket,
who had retreated to the inner wicket
at the first assault of the germ killer
was appointed a. committee of one to
investigate the matter. A tablecloth
was wrapped securely about the lower
portion of his face, and thus protected
he started down the hall. AS he neared
the door of the sanitary Office he dis
covered that the protective qualities of
the tablecloth were rapidly fading
away. By the time he reached the door
they had entirely disappeared and with
his lungs full Of the terrible fumes he
dashed down the stairs out into the
street.
There he found the two sanitary Off
GERS still engaged in attempting to re-
cover breath. They explained the sit
uaIlOQ, ana aIIer waiting long eHOGSH
to gather a supply of fresh air he heroi-
cally returned to the besieged in the
ledge room above. The meeting had
broken up by this time, all the windows
had been thrown open and several mem
bers were busy hunting for fire escapes.
1t was quickly decided that it was
better to make a dash for liberty than
to stay and suffer the fate of germs,
and with such protection as hands.
pocket handkerchiefs and mufflers af-
forded, the entire company sailed on
double quick through the halls and in
to the street.
The fumes of the powerful disinfect-
ant will cling round the halls and rooms
of the city building for several days.