The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1907-11-24
FIRE DEFY|HG LIQUID.
Denver Mans Discovery to Make
Wood Fireproof.
coLoRLEss, oDoaLEss FLUID


Deemed Absolutely Effective-SiIk
Dress Dipped In the Liquid, II 10 De-
css.ed, Will Not Burn.
Spurred to the labor of discovering a
liquid applications Of which would rem
der canvas and wood impervious to
fire by the disaster in the Iroquois
theater in Chicago, Professor Carl E.
Kruger of Denyer announces that he
is now able to formulate coloRess,
odorless fluid the presence Of which
cannot be detected, at the slight ex-
pense Of 10 cents gallon, which rem
ders combustibles with which it comes
In contact absolutely ireproof, says
the Columbus Dispatch.
Professor Kruger is German, six
ty years old, and photographer. He
has been in that business since 1856,
when he began polishing daguerreo-
type plates for his father. At that
time it was necessary for the photog-
rapher to manufacture his own sup
plies, and a knowledge Of chemistry
was essential Professor Kruger stud
led chemistry under DR.. Vogel Of Ber-
lin and at that time began expert
menting in the photography Of colors.
He says he has succeeded in catching
light red, brown and blue with the
camera, but will not attempt to make
pictures for the public until he is able
to take deep red and yellow also.
Professor Kruger, to test the quail
ties of his fire defying liquid, per-
forms a number Of experiments. A
single is dipped into the fluid, al
lowed to dry and then dipped in kero-
sene, which is ignited. The oil burns
and the shingle is charTed, but its
strength and solidity are unaffected.
Canvas prepared with the fluid is
soaked in kerosene. The oil burns
out and the canvas Is only blackened,
except where it has been heated to a
white heat and 1amelessly turned to
ashes. The quality of the canvas Is
destroyed by such q test as kerosene,
although it does not become ignited.
A small stick Of pine, heavy with
pitch, after being dipped in the liquid,
was placed across faring gas burner.
The pitch was boiled out Of the wood
and burned, the iron Of the heater
grew red, but the little pine stick only
blackened and came out Of the ordeal
as solid and hard as ever.
A soft pine box was sprayed with
the liquid and then stuffed with papers
drenched in kerosene. The flames shot
up through a crack at the top, curled
around the sides and seemed to be
burning the box as paper, but when
the fire had died down the box was
only blackened, otherwise intact.
Professor Kruger is employed at an
Arapahoe street studio. He has been
In Denver off and on for six years.
Speaking Of his discovery, he said:
There need be 10 more fires on the
stage, where women and little chill
dren will be burned up. In fact, there
need be no fires any place. Roofs can
be sprayed with this fluid and then a
bonfire built on them. Box cars can
be protected and lumber yards made
frcrSoof.
"a six dress can be dipped in this
liquid and it would never be detected
and will not burn. l have found that
it will not wash out, but long boiling
will take out the chemical
''In the future houses can be sprayed
with this end then painted. The paint
Will protect the fluid from the rain
and weather and render the house
freproof. feel very proud Of my dis
covery, and l have tested it as severe
i I could. l have known for a long
time how to manufacture fluid that
would repei file, but left a stain when
applied.
Il have applied to Washington for a
patent, and if l can get any money
ont Of it l am going to take up photo
graphing in colors. 1t costs money
to experiment, especially in trying to
take pictures in their original color,
because they are not treated like the
other kinds of pictures"